Furthermore, she poured tea on a regular basis. Madeline didn't care to, while Eleanor found comfort in the scent, the warmth, the routine. But right now, with all of Mr. Knight's attention focused on her, the task became an ordeal. The pot seemed to weigh too much. The cup rattled in the saucer as she picked it up. She tilted the pot, aimed the spout toward the cup-
And in that same, smiling, deceptively pleasant voice, Mr. Knight said, "I like having a duchess wait on me."
Both of Eleanor's hands shook. The hot liquid splashed on her fingers. She dropped the cup. As she reached for it, it shattered against the table. A shard jabbed into her palm.
She yanked her hand back and closed her fingers.
In a rush, he came and knelt beside her. "Are you hurt? Did you burn yourself?"
"No, no, I'm fine." She wasn't fine. She was embarrassed. She cultivated the graceful moves of a lady for a reason. She hated making a spectacle of herself- and now her nerves had betrayed her. "Please, Mr. Knight, stand up."
For all the notice he took of her, she might not have spoken. Turning her hand to the light, he at once detected the slight cut beneath her little finger, oozing a sullen drop of scarlet blood. "You've cut yourself."
"Only a little." She tried to tug her hand back. "I was clumsy. I broke your beautiful cup."
"To hell with the cup." He pressed his finger lightly on the cut.
She winced.
"You're lucky. There's nothing in there." Lifting her hand to his mouth, he sucked the small wound.
Shocked, she stared at him. His head bent over her hand, his chiseled features were intent, serious. His mouth was warm, wet, and the suction he used made her feel... odd. More animal than human, pain and intimacy mixing... never, ever had a man's mouth touched her on any part, in any way.
And in that same, smiling, deceptively pleasant voice, Mr. Knight said, "I like having a duchess wait on me."
Both of Eleanor's hands shook. The hot liquid splashed on her fingers. She dropped the cup. As she reached for it, it shattered against the table. A shard jabbed into her palm.
She yanked her hand back and closed her fingers.
In a rush, he came and knelt beside her. "Are you hurt? Did you burn yourself?"
"No, no, I'm fine." She wasn't fine. She was embarrassed. She cultivated the graceful moves of a lady for a reason. She hated making a spectacle of herself- and now her nerves had betrayed her. "Please, Mr. Knight, stand up."
For all the notice he took of her, she might not have spoken. Turning her hand to the light, he at once detected the slight cut beneath her little finger, oozing a sullen drop of scarlet blood. "You've cut yourself."
"Only a little." She tried to tug her hand back. "I was clumsy. I broke your beautiful cup."
"To hell with the cup." He pressed his finger lightly on the cut.
She winced.
"You're lucky. There's nothing in there." Lifting her hand to his mouth, he sucked the small wound.
Shocked, she stared at him. His head bent over her hand, his chiseled features were intent, serious. His mouth was warm, wet, and the suction he used made her feel... odd. More animal than human, pain and intimacy mixing... never, ever had a man's mouth touched her on any part, in any way.
( Christina Dodd )
[ One Kiss From You ]
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