Page 18 of The Beast's Ruined Bride (Rogues Gone Dirty 1)

His growl made her insides tremble—but not with fear. Definitely not fear.

“I would never have let that happen,” he said.

She believed him. How he would have known and what he would have done about it, she couldn’t begin to guess. But she believed him, all the same.

“So,” she said, forcing a smile that she hoped would lighten the tension in the room. “May I go with them?”

His brows drew down and it was clear he hated the idea.

“Is it so important to you?”

She thought of her father. Like Dane, she’d lost her mother at a young age, and unlike him she had no siblings. She and her father might not have been close, and he’d never quite forgiven her for not being born male, but he was all she had.

Shewas allhehad.

For all her anger and hurt over the way he’d forsaken her when she’d needed him most, she couldn’t write him off entirely. Not without telling him where she was and what would become of her.

But that thought had her wringing her hands together before clasping them tightly before her. Memories of the day before had her burning inside as humiliation warred with fear of the unknown.

Fear won out and when he gave her that frown with a questioning look in his eyes, the words came tumbling out. “What will you do with me?”

His brows hitched up ever so slightly in surprise.

“What I mean is…” She cleared her throat, as if that would make it any easier to get the words out. “What will become of me?”

The sympathy in his eyes made her belly twist and her heart ache. Such tenderness and affection from a man who ought not have a tender bone left in his body after the way he was raised. For a moment she didn’t see the burly body or the towering strength, the rough, unshaven jaw nor the scar that was a reminder of his lifestyle. All she saw was the injured boy who’d spoken so rarely but who’d managed to say so much.

She still wasn’t sure how he’d done it then or how he managed it now. But without speaking a word, he managed to convey more feeling, more emotion, more heart than anyone she’d ever known.

It was like night and day compared to what she felt from the man who was meant to marry her.

Malcolm.

She winced at the thought of how he’d take her running away. Would he blame her? Would he say he’d been right all along that she was unworthy of an earl’s heir?

He couldn’t know what had really sent her running. And if she were to tell him…?

He wouldn’t believe her either. Like her father, he wouldn't wish to.

Dane moved toward her slowly, as if he was afraid he’d frighten her off. She held her chin high. She wasn’t scared of him. The earl, yes. Any other man, most likely. But to be alone with Dane felt like a comfort, even as her skin seemed to crackle and sing with nerves the closer he came.

What confusing sensations he brought out in her. She clasped her hands tighter as a weight seemed to settle low in her belly, a heaviness that was filled with heat.

“What doyouwant?”

His question shocked her, probably more than it ought. What did she want? No one ever asked her that. Her wants were never part of the equation. Not with her father, not with Malcolm...and most definitely not with Fallenmore.

She felt like a fool as her lips parted and no words came out.

He took pity on her, striding forward with a look of concern. “You need not decide right now. You can stay here as long as you wish.”

Alarm had her heart racing. As long as she wished?

She wished for forever.

She swallowed the words before they could escape. But truly, she had never felt so safe as she had since she’d arrived here. She’d never felt so cared for, nor so seen.

She blinked at the thought, and his gaze collided with hers. She felt it with a jolt that seemed to zip along her spine.

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