Perilous Risk Read Online Free Page B

sharing just once?”
    “I don’t have a rule about sharing.”
    “But you just said—”
    “I said I wouldn’t share you .”
    “Oh.”
    “If you want to be mine, you must be mine wholly. Exclusively.”
    Possession sounded in his voice, a definite edge. What would it be like, to be taken by such a man? To be enveloped by such all-consuming passion? Temptation beat through her. Yet fear also went tingling through the pit of her stomach.
    His gaze held hers. “Do you understand me?”
    “Yes, of course, I understand.”
    “So I ask again, do you want to go upstairs, just you and me?”
    “I told you, he will not allow it.”
    “To the devil with what he allows.”
    She gaped at him.
    “I am asking if you want to be mine.” His voice shook and strong emotion flashed in his eyes.
    Or had she just imagined that? For in the next instant, his expression went impassive.
    Her jaw dropped even as her mouth went completely dry. Her heart hammered against her ribs. She took two steps backwards and reached behind her, laying her hands on Jon’s powerful body. Seeking his rock-solid safety.
    She turned to Jon.
    He looked away from Kean and the other two gentlemen. The smile died on his face. “What?” he asked.
    “He said no.”
    Jon took her hand.
    She knew it must feel like ice. And she must be pale, for the blood had surely drained from her head.
    Jon’s eyes burned like blue fire. “That prig insulted you?”
    “No, I think…” Her voice broke as Jon lunged towards Stephen.
    Stephen’s eyes narrowed and he pushed Jon back. His sensual mouth quirked with sudden amusement.
    “Jon!” She rushed to Jon’s side. “Don’t make a scene.”
    Jon grasped the younger man by the lapels.
    Stephen pushed him back again and he laughed, a harsh sound in his hoarse voice.
    “Apologize to Mrs Howland,” Jon demanded.
    Stephen brushed his coat off and pulled on the bottom of his waistcoat to straighten it. Then he looked at Rebecca. “If the lady asks for an apology, I will certainly give her one.”
    Rebecca wanted to make herself very small and disappear. Instead, she forced her trembling lips to smile. “That’s not necessary.”
    She placed her hand on Jon’s arm.
    He glanced down at her.
    “Please can we just go up to our chamber now?”
    Jon shook his head. “He’s going to apologize to you.”
    A woman’s scream carried over the din of voices in the chamber. Sudden silence followed.
    Everyone was rushing to that side of the parlour.
    “He’s dead!”
    Confusion and panic erupted, so strongly that Rebecca could feel it in the air. Long experienced working as a nurse on the battlefield, she moved to see for herself what could be done. Jon gripped her hand, attempted to stop her but she jerked against his hold and hurried over to the scene herself.
    Sure enough, the American businessman Mr Buckham lay on the floor, his drink spilled beside him. His eyes were open and unseeing.
    Hands grasped her shoulders. She was jerked around and pulled against a male body. Jon’s scent surrounded her.
    She pushed against his chest. “Let me go, Jon.”
    He caressed her hair, pressing her head a little tighter to his chest. “Don’t look, sweeting.”
    Crushed to his chest, she breathed in the scent of smoke and road dust and wool. Oh, how silly. His gentlemanly instincts picked peculiar times to emerge. She was well used to seeing death, he knew this about her better than anyone else. But his inheritance seemed to civilize him more and more now that he kept company with sheltered, highborn ladies possessed of fragile nerves.
    His touch on her head lightened and she pulled back slightly. “I need to see what—”
    “You can’t do anything for him now,” Jon said in a dry tone.
    “We can die at any time.” Stephen’s voice sounded behind her.
    Longing burst within her. Even as Jon continued to hold her. What a betrayal—she had never suspected herself capable of such emotional betrayal.
    Jon was her love.
    Her