Tall, Duke, and Dangerous (Hazards of Dukes #2) - Megan Frampton Page 0,69
her, a nearly tangible thing that made her shiver.
Reminding her that only a week or so ago he’d had his hand on her breast, caressing her nipple. That he’d spoken delightfully naughty things in her ear as he touched her.
“Stop that,” she said. “We won’t ever leave if you insist on looking at me that way.”
He stepped forward, unfolding his arms. “Maybe we shouldn’t leave.”
“Nash . . .”
“Call me by my name,” he said hoarsely. “Ignatius.”
She blinked. “Ignatius.” It was such an odd name for Nash; it sounded as though it belonged to a wizened old man who spent his days in his study.
He grimaced. “Yes, I know it’s ridiculous.”
“It’s not!” she exclaimed. “Just—just that I didn’t know your name. Ever.” She paused. “Do Sebastian and Thaddeus know?”
He shook his head slowly. “No. You’re the only one I’ve told.”
His admission made her warm inside, made her feel as though he did truly value her in his life. To share something with her he’d never told his closest friends meant something. Especially from “I don’t speak when I could grunt” Nash.
She patted his lapel, looking up into his handsome face. “Thank you for trusting me with that. Ignatius.”
He looked at her with an expression of such vulnerability, so different from his usual expression, that she had to swallow hard to keep herself from tearing up.
“So,” he said in his usual tone, “we had better leave so you don’t miss seeing the new shipment. I don’t want to be responsible if you lose out on purchasing more fabric to beat potential assaulters over the head with.”
She chuckled, giving his lapel one last caress.
“Yes, Ignatius, we should leave.”
He didn’t know what had made him tell her. Not that it was a deep secret; it was a name, for goodness’ sake. One that anybody could discover, if they cared to. But he hadn’t used it, not since his mother had left. She was the only one who’d called him by it, and after she left, he became Nash.
Until Ana Maria.
He escorted her out to his carriage, nodding to the coachman and the additional footmen he’d insisted come along.
He knew he could take care of Ana Maria himself, but he wanted extra protection just because.
Because she was a precious thing that should never get hurt.
Because he cared for her far more than he should.
Because he wanted her to feel safe and protected anytime she was with him.
Except when he was kissing her—then he wanted her to feel wild and dangerous. Like he did.
He was falling, he knew that. And yet he couldn’t seem to stop.
And it would only end in heartache.
“Are you all right?”
Her soft tone brought him out of his thoughts.
“Mm,” he replied. He turned to meet her eyes, their warm brown depths making him feel safe, oddly enough.
He was safe with her. She would respect his opinions, challenge him when he needed it, and listen to him on one of the rare occasions he spoke.
“Why do you want so much fabric?” he asked. “You’ve redecorated the salon, I can tell that much.”
She leaned back against the seat cushion, giving him an affronted look. “You don’t like how I redecorated?”
“I didn’t say that. It’s very—it’s very colorful.”
“That sounds nearly as complimentary as telling me I look too good,” she said with a chuckle.
He frowned, knowing she was being lighthearted, but also keenly aware of his inability to communicate how he felt.
“It’s very you,” he said at last. “When I think of you, Ana Maria, I think of joy. Of color. Of being happy, even when things seem to be miserable.”
“Oh!” she said in a startled tone. “That is—that is one of the nicest things anyone has ever said to me. Thank you. Ignatius.”
“Mm,” he replied, completely embarrassed.
“When I think of you, I think of possibility,” she said.
He raised his eyebrows in question.
“By possibility I mean that you have so much within you, things I don’t think you recognize yourself. Things like kindness and empathy and power.”
“I’m powerful enough,” he retorted. The many fights he’d gotten into—and won—were testament to that.
“I don’t mean power in your brute force, though that is certainly impressive.”
He shouldn’t feel proud of that compliment, but he did.
“I mean power in what you can do for people.”
“Because I’m a duke, you mean?”
She shook her head. “Not just that, although of course you are able to do so much because of your position. I mean power in who you champion. I don’t know if you realize how much you mean to Sebastian