Carpathian 21 - Dark Peril

was difficult to equate the man who treated her so gently with the whispered legend. She took a quick look up at his face. She could see the stamp of ruthlessness there in those lines etched so deep. He had given her the best moments of her life in the short time they’d been together, but at what price? He was not someone she could ever push around, and she had a fiery temperament. What would happen when she opened her mouth and the wrong thing came out?

    “Solange?” he prompted. “Are you ready?” He held out his hand to her.

    Her heart jumped into her throat. She could never take his hand publicly. What if someone saw her? She would look girly . . . weak. Her pulse went wild. Frantic. He simply looked at her, his ever-changing eyes on her face, compelling her to step forward and put her hand in his. Women did it all the time, held hands with their man. She rubbed her palms along her thighs in agitation.

    He didn’t drop his hand, only continued to look at her. She scented the air and licked her suddenly dry lips, her gaze flicking toward the door, checking for anyone close.

    “Look at me,” Dominic instructed. “Only at me. It does not matter what anyone else thinks or feels. Only me.”

    “It’s just that . . .” She trailed off under his burning gaze.

    Why couldn’t she just do such a simple thing? What was wrong with her? She found herself shaking her head, stepping back away from him, knowing she was blowing the only chance she had at happiness, but unable to reach for his hand.

    He didn’t waver. Didn’t drop his arm. He crooked his finger at her. “I am aware of the location of every person on this ranch, and aware of your fears. Do you not trust me to look out for you?”

    She wanted to sob at the look in those piercing blue eyes. Of course he knew where everyone was. He shouldn’t have had to remind her. She knew he wouldn’t take the step to her. She was going to have to do it. She glanced at the woman so silent and pale on the bed. Marguarita could have done it and she wouldn’t have thought twice about it.

    Was pride getting in the way? Her pride was already in tatters. She closed her eyes, took a breath and stepped forward, placing her hand in Dominic’s. At once his fingers closed around hers, making her feel small and far too vulnerable. He drew her to him, close so that her body was nearly touching his. So she could feel the heat radiating from him.

    “That’s my little cat.”

    The approval in his voice warmed her and that frightened her. She’d never needed or sought anyone’s approval. Why was it so important to her? She was upset with herself that she’d never asked Juliette or MaryAnn about how they felt when their men were upset or happy with them. Was she normal? Who was she kidding? There was nothing normal about her.

    He brought her hand to his mouth. She could feel the warmth of his breath, see warmth in his eyes, although she could barely look at him. She was so going to blow this. Her stomach flipped and her womb spasmed when he nibbled on the ends of her fingers.

    “Are you ready?” he asked again.

    Ready to be alone with him again? Was she ready for that? She doubted it, but what was she going to do? It was better to just not say anything. She nodded her head.

    He let go of her and a part of her was grateful while another idiotic part wished he was still holding her close. He bent over Marguarita and she tasted bitterness in her mouth. Her cat slammed hard against her skin and, glancing in the mirror, she saw her eyes had gone completely jaguar. She turned away from that display of female jealousy. She was sad for poor Marguarita, her life changed for all time, yet she was anxious that Dominic might compare them. Marguarita was a beautiful woman, slender, with curves and flawless skin, while she was . . . all sinewy muscle and padding.

    Dominic turned, and this time he was frowning. “I do not like your unflattering comparison of my woman to another.”

    Her heart did that now familiar jump. She sighed. Maybe you shouldn’t be reading my thoughts without my knowledge. She couldn’t help the thought from popping into her head and she winced, hoping he didn’t hear that. She squashed every snippy thing she wanted to say and bit down hard on her lip. She couldn’t imagine what he would do when she gave him attitude—which was inevitable. Even her younger cousin Jasmine, who loved her very much, said she had a major attitude