All the Things You Never Knew - By Angealica Hewley Page 0,81
the room,” she said, pulling the door to close.
“You are trying to shut off my foot, aren’t you?”
“I’m trying to get to bed and let you rest,” she countered.
“With my foot holding the door? I think not.”
“Don’t spark my temper, Duke!”
“It’s Laguna,” he corrected. He hates being called a Duke. True that he is one, but he doesn’t like it coming from her. There’s always a hint of anger and hatred whenever she says it. It’s as if she holds this grudge against dukes.
“Fine, Mr. Laguna. Please go to sleep and rest so that you will be energized for the trip back to London with my brother,” she said more nicely.
For some reason, he knew that Leon isn’t going to be back on the morrow. If he’s to save Rose, it will take longer than just a few hours. But he isn’t going to tell her that, or else she will throw a fit again.
He just smiled and said, “Exclude the Mister, but I do like the way you say my name, Avangelene.”
That broke a smile from her. First smile of the night and it warms his heart.
“Okay, good night.”
She turned to leave but he reached out and grabbed her arm. “Wait,” he said. He didn’t want to be alone.
She looked down at his hand and then up at him. “What else do you want, Laguna?”
“I–” What was he to say? “Can you stay with me for a while…at least until I start to fall asleep, please?”
She opened her mouth as to argue but then sighed and nodded.
Relief flood through him and he moved aside to let her back in, dropping the lamp back on the dresser.
“So, what do we do now?” she asked, giving a yawn.
“May I give you some words of advice?” he asked, as he went to sit down on the bed.
She rolled her eyes. “What?”
“Don’t ask a man ‘what do we do now’ when you two are alone in a room. With a single bed. You don’t know how many things he has running in his head from that question.”
She gave out a hysteric laugh.
“What do you have running through your head then, Mr. Duke?”
Does she really have to ask?
“Things,” he shrugged. “Discomfort from the way you asked it.”
She laughed again; it was enchanting.
“Rest,” she said.
“I will try.” He has to; otherwise he will want to do more than rest.
She went over and helped him down on the bed, pulling the cover over him. He feels as if she was his wife and him, her husband. The only thing was that there was no kiss.
Kiss.
The idea tempts him, but he wasn’t going to take advantage of his best friend’s sister.
God, he’s betraying Leon on this. He feels as if he’s, surprisingly as it may seem, falling in love with Avangelene. Leon would totally kill him if he does. That might have seemed like an exaggeration, but Leon would strongly disapprove. He has to stop wishing for the impossible.
“So, Laguna,” said Avangelene. “May I go to bed now?”
“No, tell me a story,” he said without thinking. It’s as if his mind is forcing out anything to make her stay.
She raised an eyebrow at him and sighed as she kneels down in front of him.
Thank God she didn’t argue. Maybe she was too tired.
“What kind of story?” she asked, folding her arms to rest on the bed beside him.
“Any,” he said, closing his eyes and waiting. “Anything.”
She sighed again and cleared her throat. “You’re acting like a child.”
“Yes, and I’m enjoying it,” he answered with a chuckle.
“Arrogant duke.”
He laughed and reached down to take her hand, feeling her jump at his touch.
“Sorry. Just for a while,” he said, bringing her hand to his cheek. They were soft and warm against his skin. He doesn’t know if he can ever let go.
“Duke–”
He halted her with his free hand and snuggled against the back of her hand. “You may tell me a story now.”
She blew an exasperated breath and adjusted the cover around him. “Fine. How about an annoying Duke harassing a peasant girl?”
“No,” he said, sighing against her hand. “A Duke that falls in love with a Goddess…you.”
Avangelene chuckled and flicked his forehead.
“Hey stop it. I’m a Duke!”
“Whatever,” she said, and began the story. “Once upon a time…”
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
Rose couldn’t stop crying as she sat hugging the post that she had been imprisoned to. She had been betrayed…by her own father!
The marquess had convinced him of her sin, which she can’t really deny herself, and was raged with anger.