My One and Only Earl (Forever Yours #12) - Stacy Reid Page 0,49

reveal that she was hurt or suffering from any injuries. Relief sliced through him, and then the reality of the situation truly sank in his bones.

Bloody hell. She was here. Under his roof. Alone with him. A loud roar filled James’s head, and his loins grew heavy on a painful rush of desire.

This was disastrous. James did the only thing he could in the situation.

“You will turn around and return home at once!” he ordered in a tone that would suffer no rebuttal, only instant obedience.

Then he turned and ran.

Poppy stared in astonishment as James ran in loping bounds up the staircase of his home. The butler made a choked sound as she hurried after him. “James, what are you doing? I must meet with you right away!”

“Milady,” the butler cried rushing after her.

James paused, gripping the banister. “Did I not tell you to leave?”

“Yes, but that I am here and in disguise should tell you it is clearly a matter of grave importance.”

A pained grimace crossed his face. “I will find you later and speak of it.”

“It might very well be too late then! I overheard a matter of importance that is related to you.” She lowered her voice and glanced back at the butler on her heels when she said this, not wanting servants to get a hint of anything that might involve Rebecca. Poppy knew firsthand that servants loved to gossip, and most scandals from private homes were spread by them.

“I will bear it in mind,” he said, “I shall call on you tomorrow.”

Then he continued up the stairs. Poppy gaped at his retreating back. What in the world was he about? Why was he acting in this strange and odious manner? Tomorrow would be too late. He would attend the ball tonight, and then he would be trapped in her stepmother’s scheme.

Poppy sprinted up the stairs with a muttered curse, leaving the butler in a confused daze at its base. Upon reaching the landing just in time to see James closing a door down the hallway. What in heavens was happening. She tested the doorknob and found it locked.

Poppy knocked on the door. “James?”

No answer came forth. She knocked again, and still, the dratted man refused to come to the door. Poppy would leave a note for him and damn his silly hide. He would owe her an explanation for this behavior. She walked away, and her steps faltered. He would occupy the master chamber, so the room beside his should be an adjoining one. Poppy tested that knob, and it opened noiselessly under her palm. She hurried to the connecting door, opened it and spilled into James’s room.

He was there, pacing like a caged lion and raking his fingers through his hair. At her entrance, he whirled toward her, his lips parting in shock.

“James, I must tell you. I overheard my…my stepmother plotting to compromise you most thoroughly at tonight’s ball. You must not attend it. That is what I wanted to share with you, but you ran away from me. What is wrong with you?”

“I told you to leave,” he growled.

“Well, yes…you did…James. Why are you removing your jacket?”

Next, his shoes came off, and with an almost violent motion, he tugged his shirttails from his pants.

“I tried to stay away from you. I really did. But then you are here, in my chambers, where all the carnal fantasies I’ve had of you happened. I’ve fisted my cock to the very image of you, and you are here.”

Oh, dear. “Do you mean to ravish me?” she demanded a bit breathlessly, wondering why she was not running.

“Every delectable inch of you.”

That promise had heat blossoming through her body, and her sex ached unexpectedly.

“So my dearest, Poppy, run. I’ll not chase you, but I do not have the willpower to deny myself you anymore. Every night I dream of you…and you are here.”

Her heart jerked so fast Poppy felt dizzy. “Every night, I think of you as well, James. You…You are more than a friend. You are someone I crave.” The confession felt torn from her very soul.

James made a strange sound when she removed her hat and veil and tossed it onto the chaise longue and toed off her shoes.

“You are not running.”

“Only unless it is into your arms,” she said softly, her heart beating so fast she felt faint. “I want this…I want you.”

He held out his arms, and she hurtled herself forward. James gathered her into his arms, dragging her up against his body,