Forever My Love(88)
"Playing sick seems to be a particular talent among the men in your family," Mira observed dryly.
"It worked," he pointed out. "Their engagement was announced at the ball and banquet that night."
Mira grinned. "I think that despite what you say, your mother is a romantic."
"Not as much as you are."
Though she tried to ignore his teasing smile, it sent a flicker of warmth through her. "There is one thing I don't understand," she said. "How did you receive the title if your father was only the second son?"
"My oldest uncle died before siring any children. My father was killed in a riding accident about ten years ago."
Mira nodded silently, and then she realized that during their conversation Alec had slowed the horse's pace until they were at the very end of the line of sleighs. "Why are we going so slowly? Is the horse tired?'
There was a devilish gleam in his eyes, a gleam that she mistrusted. "We're taking a shortcut."
"You haven't asked for my permission."
"I told you once—I don't like to ask for permission."
"What kind of shortcut?"
"Everyone is driving around the outskirts of the woods along the loop that leads back to the Stamford estates. We're going to cut through that path… right through there… and join up with them on the other side."
"Listen well, my lord. You may be willing to take chances with your reputation, but I—"
"I told you once to call me Alec—""Many things have changed since then." "—and no one will notice our absence." "Rosalie will!"
"Do you think she'll say anything about it if she does notice?" Alec asked, and clicked to the horse. "Not unless she's willing to risk having the story of her meeting with Brummell spread all over London."
"You'd actually blackmail her?" Mira demanded, clutching the edge of the sleigh as it coursed smoothly and quickly away from the others.
"I prefer to think of it as exchanging my silence for hers."
"You are a scoundrel! No wonder she said you…" "I what?" Alec prompted, grinning as she sputtered into silence. The sleigh sped past pine trees glistening with icicles. "Never mind, I can guess. I make her uneasy, don't I? She doesn't trust me—" "Obviously she has excellent instincts.' "—and she doesn't want me around her poor lamb. Poor defenseless Mira, who carries such interesting toys in her reticule." "I don't anymore." "No daggers today?" "No!"
"It makes no difference," he said, and stopped the sleigh at the edge of the woods. "You can wound with your words far more deeply." The stillness of the winter forest was broken by the crackling of ice and branches. It was a world suspended in time, brittle and beautiful.
"They can't wound you. My words merely glance off you like blunted arrows," she replied, her voice hushed in the quiet surroundings. Alec shook his head, his smile fading. Suddenly he was serious and tender, and he was staring at her as if he had just realized something he had not understood before.
"Not at all. They strike and sink in deep, and resist my efforts to pull them out.""Alec," she whispered, "I'm afraid I don't believe you."
"Your voice is shaking. You aren't afraid, are you?"
"I'm cold."
"I won't hurt you." He leaned closer, tracing the curve of her jaw with a gloved fingertip.
Her eyelashes fluttered downward at the smooth, cool touch of leather on her skin, and anticipation held her motionless as he bent his dark head.
His mouth touched hers, and his lips were warm and slow… the sweetness of the kiss seared through her deeply. Their bodies were separated by layers of thick clothing, and all Mira could feel was that hot, intimate kiss burning into her mouth so gently, so persistently. It had been so long, so long since she had felt cherished. He made her feel special, he made her feel as if she were the only woman in the world he wanted. There was a sensual twisting inside of her, and a strong throbbing… her thoughts became confused, and everything faded except him as she responded to him blindly.
As she took a shivering breath, the bitter freshness of winter air filled her nostrils. Needing to be closer to him, she drew her hand from her muff and lifted her fingers to his cheek. The masculine abrasiveness of his skin was there against her fingertips, and her palm curved tenderly around the hard edge of his jaw as she savored the freedom of touching him. His arm tightened around her back… craving the taste of her, Alec slanted his mouth across hers and sought her tongue with his, their lips fused together tightly, until Mira was too overwhelmed to bear it any longer and turned her face away with a gasp.