She turned and looked over her shoulder at him. Now he most definitely should look away. But how could he? With her body side on to him, the sunlight was exposing the outline of her breasts to his gaze. Full, round, firm breasts, just waiting for a man’s hands to caress them. The stirring in his groin grew more intense. He must look away. He must. Slowly, reluctantly, his eyes left those beautiful breasts and he looked up at her face. She was staring at him. For one intense moment she held his gaze. Like a prisoner, trapped by his desire, Dominic continued to stare back at her. The very room seemed to hold its breath as he waited for her to react. She had every right to be outraged by his libertine behaviour. If she threw him out of her rooms right now and on to the street it would be no less than he deserved.
Her gaze moved down to where the shape of the bedclothes revealed the powerful effect she was having on him. She bit her lip and a delicate blush appeared on her cheeks. ‘Well, you seem to be on the mend,’ she said with a small, embarrassed laugh. ‘But I think it might be an idea if I dressed in the other room.’ With that, she picked up her clothes and disappeared into the adjoining room.
It was Dominic who should be embarrassed, not her. This young woman had tended his wounds, had given up her bed for him, and he repaid her by spying on her, by lusting after her. He tried once more to rise from the bed and a searing pain shot through his chest and back, the ripping agony of his injuries completely removing the shameful evidence of his reaction to seeing Miss Regan in her nightgown.
Despite his pain, Dominic could not stay in these rooms a second longer. He had imposed on this young woman long enough and now he had embarrassed her by his lustful behaviour. He placed his hand on the iron bedstead. Slowly he eased himself up to a sitting position. Inch by inch he manoeuvred his legs across the bed and over the side. Taking a few deep, slow breaths so he could bear the pain, he stood up. Burning agony shot through his body, causing him to double over, and fall back on to the bed as an animal cry escaped his mouth.
Miss Regan’s hands caught him before he slipped to the floor. In his agony he hadn’t heard her enter the room and he was incapable of resisting as she gently eased him back on to the bed. Her lovely face was contorted with concern. In her haste to help him she had left her blouse unbuttoned. Through his pain he registered the soft round mounds of her décolletage. The creamy skin was so inviting, so tempting. He released another moan, but this time for an entirely different reason.
‘Do not try to get out of bed again,’ she admonished him while pulling her blouse together, hiding that beautiful sight from his inappropriate gaze. ‘The doctor said you might have broken a rib and it could pierce your lung.’
‘I can’t stay here. I’ve imposed too long.’ And despite my injuries I’m finding it increasingly difficult to behave like a gentleman. Broken rib, pierced lung or not, it was time Dominic left.
‘You’re being ridiculous. If you die on me, that will be an even bigger imposition. Now promise me, you will not try to get out of bed again.’
She waited, staring at him, her eyes blazing.
‘I said promise. You are not to try to get out of that bed.’
‘I should go. I shouldn’t be here.’
‘Well, you are here. And unless you promise me you’re not going to move I’m going to tie you to the bed. So, do as you’re told and don’t move.’
He smiled despite his pain. Those green eyes were flashing in anger, just as they had when he’d first seen her standing in the servants’ hall at Hardgrave Estate, her hands on her hips, her chin lifted in defiance. This little slip of a girl really did have a streak of iron in her.
‘All right. All right. I promise.’
She nodded in satisfaction.
‘But, please, can you send someone to fetch my valet? He’ll be able to arrange for me to be transported back to my own home.’
She leant over him and pulled up the quilt. He tried desperately to ignore the temptation to look down at her soft breasts. He fought not to inhale her delicate scent of roses, so soft and feminine. He needed to think of other things if he was to avoid once again revealing to her just how much of a cad he was. He should not be thinking such lustful thoughts while she was doing all she could to help him.
She left the room again and a few minutes later returned with a tray containing a teapot, two cups and a plate of toast and jam.
‘I’m sure it’s not quite as grand as what you usually have for breakfast,’ she said, pouring the tea. ‘But I’m afraid this will have to do.’
He thanked her as he took the cup and saucer from her outstretched hand. ‘You are very kind to put yourself to all this trouble.’
‘Oh, stop saying that. You kept saying that last night and I told you to stop. It’s my fault you’re in this condition. You should be reprimanding me, not thanking me.’
Dominic laughed, a laugh that was cut short by pain searing through his side. ‘Would you actually listen to anyone who reprimanded you?’
She smiled and shrugged one shoulder. ‘Probably not.’
He took a sip of the hot drink, avoiding the cut on the edge of his bottom lip, and looked around the small room. It was quite humble accommodation, but she had made it attractive and feminine, with patchwork quilts, embroidered cushions and an array of
