Page 39 of Enchanted Hero

“Undress?” The single word threatened his control. She notched up her chin, as if she were a queen lounging in a throne chair and not a thorny cage’s prisoner. She was poised, powerful and magnificent. And contrary to her assertions –his.

Her face pinkened to match the blossoms. “Just leave.”

“I can’t do that.”

“Ugh!” She shifted, even as the branches clawed at her. She gave him a withering glare. “Don’t you ever listen?”

“Not when someone asks me to ignore my responsibilities.” He leaned forward, into the intoxicating scent of roses and sweet woman. “Which you are.”

Her eyes turned as wide as the moon above, and his grasp on his control wavered. Soon, she would understand his role in her life. “I’d rather stay in the bushes. Leave now.”

“You’re not in any position to be giving orders.” He reached out, stopped just before he brushed her face. She closed her eyes, as for once, she couldn’t hide. Every instinct urged him to take control, to care for her.Soon.

Her eyes snapped open. “I’m not taking anything off while you’re here. I don’t care how many women you’ve seen naked.”

So that explained it.“Are you jealous?”

“Of course not! You can be with as many women as you want. A dozen – no, a hundred.” Her glare was as sharp as the thorns clutching her. “It’s lucky I figured it out before we did anything. I was starting to think you were a decent guy.”

“I am a decent guy.”

“Oh yeah?” She shifted in her prison. “Are you involved with that woman?”

“If you are asking whether I love her, the answer is yes.”

Everleigh opened and closed her mouth. Sputtered, “You’re an ass.”

“After all, she is my sister.”

She froze.

A thousand emotions rode a turnstile across her face. Anger transformed to shock and then shock to relief and finally relief to satisfaction. “She’s your sister?” she whispered.

He nodded.

“Your real sister?”

He nodded again. “Same mom, same dad.” He leaned closer. “Do you have something to say? After all, you did just call me an ass.”

“Perhaps that was a little harsh.” She chuckled nervously. “Why didn’t you tell me who she was? A beautiful woman shows up, and you immediately dismiss me. What was I supposed to think?”

“I’m sorry.” He should have told her who his sister was, even if he couldn’t explain the reason for her visit. “There was a family emergency.”

Despite her situation, true concern shone. “Can I help?”

“It’s nothing to worry about,” he replied swiftly. If the clever woman probed his family life, she might discover more than a hidden sister. Besides, there were moreentanglingproblems right now. “Now how are we going to extract you?”

Her blush deepened to a dark rose. “I’m fine. Go back inside, and I’ll join you in a few minutes.”

Leave her alone and caught? Never. “The thorns are embedded in your dress. I can unsnag them, but…” He snapped a spindly twig. “Not while you’re wearing it.”

Already wary eyes narrowed into tiny slits. “Not. A. Chance.”

“Do you want to be stuck forever?” He kept his voice even, even as streaks of … something… raced through him. “Either the dress is coming off, or you’re not coming out.”

She stared, attempted to move back. Winced, froze and took a deep breath. “All right. But don’t look.”

“If I don’t look, I won’t be able to extract you.” He tried to sound disappointed by the prospect, failed most spectacularly. The thorns pricked his skin as he threaded to the back of her dress, but he hardly noticed. He reached the zipper, grazed her bare skin.