Page 64 of A Wicked Game

“Pfft. I’ll be fine.”

His hand squeezed hers. “I’m not willing to take the chance. You’re alone because of me. I convinced your father to get this operation. I have an obligation to make sure you’re safe until he returns.”

“I’m not your responsibility. Nor aduty. I’m perfectly fine on my own.”

“Don’t be a fool. Your safety means a great deal to me.”

Her heart gave an odd thump at his fervency, but she tried to make light of it. “I know that. Who would you fight with if I wasn’t here?”

A muscle ticked in the side of his jaw and his pupils flared as he leaned closer. “Fighting’s not the only thing we do well, Harriet. We weren’t fighting yesterday, when my tongue was between your—”

“Shhh!” She glanced around, terrified someone wouldoverhear. Heat scalded her cheeks. “Don’t say another word, Morgan Davies!”

He chuckled, a low vibration that made her stomach swoop in agonized delight.Oh, he was wicked.

She took a fortifying breath. “So what are you suggesting? You want to send a strapping footman to guard me overnight? Find a bunch of rowdy sailors to keep watch?”

He lifted his brows but kept his lips pressed firmly together, and she let out an exasperated huff as she remembered she’d forbidden him to speak. “Oh, you can talk, you idiot.”

He grinned. “Thank you. And no, that wasn’t what I was thinking at all. It wouldn’t be proper for you to be alone with strangers.”

“What, then?”

“I’ll stay with you.”

Her heart stopped, then pounded back to life with renewed vigor. “You will not! That’s even more improper.”

“I’m not trying to seduce you, I swear. I’m trying to be gentlemanly.” He shook his head. “I know that’s hard for you to believe of a Davies, but we don’talwayshave an ulterior motive.”

She lifted one brow in blatant skepticism, but he pressed on.

“I won’t be able to sleep if I know you’re there alone. You don’t even need to provide me with a bed. I can sleep in a chair or on the floor. I’ve slept in worse places. Have you seen the size of the captain’s cabin on board a ship? It’s tiny. Smaller than a shoe box. And that was a luxury compared to my cell on Martinique.”

Harriet bit her lip, wracked with indecision. She didn’t truly suspect him of having a nefarious plan. Morgan was so shameless he’d just tell her outright if he was planning to seduce her. He wouldn’t bother with subterfuge.

He was also a decent man. He might be overestimating the potential danger, but she trusted him to protect her with his life.How odd.

The thought of being alone with himall nightwas both exciting and terrifying. He wouldn’t so much as kiss her hand if she didn’t ask for it, but how was she supposed to resist him?

Don’t.

The unbidden thought made her catch her breath, even as it settled with undeniablerightnessin her chest.

Don’t resist him.

Her startled gaze clashed with his, as if the answer lay in the mossy green depths of his eyes. The ballroom, the dancers, the candles, all blurred together in a dizzying kaleidoscope of color and left her with the one, inescapable conclusion:

She loved Morgan Davies. She’d been in love with him for years. And she wanted him, however she could get him.

“Yes!” she breathed.

Morgan’s eyes narrowed. “Yes what?”

“Yes, I accept your offer. Stay the night with me.”

Chapter Twenty-Eight

Morgan’s heart stuttered, even though Harriet had merely agreed to let him guard her. Still, it felt like a victory.