Page 68 of A Lady's Lesson in Scandal
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Drake was surrounded by lemon and cotton, warmth and soft curves, strong arms holding him tight, silky hair tickling his cheek.
What is happening to me?
They were supposed to be fucking, but instead, she was hugging him. It was too much. He was prepared for lust, friction, heat. But his heart wasn’t ready for comfort. Sanctuary. Kindness.
He froze. His lungs stopped working. His heart halted. His mind stalled. She rubbed one hand down his back, tripping over the uneven scar tissue.
‘I’m so sorry, Beau. For what they did to you. For the pain you suffered. If I could take it away, I would.’ Her soft words wound around his heart as securely as her arms wrapped around his body.
Drake tried to swallow, but a rock was lodged in his throat. His whole body began to shake.
What is happening to me?
He was losing his carefully cultivated control. He was drowning.
‘It’s okay. You’re safe with me. I’m not going anywhere.’
Soft lips pressed against his cheek, and he was lost. He wrapped his arms around her strong, sweet body and held onto her like a desperate man clinging to his last hope.
That’s what she is. My last hope. My only hope.
‘I’ve got you, Beau.’
They stayed that way for minutes, or millennia, as he shook like a leaf in the winter wind. When his body stilled, and he could breathe again, Millie loosened her grip and leaned back to look at him. His face was wet.
Goddamned tears.
He couldn’t remember the last time he cried. But she wiped them away, taking with her some of his shame. ‘Is there anything that helps the pain?’
My leg, or everything else?
Focusing on the leg seemed safest.
‘I massage it. With linseed oil. It helps to stop the scars from becoming tight. Eases the muscles a bit.’
Millie nodded. ‘Get the oil and lie on the bed.’
Drake’s brow drew down in confusion. ‘Now? Why?’
‘Because, you silly man. You’re hurting. I want to ease some of your pain. I’m going to rub your leg for you.’
Drake was never at a loss for words. He always knew exactly what to say, even if it wasn’t something people wanted to hear. But she flummoxed him. He was speechless.
He was standing naked in front of her, a raging cockstand making it difficult to think, and yet she wanted to hold off being ravished in order to rub medicinal oil on his massacred leg.
She’s mad. I’m going to wed an insane woman.
‘Go on. The sooner we deal with your leg, the sooner we can move on to rubbing other things.’ She winked at him.
What kind of alternate world have I stumbled into?
Not only did Millie show no signs of revulsion at his brutalised body, she did so while making sexy puns and eyeing his cock like it was a vanilla ice she wanted to lick. It made no sense.
Seriously, what is happening to me?
He shook his head, trying to clear his foggy thoughts.
