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He sat down abruptly then stared at her, wondering what the hell he could do to ease her anxiety.
“I’m a dumbass, Duchess.”
Nothing. Okay then.
“How about a story?” He nearly rolled his eyes at himself. But he’d started this now. “About a guy. A guy who makes mistakes all the time. Who is blunt and grouchy and sometimes a bit mean. He thinks the worst of people. He wasn’t always that way. But life kicked him often enough that he’d come to expect it to keep on kicking him.”
Still nothing.
“And then one day, when this idiot was feeling at his lowest. When he didn’t think life could get that much fucking worse, this gorgeous, sweet, confusing woman came into it, shaking it up. And she taught him that not everyone was out to kick him when he was down. That there was still good in the world. When she smiles, he wants to smile. When she’s mad, he wants to make her happy. When she’s hurt, he wants to destroy whatever made her cry. This guy knows he doesn’t deserve her, but he wants her anyway. Even though he’s a dumbass.”
She shifted then her eyes peeked out at him. He let out a sigh. Thank God.
“There you are, Duchess. Give me your hands.” Because he couldn’t stand the idea that she was hurting herself.
She stared at him like she didn’t know what he was saying.
“Duchess. Hands.”
He held his hands out, watching her intently as she reached out towards him. Her hands shook and his insides clenched. He was such a selfish prick, thinking only of himself. Assuming the worst of her.
“That’s it. Hands in mine.”
She put her hands into his and he frowned as he noticed how cold they were. And that there were red marks along her palms. He fucking hated that.
“You’re freezing. We need to warm you up. I’m going to run you another bath, okay? But first, let’s get you out of here.”
He let her hands go, then stood and reached for her. Thankfully, she held her arms up. He breathed out a sigh of relief. As soon as he lifted her close, she wrapped her limbs around him. Her legs went around his waist, her arms around his neck, and she shook in his arms, burying her face in his neck.
“Hey, little monkey. You’re all right. You’re all right,” he soothed. She held onto him like she thought he might disappear.
He closed his eyes, chagrined. While she was stronger than most people might realize, she was also delicate in so many ways.
And he needed to remember that.
He rubbed his hand up and down her back, hugging her tight. “It’s okay. You’re all right. Did we scare you?”
Fuck. Why hadn’t he thought of that? He’d been furious with her for disobeying him.
He still was.
She was in trouble for that. He’d need to reinforce that her safety came first, and she had to obey him when he gave her orders in those situations. This wasn’t the first time she’d disobeyed him like that.
It would make his life easier if she obeyed him in all situations, but somehow, he thought he wasn’t going to get his way in that.
She didn’t reply. He huffed out a breath, wishing he knew what was going on in her head.
“Let’s get you a blanket to warm you up with.” He carried her into the bedroom and managed to get a blanket off the back of an enormous rocking chair. It looked big enough for two people to sit in it.
Deciding the bath could wait for a moment, he sat on the chair and attempted to pull her around onto his lap.
But she held on tighter.
“Come on, baby girl. I just want to move you so I can wrap this around you.”
She shook her head again.
All right then. He settled back as well as he could and started to rock them. He didn’t say anything, figuring they could both use a bit of time. Gradually, she began to relax in his arms.
