My Lord Immortality (Immortal Rogues #3)(42)

"Hardly marvelous," he was forced to protest, his heart kicking as he felt a shiver race through her body. "I do not believe Mr. Ryan is entirely convinced that you and William have left London."

Her eyes darkened, her hands tentatively smoothing over the muscles of his chest.

"Perhaps not, but now he must consider Mr. Ramone as a suspect," she said, her hands audaciously lowered toward his tightly clenched stomach. "That was quite brilliant."

Sebastian caught his breath, his teeth gritting as her touch sent a violent surge of need through his body. Blessed Nefri. A few more moments and he might forget it was the middle of the morning and they were standing in the center of the open foyer.

It would be so delightfully easy. A few tugs upon the muslin nightrail. A few steps toward the nearby rug. A few kisses. And then ... paradise.

So much for his notorious restraint, he acknowledged wryly. At the moment he would gladly exchange every book he had ever owned for a soft bed and several hours of delicious privacy with this maiden.

Closing his eyes, he shifted to grasp her roaming hands. The sweet torture was more than any lusty vampire could bear.

"Amelia," he groaned in ragged tones. "You truly are a minx."

Her low chuckle did nothing to ease the aching tension that gripped his body.

"Are you sorry that you were sent to protect me?"

"No." He lifted his lids to gaze deep into her eyes. "No, I am not sorry."

A stillness settled about her as she regarded him with a haunting glimpse of vulnerability.

"Neither am I."

Amelia was on the library floor putting together a simple wooden puzzle with her fretful brother when Sebastian entered the room. Glancing up, she felt her heart skip a beat at the sight of him.

Despite the fact that she had been sheltered beneath his roof for the past two days, she had rarely been al-lowed to catch sight of him. He claimed that he had been busy ensuring that the devious Mr. Ramone did not make any further attempts to approach her. Perhaps it was a genuine excuse. But she had a deep suspicion that he was deliberately avoiding her company.

Now she found her gaze sweeping avidly over his body and lingering upon the chiseled features that plagued her dreams without mercy.

Her breath caught. The horrifying knowledge that he was not even human should have made his faintly exotic beauty repelling rather than fascinating, and the honey-accented voice something to be feared.

Unaccountably, however, Amelia could not gaze upon him and see a monster to be feared.

Nor even a mere guardian who would protect her and then vanish at swiftly as he had arrived.

He was, quite simply, the man who had charged into her lonely world and made her remember that she was a woman.

In silence she watched his approach, sensing the strain that he was careful to keep hidden. She wished she had the power to ease his burdens. Unfortunately, he remained far too aloof for her to offer her comfort. All she could do at the moment was avoid adding to his concerns.

A faint smile touched his lips as he watched William fiercely concentrating upon the puzzle piece in his tight clutch. Then he slowly turned to meet her searching gaze, the male features seeming to soften at her hint of concern.

"Come." He held out a slender hand. "I have brought you a surprise."

"A surprise?" Amelia readily placed her fingers in his and allowed herself to be pulled to her feet. "What surprise?"

Firmly tugging her arm through his own, Sebastian led her toward the open door.

"Patience, my dear."

She grimaced at his mysterious manner, but in truth she did not mind. It was enough just to be allowed to spend a rare few moments in his company.

Breathing deeply of his warm scent, Amelia shamelessly shifted closer to him as they moved through the hall and down the stairs. She had a dozen questions she wished to ask him, not the least of which was what the demonic Mr. Ramone intended to do next. Hut her lips remained closed. Her entire body was tingling with the wondrous sense of him. It was too pleasant to distract herself with distasteful thoughts of the treacherous vampire.

In silence, they continued toward the back of the house, and then, pushing open the door to the kitchen, he waved her through.

"What on earth are you up to?" she demanded as she stepped into the narrow room. Only then did she notice the slender woman standing next to the table. Rushing forward, she clutched the work-roughened fingers in her own. "Mrs. Benson," she breathed in pleasure.

"My dear." The servant smiled, although there were tears in her eyes. "I have been so worried.

How is William? Has he been eating properly? Does he have his favorite slippers?"

Amelia chuckled at the flurry of questions. She suddenly realized just how much she had missed the hectic chatter and unwavering love that this woman offered.

"He is quite well," she assured the older woman. "He will be very pleased to see you. I fear I do not make his muffins in the manner that he prefers."

A flush of pleasure touched the wrinkled cheeks as she instinctively glanced about the kitchen with an experienced eye.

"Well, I shall soon have him a batch in the oven."

"You will have ample time later," Sebastian said, firmly interrupting the happy reunion. "First you will wish to settle in your rooms."

"Yes, indeed, that would be lovely," Mrs. Benson was swift to agree.