Read Online If He's Dangerous by Hannah Howell - Free Book Online Page B

brow.”
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    â€œâ€™Tis but an innocent gesture, one of sympathy for someone in pain.”
    â€œIs that what you expect me to believe?”
    â€œAnd why should you not believe me?”
    â€œBecause I think you are lying through your pretty white teeth.”
    Before Lorelei could protest that remark, even if it was the truth, he kissed her. This time she did not hesitate to give herself over to his kiss. Hesitantly, she threaded her fingers through his thick hair even as she parted her lips to welcome the seductive intrusion of his tongue. Lorelei could not believe how alive she felt in his arms, her every sense awakened by his embrace. The scent of him, all male with a hint of the soap he had washed up with, filled her head. The taste of him was as heady as the richest chocolate and she knew she could quickly come to crave it. The way his tongue played within her mouth, stirring up a passion she had begun to think herself incapable of, drove all clear thought from her mind. Even the heat of his body pressed close to hers seeped inside her, entering the very blood pounding through her veins. When he softly cursed and abruptly ended the kiss, gently but firmly setting her aside, she hastily swallowed a whimper of dismay.
    â€œWhat the bloody hell am I doing?” Argus muttered, dragging the fingers of both hands through his hair.
    â€œKissing me again?” she replied sweetly, refusing to flinch before the cross look he sent her. He was the one who had pulled her into his arms and kissed her.
    â€œThat must never happen again. You”—he pointed one long, graceful finger at her—“will cease to come here.”
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    â€œOh, no, I think not. Your presence is still a great secret and, if Max is busy as he so often is, I am the only one who can ensure that you have the food, drink, and clean linens you need.” She shrugged. “You cannot choose who will aid you yet, sir.”
    â€œFine. Then, when you must be here, you are to stay far away from me.”
    â€œAs you wish. Rest well, Sir Argus.”
    Lorelei fled the room before he could say any more. He was a fool to think they could stay a proper distance apart at all times after sharing a kiss like that. She had the growing suspicion that she had finally found the man she had been looking for and she had every intention of staying very close until he agreed that they were a good match, or turned away from her so completely she could not mistake his rejection.
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    Argus glared at the door as it shut behind Lorelei. He knew she was not going to do as he asked and it was evident that he had very little control when she was near. Closing his eyes, he vowed to work harder to regain his strength so that he could run as far and as fast as he could. A little voice in his head whispered that he could run all he liked but he would never escape the memory of her kiss. He ruthlessly silenced it.

Chapter 5
    â€œHis Grace would like to speak with you, m’lady.” Nine little words should not make her heart leap with such alarm, Lorelei thought, yet they did. She had the chilling feeling that, somehow, her father had learned about Sir Argus. The man had been hiding in the gatehouse for a full week so it was certainly possible that even her sweet, distracted father could have noticed something suspicious.
    As she set aside her needlework and rose to follow Max out of the parlor, Lorelei suddenly recalled the swift departure of Cyrus and Peter. They had barely paused in their escape from Sundunmoor to say a proper farewell. If she had not happened to enter the front hall just as they were going out the door, she doubted very much that they would have said a word to her about leaving. Her cousins must have told her father something, perhaps even everything.
    â€œHe knows about Sir Wherlocke,” she said, looking hopefully at Max for a denial even though she doubted he would give her one.
    â€œHe does,”