Page 16 of Road Trip With a Rogue (Her Majesty’s Rebels #3)

Lucien stared deep into the fire and concentrated on regulating his breathing. His blood was thrumming in his temples, his cock still aching with arousal, and the infuriating cause of it all was fast asleep in the bed behind him.

He’d never seen anyone fall asleep so quickly. Daisy might claim to mistrust him, but a stupid, gloating part of him felt insanely pleased that she’d let her guard down with such astonishing speed.

Or perhaps she really was just too exhausted to fight him.

Her breathing was soft and even, and he let out a long exhale of his own as he turned his head to watch her. She lay on her side, her hands tucked neatly beneath her chin, her small body barely making a lump beneath the covers.

Awake she seemed larger, somehow, her fiery presence filling the space, filling his brain, but asleep he was reminded of how just slight she was. How fragile.

A wave of fierce protectiveness made him clench the arms of the chair.

God, she was a hoyden. How in God’s name had they ended up here, in this ridiculous situation?

He shouldn’t have anything to do with her, she wasn’t his responsibility, and yet he couldn’t have left her alone in that lane if his life had depended on it.

Bloody woman.

He’d known physical agony, when the charred skin of his arm had peeled off along with the bandages, but this was torture of a different kind.

To have Daisy Hamilton so close that he could smell the faint floral scent of her skin, count the individual freckles on her nose, and yet be unable to touch her.

The universe had a wicked sense of humor.

When the pain of his wounds had made him want to scratch his own eyes out, he’d pictured her face.

Imagined her in his bed, over him, under him, in every conceivable position, just as a distraction.

And now here she was, in a room they shared, a single bed, and she’d rejected his teasing suggestion of a tryst with insulting ease.

She wanted him, though. Even if she didn’t want to. It would be amusing if it wasn’t so bloody frustrating. If his entire body didn’t ache with the need to touch her. Possess her.

He’d reimagined that night five years ago a million times.

Wished he’d kept on kissing her, ignoring everything except the ravenous urge to take what he’d been craving for so long.

He could have had her right there, on the desk in his study, binding them together in an explosion of passion and heat.

He would have been her first. It would have been hot and fast and fucking incredible, but it wouldn’t have been the gentle introduction to lovemaking she deserved. It would have been a mistake.

A glorious, terrible mistake.

He’d been about to leave for war. He’d had no interest in settling down, no desire for any emotional entanglements, but he would have felt honor-bound to offer for her in case she fell pregnant.

She’d probably have refused him, stubborn hellion that she was, but still. The whole situation had been untenable.

Lucien raked his hand through his hair and rolled his shoulders to release the tension.

She’d refused him tonight, but he’d planted the idea in her brain.

Provided they were discreet, there was no reason why they couldn’t explore the ridiculous attraction between them now, and he could only pray that she’d see the logic of his argument before they both went mad from frustrated desire.

Unfortunately, logic and Daisy Hamilton were only distant acquaintances.

She didn’t stir as he banked the fire and carefully stretched out beside her on the mattress—on top of the covers, as she’d demanded.

A faint smile touched his lips. After tonight he could say with perfect honesty that he’d spent the night with her, and there wasn’t a soul in London who’d believe he’d kept his hands off her.

He wouldn’t tell anyone, of course. But teasing her about it would give him an unreasonable amount of pleasure.

The bed was an ancient four-poster, and he stared up at the gathered fabric above his head, willing his body to calm. Daisy moved, her spine pressing up against his side, and it took all his willpower not to roll over and tug her into the curve of his body. She would fit perfectly in his arms.

Damn it.

With a huff, he turned away from her so they were back-to-back. Considering the amount of blood still in his cock, it was a miracle his brain was still functioning at all, but he closed his eyes and willed himself to lose consciousness.