Page 13 of The Untamed Duke (The Secret Crusaders #3)

CHAPTER 13

T he Private Diary of Sophia Hawkins

The impossible.

I do not believe in the word, do not accept that which puts limitations on my dreams. Just because something seems impossible, does not mean it is not worth trying.

Of course one must be careful. Most in my position would surrender, wait for others to grant them freedom. They would do as their captor says, be an obedient lady. I have never been an obedient lady.

Who knows what he will do if he captures me?

Not a sliver of guilt arose.

Just because he’d been conscious from the moment Sophia padded out of bed, pulled to awareness by the distinctive combination of storm and the scent of violets, didn’t mean he was obligated to reveal himself. Instead, he’d stayed silent as she moved in the shadows, her lithe body outlined in the moon’s dim light. Did she realize the thin fabric molded to her silhouette, defined generous curves that beckoned for his touch? It had taken every bit of strength to stop himself from joining her in the midnight dance.

Her presence required no guesswork. Clearly another escape attempt, despite the results of her last and the futility of the next. Yet this woman did not let the mere impossible stop her.

Watching her had been pure torture, yet when she approached, desire surged to new heights. That he managed to stay still, mimicking the quiet of slumber, attested to his self-control. Yet she had rapidly stolen the last when those slender fingers traced his chest.

He opened eyes to a liquid blue gaze. Her lips parted, and she gave a tiny gasp. He clamped a hand on her wrist.

Mine.

A thousand emotions swirled, in his chest and in her gaze, confusion, frustration and challenge, yet most of all, pure, unadulterated desire. Uncertainty changed to determination, vulnerability to strength. She leaned forward…

And kissed him.

He surged forward, taking her with him, as he switched their positions. Her boldness enflamed him, her touch burning through his clothing, as he pulled her flush against him. She was softness and strength, sensitivity and passion, as she tested his control like never before.

And once again, a maddening voice reminded him he was a gentleman. Not by the title he abhorred, but by the honor his mother instilled. He did not deflower maidens.

At least not without wedding them first.

He tried to pull back, yet she didn’t allow it. She clutched at his shirt, and he kissed her deeper, stealing a moment to explore hidden treasures. He traced over curves, soothed planes, caressed crevices. He cupped the underside of her breast.

She sucked in a breath of air.

He closed his eyes, opened them as his conscience finally wrangled control from the rake within. Under him, she watched with wary eyes, her cheeks flushed with passion she couldn’t disguise.

Disgust flared as she scurried off the settee and backed away from him. What had he been thinking? She’d accepted the other kisses breathlessly yet stoically, yet she was still an innocent. There was a correct order with ladies, and he had missed the most important step.

“I’m sorry,” he rasped. “I know you are a lady.”

“Indeed I am.” Her voice was high, her breathing still labored, as she edged further away. “This wasn’t supposed to happen.”

That was a matter of contention, yet the timing was indubitably wrong. Just like him, she didn’t often show her vulnerabilities.

“I would never do anything you didn’t want,” he said softly. He stayed motionless, his voice low, even as she moved further away. “I hope you realize that.”

She stopped as her back came flush against the door. “I do understand.” She notched up her chin.

That was the moment he realized her game.

The key. He patted his coat, but its absence was there for him to not feel. She flung open the door, lunging the moment a sliver of hallway appeared. He leapt, but the air fought him as he sprinted across the room, and she slipped through the door just as thunder boomed. The lock clicked shut.

The blasted woman had trapped him in his own chambers!

“Sophia!” he bellowed as he rammed against the door. The reinforced wood gave no quarter, yet a slight creaking betrayed wavering resolve. “Don’t you dare leave.” He lunged again, and the creaking loudened. The barrier would not last long.

Long enough for her to escape?

Perhaps.

“Open the door,” he commanded. “You have no chance of escape.”

“That’s not true.” Her voice was muffled through the wood. “This time I know what to do.”

Did she realize he was breaking out as they spoke? He lunged again. “Do you think to leave me here forever?” It was an immense exaggeration. In minutes, he would be free.

And she no longer would be.

“You needn’t worry. I’ll inform the townspeople to come to you. In fact, I will send several to ensure your safety.”

He shouldn’t be satisfied, yet somehow it mattered that she cared enough to protect him. He rammed the door again, denting the wood, and a long crack appeared. It would be costly to replace, yet far less valuable than the treasure who was trying to flee.

Thunder roared as rain pelted, the water pounding like thousands of tiny bullets against the thick pane. Lightning flashed, and a bolt of fear overshadowed his anger. “It’s far too dangerous to venture into this storm.”

