Page 25 of The Hero

“To what purpose?”

“I say yes—as any man in his right mind would—and the moment we are alone together in your bedchamber, you call for assistance. At which time a male member of your family rushes into the room and demands I offer you marriage in order to avert a scandal.”

Harry frowned. “You speak as if something like that has happened to you before?”

“Once. In my youth.” His mouth twisted. “It was not a pleasant experience.”

“Yet, you are not married.”

“No, I am most certainly not married.”

Nor did he have any intention of being so in the near future, Harry heard in his tone. Which was perfectly fine with her, because she did not wish to marry soon either. If she married at all.

Her gaze was teasing. “Unless you have forgotten, of the two male members of my family in residence, one is incapacitated in his bed, and the other is so unconcerned about that situation, and me, he has gone off for the morning shooting with his friends. My maid is downstairs ironing several of my gowns, as my father’s indisposition means we will have to remain here for some time after the other guests have left. In fact, as you claim to know and like me, I am a little insulted that you could even suspect me of plotting such subterfuge.”

“Please forgive me.” Gideon released a heavy sigh. “I have been too long in Society, and I am still acclimatizing myself to your refreshing honesty of nature.”

Harry grinned up at him. “Is that your way of saying yes?”

He continued to stare at her for several long seconds with eyes that were dark with swirling emotions too fleeting to be read correctly, before he gave an abrupt nod. “It is my way of saying yes,” he huskily accepted her invitation.

CHAPTER NINE

Gideon could sense Harry’s increasing nervousness once the two of them were alone in her bedchamber together, the door closed and locked against the rest of the household.

He maintained a distance of two or three steps away from her. “We do not have to do any more than sit and talk together, if that is your wish?” He indicated the two armchairs placed either side of the bay window looking out over the parkland.

She swallowed before lifting her chin and looking at him. “I believe what I wish is to have you to kiss me again.”

Gideon’s heart stuttered before beating faster and louder. A totally unprecedented reaction to receiving an invitation to kiss a woman. “I believe I too would like that very much,” he accepted gruffly.

Harry’s smile became rueful when he made no move to do so. “You will have to stand a little closer if that is truly your intention.”

He gave an appreciative smile at the return of some of her usual outspokenness. “I am a little nervous,” he admitted softly.

Her eyes widened. “You are?”

He gave a shrug at her obvious surprise. “It has never mattered to me this much before now whether or not a woman enjoyed my…attentions. There have not been many others,” he assured when her eyes widened. “It has never felt…right with the few there have been.”

“Gideon?” She voiced her uncertainty.

He gave a half smile. “I believe I am the sort of man who can only truly make love to someone whom I…care for.”

“You care for me?”

“Very much.” He stepped forward to clasp both her hands in his. “You are a unique and beautiful young lady—very young—which is why I do not want to alarm you with the depth of my passion.” Something he knew he was seriously in danger of doing once he had kissed and tasted her lips again. “Do you trust me?”

“Implicitly,” Harry answered without hesitation. “I…I have glimpsed the passion you are referring to.” A blush colored her cheeks. “It burns in the depths of your eyes whenever you look at me.”

Gideon was not surprised to hear that. His desire for Harry had existed from their very first, unorthodox meeting. “I will try to go slowly,” he promised. “But my need for you is fast slipping out of my control.”

Gideon no longer questioned why it should be only Harry who affected him in this way. He only knew it to be a fact.

An indisputable one.

Resulting in an irresistible desire to consume every inch of her.

“If I frighten or overwhelm you—” He broke off as Harry’s fingers pressed against his lips.

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