Page 34 of Dark Embrace
“—and I beg you to cease interrupting myeveryword.”
“My apologies,” she offered acerbically, not bothering to mask the fact that her words were insincere. “You cannot simply step into my life and tell me what I will and will not do. I do not answer toyou,sir.”
“No, you do not,” he murmured and shot her an indecipherable look. “I wonder if you have ever answered to anyone.” There was a measure of admiration inhistone.
“There was a time that I relied on my father’s decisions and good counsel to guide my life. Then he began to make only bad decisions, and finally, none at all, and so I learned to make my own.” She crossed to the bed where she scooped up both the ribbon and the box. She strode to the door, opened it, and set both out on the floor outside the door of the snoring sisters, then stepped back inside and closed her own doorbehindher.
Turning to face him once more, she rested her back against the wood and made a noisy, rushedexhalation.
“Well,” he said, his tone laced with humor. “That was asolution.”
“The best I could conjure at themoment.”
“You are ever resourceful.” Again, the whisper of admiration. It made her feel as though heknewher, saw the practical, intelligent part of her andvaluedthat.
The moment spun out, thin and fragile, her thoughts battling within her. The imaginary Killian of her dreams would step closer, embrace her, press his lips to her temple. But this was no imaginary lover, and she thought that if the real Killian Thayne drew her into his embrace, he would do far more than kiss hertemple.
She sighed in both relief and disappointment when he moved to the far wall with its two tall, narrow windows. He shifted the curtain to the side, staring out into the night. A low sound came from him, almost a growl. Awarning.
“What do you see?” sheasked.
“Nothing.” But he did not move from the window. Finally, he checked the latch and, satisfied, drew the frayed and moth-eaten velvet curtain shut. With a step to the right, he faced the second window and tested the latch. It slid free and the pane swung open, letting in a swirling blast offrigidair.
He did not so much as blink as the wind hit him. With careful attention, he closed the window and tested the latch, then played with it a moment until it clicked into place. It was merely temperamental, but not broken. He did not draw the curtain. Instead, he stood close to the glass, looking out, and Sarah had the same impression she had had outdoors—that he somehow appeared even taller, broader…a threat, but nottoher.
“Is he out there?” sheasked.
His gaze sought hers. “I amstaying.”
The temptation to sink into the safety of his presence and simply thank him and let him do as he wished was a succulent lure. But she refused to be beguiled. To accept his comfort tonight meant that tomorrow night it would be all the more difficult to discover comfort onherown.
“While I appreciate your kind offer, there is no need for you to remain here. I have spent many nights alone in this place, and I awaken each morning with my heart yet beating and breath in my lungs. This night will be no different. I think it best ifyougo.”
Eyes the color of a storm-laden sky pinned her and held her in place. “I will sit on that chair, or I will take you to my home and you may spend the night there. The choice isyours.”
“You cannot spend the night in this room.Myroom.”
“As you wish,” he agreed amiably and grabbed the chair from the corner. He carried it to the door. “I shall spend the night on the landing outsideyourdoor.”
“There is no need,” she insisted once more. “I shall be perfectly safe here with the windows latched and the doorlocked.”
“I beg to differ. There are creatures of the night that even the best locks will not holdatbay.”
The way he said that, soft and menacing, set a shiver crawling up herspine.
“You cannot sleep in the hard chair.” She stepped forward and laid her hand next to his on thechairback.
“I need little sleep.” The smile he turned on her was languid, and it made her pulse trip. “I will stay the night through and leave at the first hint of dawn before the house awakens. No one will know I was here, and you will be safe in thelight.”
She held her place, held his gaze, her heart racing a wild, heady pace. “Safe in the light? I don’tunderstand.”
“I know. And I am not yet ready to explain.” His smile dropped away, and he took a slow deep breath, his chest expanding, his gaze gliding over her in a lazy caress, lingering on her lips in a way that made her pulse pound hard and fast. “I hear your blood rushing in your veins,Sarah.”
How could he possibly hear that? And yet, it sounded as though he spoke the truth. She made a stunted, nervouslaugh.
His hand shifted on the chair until it covered her own. Warm skin. She could not think, could notbreathe.
“Is it for me that your heart races?” he whispered, his voice warm andrough.