to store such a memory in my heart years ago, it would have surely given me hope in times of need. Your words flow so silkily from your lovely lips and, at the onset, seem as pleasing as the delicate scent of roses that clings to you, but alas, their sharp thorns prick my unwary hide, leaving me to wonder at this deep chasm I now find betwixt us. Can you not forgive the callousness of my youth? I would hope that I am a different man today than the boy I once was.”
Her hesitant smile was brief enough to seem terse. “If I appear rude, my lord, I suppose one could say I’
ve learned from my betters.”
Colton winced again, feeling as if she had just sunk her fangs into him. “Aye, I was rather rude to you back then,” he admitted in a hushed tone, “and for that, I must make amends. I never intended to hurt you, Adriana. You were an innocent, and I brought shame upon myself by wounding you as I did.” He studied her at length, saying nothing more until he became aware of a blush invading her cheeks. With a charmingly wayward grin, he stepped forward, once again invading the forbidden boundaries she had mentally erected around herself. Leaning his head near until his cheek almost brushed the brim of her top hat, he murmured above her ear, “But let me assure you, my dear, you have no betters. You have become a rare jewel, the very finest I’ve ever seen. The sight of you definitely makes me wish I hadn’t acted so foolishly and left home in such a fretful temper.”
Adriana’s head snapped up, and for a moment she searched those dancing gray eyes for what they would reveal. Thoroughly confused, she accused breathlessly, “You jest with me, my lord.”
Colton laughed softly, pleased that he had put to flight her aloofness. “Perchance I do, Adriana.” A long interval passed before he leaned forward again, barely breathing above her ear, “Then again, perchance not.”
Though Adriana stumbled back a step in sudden confusion and made a desperate attempt to respond in an intelligent vein as she opened and closed her mouth several times, she realized the futility of her effort, for he had disconcerted her to the point that she could manage no adequate rejoinder.
Colton reached out and, gently laying a hand alongside her cheek, placed a lean thumb across her softly enticing lips, stilling her attempts. “Have pity upon me, Adriana, I can bear no more holes in my hide right now. My wound has yet to heal.”
Turning from her without further adieu, he moved away, leaving the lady clasping a trembling hand to her burning cheek, that same cheek that his palm had caressed in a strangely provocative way before he had drawn back. In spite of the wayward racing of her blood, Adriana became certain of one thing. Colton
Wyndham had not changed one whit since his departure, for even now, with nothing more than a word or a warm touch of his hand, he seemed able to scatter her wits in a thousand different directions. He had done it countless times by teasing her when she was a child, and then, more devastatingly before his departure, by his angry refusal to entertain their future marriage. As much as Adriana would have denied her susceptibility moments earlier, she realized that he had disconcerted her once again, only this time by creating peculiar little bubbles of delight she couldn’t seem to hold in check.
Two
S amantha, my dear sister, do you intend to do the honors, or must I introduce myself to your husband?”
Colton demanded with a chuckle. “Delay no longer. Acquaint me with this new member of the family.”
“Gladly!” Samantha replied with buoyant eagerness. Accepting her commission, she fell in beside her brother and considered his proficiency with the cane as they progressed across the great hall. “ ‘Twould seem you’ve become quite handy with that stick.”
Colton lifted his wide shoulders, casually dismissing his skill as anything worthy of praise. “ ‘Twas either that or trip over the
Her hesitant smile was brief enough to seem terse. “If I appear rude, my lord, I suppose one could say I’
ve learned from my betters.”
Colton winced again, feeling as if she had just sunk her fangs into him. “Aye, I was rather rude to you back then,” he admitted in a hushed tone, “and for that, I must make amends. I never intended to hurt you, Adriana. You were an innocent, and I brought shame upon myself by wounding you as I did.” He studied her at length, saying nothing more until he became aware of a blush invading her cheeks. With a charmingly wayward grin, he stepped forward, once again invading the forbidden boundaries she had mentally erected around herself. Leaning his head near until his cheek almost brushed the brim of her top hat, he murmured above her ear, “But let me assure you, my dear, you have no betters. You have become a rare jewel, the very finest I’ve ever seen. The sight of you definitely makes me wish I hadn’t acted so foolishly and left home in such a fretful temper.”
Adriana’s head snapped up, and for a moment she searched those dancing gray eyes for what they would reveal. Thoroughly confused, she accused breathlessly, “You jest with me, my lord.”
Colton laughed softly, pleased that he had put to flight her aloofness. “Perchance I do, Adriana.” A long interval passed before he leaned forward again, barely breathing above her ear, “Then again, perchance not.”
Though Adriana stumbled back a step in sudden confusion and made a desperate attempt to respond in an intelligent vein as she opened and closed her mouth several times, she realized the futility of her effort, for he had disconcerted her to the point that she could manage no adequate rejoinder.
Colton reached out and, gently laying a hand alongside her cheek, placed a lean thumb across her softly enticing lips, stilling her attempts. “Have pity upon me, Adriana, I can bear no more holes in my hide right now. My wound has yet to heal.”
Turning from her without further adieu, he moved away, leaving the lady clasping a trembling hand to her burning cheek, that same cheek that his palm had caressed in a strangely provocative way before he had drawn back. In spite of the wayward racing of her blood, Adriana became certain of one thing. Colton
Wyndham had not changed one whit since his departure, for even now, with nothing more than a word or a warm touch of his hand, he seemed able to scatter her wits in a thousand different directions. He had done it countless times by teasing her when she was a child, and then, more devastatingly before his departure, by his angry refusal to entertain their future marriage. As much as Adriana would have denied her susceptibility moments earlier, she realized that he had disconcerted her once again, only this time by creating peculiar little bubbles of delight she couldn’t seem to hold in check.
Two
S amantha, my dear sister, do you intend to do the honors, or must I introduce myself to your husband?”
Colton demanded with a chuckle. “Delay no longer. Acquaint me with this new member of the family.”
“Gladly!” Samantha replied with buoyant eagerness. Accepting her commission, she fell in beside her brother and considered his proficiency with the cane as they progressed across the great hall. “ ‘Twould seem you’ve become quite handy with that stick.”
Colton lifted his wide shoulders, casually dismissing his skill as anything worthy of praise. “ ‘Twas either that or trip over the
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