Page 47 of A Problem Princess

And another step that closed the last bit of distance between them. “I’m the son of an executed convict.” He leaned down to bring his face level with hers. “Andyouare a princess who at this very moment has three royal dukes vying for your hand in marriage and the Duke of Grafton waiting in the wings.”

When her eyes flared, a pang of longing shot through him to be any of those four men. What he saw in those warm brown depths that reminded him of melted chocolate—God help him, it was desire.

He bit out the bitter truth. “You’re the most challenging, frustrating woman I’ve ever met.”

This time when her eyes blazed, it was with anger. “How dare—”

“But I also find you incredibly alluring and intriguing.” His voice lowered until the murmured words almost hummed from his lips. “Be assured that if you weren’t who you are and I who I am, I wouldn’t hesitate to pursue you.”

Her lips trembled.Sweet Lucifer, he wanted to lower his head and claim them again beneath his.

“But wearethose people, and whatever this attraction is between us, it can’t lead to anything, so it cannot happen again.” He fixed her with a hard look that brooked no argument. “Understand?”

“I’m not asking for it to lead anywhere. I know it can’t.” She placed her palm against his cheek, and the satin of her glove cooled his skin even as her touch heated through him. “I just want to enjoy myself while I still can. What harm is there in a few kisses?”

He stifled a groan. Her logic made her even more tempting and this entire situation even worse.

“Oh, Princess.” He placed his hand over hers. “If I relented, it wouldn’t be for just now, and it sure as hell wouldn’t be a few kisses.”

She gasped softly when he brought her hand to his mouth and placed a lingering kiss to her palm.

“Do you think I could take a small taste and not crave all of you? That I could simply stand at your side, smelling your perfume and hearing your laughter, and not want to possess you in every way?”

He lowered her hand and folded it in both of his. Her pulse raced beneath his fingertips, her breath coming ragged.

“No matter how much I want that, it can never happen.” He continued, needing to drive home this point, “I’m not daft enough to lose my position and reputation over you”—and certainly not his head—“no matter how tempting you are.”

She held still for a long moment, then slowly slipped her hand from his and took a single step backward. But she couldn’t hide the brutal sting of his rejection that registered on her face.Damnation.The two types of women he’d always made a point of avoiding were innocents and royals. God must have been laughing to thrust both on him in the same body…the same soft, warm, and delectable body.

“I understand,” she whispered, blinking hard.

The soft flutter of her lashes pierced him as sharply as any blade could have. But he couldn’t let her see any weakness, or she would know the effect she had on him. And exactly how much he wanted her.

“Good.” He cleared his throat. “Because we have to concentrate on figuring out who wants revenge against your father enough to kill you.”

She gave a jerking nod and resignedly folded her hands in front of her. “I’ll tell you whatever you want to know.”

Her voice emerged so fragilely he thought it might break him. “Then I need to know who—”

Without warning, an explosion ripped through the rear of the house.

Fourteen

Cordelia gasped, too stunned to scream as the house shook around them. Surprised shouts echoed through the rooms, followed by pounding footsteps. Seconds later came the shattering of glass as window after window was broken along the side of the house, the splintering of wood—

Clayton grabbed her by the wrist. “Come on!”

As he pulled her toward the door, she reached back to grasp for her tiara. “I need—”

“Leave it!”

He paused behind the door and cautiously peered out into the entrance hall. Whatever he saw there turned his expression hard, and he shoved closed the door and flipped the lock, then slipped his free hand beneath his jacket where he kept his gun.

“What is it?” Fear coiled through her, and she grabbed tightly onto his free hand with both of hers. “What’s happening?”

“We’re being attacked,” Clayton warned. “Someone’s invading the house. We have to get out.Now.”

Nodding vigorously, she ran to the window. Her fingers shook as they fumbled with the latched shutters.