Page 75 of Shadowborne: Reckoning

I swallowed and bowed my head to Hanson.

“I apologize, sir. I will need to… consider what you’ve said. I hope you have a good night.”

Hanson visibly tensed with frustration. “What more do you need to know? What more could you possibly want?”

I had started to turn towards the hedge gap, but I stopped and faced him again, a spark of something very real igniting in my chest at his presumption.

“Do you want the truth?”

“Yes!”

“Freedom,” I hissed, thinking not only of Ruin, but of poor Grace and her brave tears and how it felt to believe your future was determined by a man. “Freedom from men who see me as nothing but a vessel for themselves and their goals. Freedom from the wrinkled noses and narrowed eyes and innuendo.”

His lips tightened. “I do not partake in the gossip and ridiculous fluttering of these circles—you’ve seen that!”

“I have seen you set a woman down publicly, humiliate her for bearing a child to a man who was necessary to the act of impregnating her.”

“I did that for you! To retract her claws from you!”

“Rest assured, in future, I will fight my own battles. I have claws of my own—I don’t need an adversary strung up for the laughter of men to win my battles.”

Hanson’s eyes narrowed and he shook his head. “Every time I believe I have pinned down who you are, you prove me wrong.”

“Good.”

“Is it?”

“It is if you are genuine in your desire for partnership, rather than simple victory over another man’s woman.”

“I am.”

“Then I will say again: I need time to consider this. And while I do, please feel free not to fight my battles for me.”

I felt a wash of pride from Donavyn through the bond. Hanson stared at me, gaping. Stunned.

I curtseyed hurriedly, bowing my head. “Thank you for keeping your word and not touching me again. I trust your respect will continue. Goodnight.”

I turned to the hedge.

But he whispered, “I would greatly enjoy touching you, any moment you would choose it, Lady Brennan.”

The hair on the back of my neck stood up, but I didn’t respond. Just walked blindly in the direction that I could feel Donavyn.

The moment I disappeared beyond the hedge, a thick arm shot out and pulled me into his broad chest.

He was blazing with pride and need as he pulled me into a deep kiss that shocked me. I inhaled sharply, though my heart trilled and I kissed him passionately.

When he broke the kiss, it was to stare down at me with pride. ‘You were incredible.’

I almost cried. Instead, I grabbed for his neck and pulled him back into the kiss, almost swallowing his tongue–until we heard giggles and footsteps approaching, and Donavyn drew back with a strangled sigh and dragged me around another corner to a strange gap in the hedge.

When we were hidden again, I stretched to my toes and reached for him to pull him back down, but he resisted, his eyes darkening, searching mine.

‘What is it? What’s wrong? Why did you leap into me like that? Did he touch you?’

Dropping to my heels, I exhaled heavily and grimaced. ‘No. But… I’m sick of feeling filthy for wanting.’

He stroked my cheek and shook his head. ‘Your want is beautiful, not dirty.’