“I’ve weathered storms before.” The low voice came through the doorway, the tone certain and strong. “I’m not afraid.”

He was. For a man who feared little, the thought of something happening to this woman was devastating . “You could get struck by lightning, or fall into the water. At the very least, you will face the consequences for risking yourself once more.”

“My fear of your consequences is no stronger than my fear of this storm.” The words were bold, yet a slight edge belied their poise. “A locked door separates us, and I have the only key.”

“Do not do this.” He pushed slower now, silencing the warning of his efforts. “Open the door, and we shall forget this ever happened. It’s only a few days more. Despite your claims, you were happy yesterday.”

“Therein lies the problem.” Her voice was so low, he was not certain he was meant to hear. “I cannot afford to be happy. Goodbye, Kenneth. Your revenge has been satisfied, and our business is concluded. Forever.”

No.

“Don’t leave,” he barked, yet there was no reply.

She was gone.

But not for long. This was not over, by any means. He would recapture her, even if she made it all the way to London.

He was never letting her go.

Had her plan worked? It seemed impossible from the beginning, unfathomable once he awoke. Yet she recalled his lesson: Use whatever resources available to distract your opponent. There was no better distraction than a kiss.

Unfortunately, the sensual web had also ensnared her. She could have grabbed the key in seconds, yet she could not resist his sensual attentions, the tantalizing touches that made her yearn for things that could never be hers. The man she could never keep.

He thought he shocked her by touching her breast. It was true – in the most delicious way possible. It had taken all her power to resist, poised on the edge of something remarkable. His touch sparked unquenchable sensations, unfilled needs desperate for more. Thankfully, it also shocked her back to reality, allowing her to escape.

Somehow she had made it.

A shadow of regret lurked, ludicrously, for her kidnapper. His concern about being trapped gave her pause, yet she would ensure his safety. Like she promised, she would send people to check on him, paid of course. It may not be necessary. She hadn’t missed how the door shook with his efforts, cracking and creaking with undeniable force. It was sturdy, yet he was a powerful man.

Thunder cracked above, and she quickened her pace. At the next strike, she hitched up her skirts and ran, racing to the tattoo of the pouring rain. She reached the door, grabbed the handle and pulled.

The world was alight with nature’s fury. Wind came from all directions, twirling and swirling in gusty waves. Lightning flashed, illuminating a waterlogged land of streams and valleys. The rain slanted down in racing sheets, stinging as it angled through the doorway, soaking the ground instantly.

She took a deep breath. She may have dashed through sun showers, but she had never faced such wrath. How could she escape in this?

She must fight. That she would escape him seemed impossible, yet no more than her earlier attempts. After she passed the bridge, she would find a place to hide, seek shelter from the rain as the deluge eliminated her tracks. When the storm passed, she would travel to the next town.

Suddenly, a crash sounded from the manor. Then, heavy footsteps. She flexed her muscles and leapt.

She had underestimated the storm.

This was immediately clear as thunder crashed again, as the world flashed in a nonstop electric display. A spider web of light leapt from the velvet sky to a nearby tree, engulfing it in flames before the rain extinguished it to a smoldering mass. It was nightmarish scene of shadows and danger, placing her center stage in a fireworks show, as she played both performer and audience in a world of peril.

The heavy scent of rain mixed with the noxious odor of charred wood, scratching her throat and scraping her lungs. Her wet hair lay plastered against her neck, as icy water dripped into her eyes, distorting her vision. She blinked it away a hundred and one times as she ran over the uneven terrain, leaping over rocks and dodging hail. Then… her foot caught under a fallen branch.

The ground came rushing at her. Jagged rocks sliced her palms, piercing the thin shirt and skinning her knees. She pushed herself up, yet stayed in place, straddling the darkened path to danger and the manor whose lighted windows beckoned like a safe harbor. The choice that seemed so certain now wavered. The price of her life was too high for a few days of freedom.

Sophia!” The storm swallowed Kenneth’s roar, yet its fury reached her. He had emerged from the estate, and was now soaring towards her with almost superhuman speed.

Suddenly she was in motion again.

Reason and logic vanished on the quest to freedom, her only goal the independence denied not just by this man, but every man who would dare control her. Her hunter commanded her to stop, ordered her to obey, so she pushed harder, further…

A bolt of lightning struck mere feet away. She screamed as the air sizzled , fighting to stop, even as the momentum pushed her forward. Shadows hid the danger before it was too late.

She plunged into the river.