Read Online Redeeming the Deception of Grace by Kristin Vayden - Free Book Online
Authors: Kristin Vayden
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lips as she took in a breath , causing Ewan to glance down at them .
Unable to hide his desire , he licked his own and pulled her in closer, inhaling the scent of rose and citrus he associated with her, only her . Had he ever told her what a beauty she had become ?
****
What was he doing? The deep blue of his eyes seemed to capture Grace ' s focus, holding her captive and prisoner within their depths . Unable to look away , she felt panic begin in her chest as he caress ed her face with his gaze. The heat in his eyes made her skin feel flush ed , and she tried not to tremble as his hand tightened on her waist , drawing her a fraction closer .
" You are beautiful , Grace . I don ' t think I ' ve ever told you. " His muted tone rang with sincerity, but could it be true ? Oh, he had implied it before, charmed her with his rakish looks and compliments , but he had never taken down the roguish veneer , as he had just done . He spoke as if stating it was simply acknowledging a universal truth, incontestable . It made her feel beautiful to the tips of her toes and warm from the inside out . Never had someone so simply compliment ed her with such great authenticity.
" Thank you. " It was all she could manage as she struggled to keep herself from falling even more in love with Ewan . Shiply. She had to think of Shiply , and then maybe she ' d be able to erect the protective walls around her heart.
" Are you enjoying your evening? " Ewan asked, searching her eyes for a response before her lips gave it.
" Yes. "
Never had she been so without words! But as she took in the strong jaw and full lips of Ewan ' s face as he spoke , she couldn ' t form any more words in her hazy mind .
What would it be like to kiss him? s he wondered. Surely it would be like heaven .
As if reading her thoughts , he focused his gaze on her lips and licked his own, causing heat to swirl in Grace ' s belly. She bit her bottom lip to keep it from acting on its own accord , to refrain from reaching up to kiss Ewan in the middle of the crowed ballroom.
Ewan ' s eyes darkened with a hungry desire she hadn ' t seen before , and h is breathing sounded labored as they t wirled around the dance floor, unaware of anyone else . He pulled her closer still, his hands at her back sear ed her skin.
" Grace … " h e whispered, speaking her name with reverence and — dare she hope love?
" Hmm? " She allowed her gaze to wander from his hungry eyes to his full lips.
When the music ended , she found she couldn ' t move from Ewan ' s embrace. Even if she could have moved her body, Ewan wasn ' t releasing her . After a deliciously tense moment where Grace waited and wondered, Ewan closed his eyes .
H e took a deep breath and opened the m . The way his eyes hungrily demanded her gaze left no question as to how he was affected as well. With a slight bow and an improper kiss to her gloved fingers that reminded her of the one she had received earlier — for which she had mercilessly berated him — he escorted her to the edge of the room.
" Until later. " He spoke the words as promise , and after a slight hesitation, he trailed a finger down the edge of her face, leaving Grace shivering with hope as he walked away . Hope , she feared , would be her undoing.
C hapter Seven
As Ewan walked away from Grace he berated himself. He had almost kissed her on the dance floor! The scandal! He would have ruined her! As much as the though t appealed to him, he didn ' t think she ' d find it romantic . Regardless of how he would profess his love afterward, it would still be tainted . No, he must guard himself , lest he destroy everything he was trying to gain.
Looking over the room, trying to settle his aroused state after his waltz with Grace , he noticed Miss Jacobsen along the edge of the wall again, not too far away from where he stood . She hadn ' t seen him — her eyes follow ed Shiply with unabashed longing.
With a quick stride, Ewan stood just
Unable to hide his desire , he licked his own and pulled her in closer, inhaling the scent of rose and citrus he associated with her, only her . Had he ever told her what a beauty she had become ?
****
What was he doing? The deep blue of his eyes seemed to capture Grace ' s focus, holding her captive and prisoner within their depths . Unable to look away , she felt panic begin in her chest as he caress ed her face with his gaze. The heat in his eyes made her skin feel flush ed , and she tried not to tremble as his hand tightened on her waist , drawing her a fraction closer .
" You are beautiful , Grace . I don ' t think I ' ve ever told you. " His muted tone rang with sincerity, but could it be true ? Oh, he had implied it before, charmed her with his rakish looks and compliments , but he had never taken down the roguish veneer , as he had just done . He spoke as if stating it was simply acknowledging a universal truth, incontestable . It made her feel beautiful to the tips of her toes and warm from the inside out . Never had someone so simply compliment ed her with such great authenticity.
" Thank you. " It was all she could manage as she struggled to keep herself from falling even more in love with Ewan . Shiply. She had to think of Shiply , and then maybe she ' d be able to erect the protective walls around her heart.
" Are you enjoying your evening? " Ewan asked, searching her eyes for a response before her lips gave it.
" Yes. "
Never had she been so without words! But as she took in the strong jaw and full lips of Ewan ' s face as he spoke , she couldn ' t form any more words in her hazy mind .
What would it be like to kiss him? s he wondered. Surely it would be like heaven .
As if reading her thoughts , he focused his gaze on her lips and licked his own, causing heat to swirl in Grace ' s belly. She bit her bottom lip to keep it from acting on its own accord , to refrain from reaching up to kiss Ewan in the middle of the crowed ballroom.
Ewan ' s eyes darkened with a hungry desire she hadn ' t seen before , and h is breathing sounded labored as they t wirled around the dance floor, unaware of anyone else . He pulled her closer still, his hands at her back sear ed her skin.
" Grace … " h e whispered, speaking her name with reverence and — dare she hope love?
" Hmm? " She allowed her gaze to wander from his hungry eyes to his full lips.
When the music ended , she found she couldn ' t move from Ewan ' s embrace. Even if she could have moved her body, Ewan wasn ' t releasing her . After a deliciously tense moment where Grace waited and wondered, Ewan closed his eyes .
H e took a deep breath and opened the m . The way his eyes hungrily demanded her gaze left no question as to how he was affected as well. With a slight bow and an improper kiss to her gloved fingers that reminded her of the one she had received earlier — for which she had mercilessly berated him — he escorted her to the edge of the room.
" Until later. " He spoke the words as promise , and after a slight hesitation, he trailed a finger down the edge of her face, leaving Grace shivering with hope as he walked away . Hope , she feared , would be her undoing.
C hapter Seven
As Ewan walked away from Grace he berated himself. He had almost kissed her on the dance floor! The scandal! He would have ruined her! As much as the though t appealed to him, he didn ' t think she ' d find it romantic . Regardless of how he would profess his love afterward, it would still be tainted . No, he must guard himself , lest he destroy everything he was trying to gain.
Looking over the room, trying to settle his aroused state after his waltz with Grace , he noticed Miss Jacobsen along the edge of the wall again, not too far away from where he stood . She hadn ' t seen him — her eyes follow ed Shiply with unabashed longing.
With a quick stride, Ewan stood just
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