Blood pounded in Nolan’s ears. If discovered, both of their reputations would be in shreds and this otherworldly woman would have to become his wife. It would be like trapping a butterfly and pinning it in a display cabinet. She’d hate it and any initial joy he’d feel would be destroyed in the face of her dismay. There would be no one else to blame but himself. He’d been the one who’d grunted like a primal animal when her skin had rubbed against his. Their discovery would be his fault.
Beside him, Sienna trembled. He ran a hand up her spine, trying to soothe her, but the delicate curve of her back only made him want to groan again. Her silky hair fell over his fingers, and for a wild moment, he forgot everything else.
‘Perhaps I was wrong,’ said one of the women after an age.
‘Even so, we should not linger. Who knows what is around these parts.’
‘Indeed, my dear.’
Footsteps sounded down the creaking stairs and finally, blessedly, out of the front door, which closed behind them with a heavy thud.
Sienna rolled away from him, scrambling quickly from out of their hiding place. He followed her, his heart bruised by her hurry, even as he told himself not to be ridiculous. He knew getting forced into marrying him would be even worse for her than for him. He would be gaining something vibrant and warm; she would be tied to a man she found boring.
By the time he had untangled himself from the white sheets that covered the bed, she was standing several steps away, brushing dust from her skirts. His gaze followed her slender fingers before halting abruptly. Icy fear flooded his veins, rendering him immobile.
‘How do you feel about spiders?’ he asked, slowly getting to his feet.
Her hands stilled, her skin paling. ‘Why?’
‘No reason.’ He stared at her dress, where a thick, black monster was resting its eight, impossibly hairy legs on her curved hip. He fought the urge to run—he was a man, damn it. He could conquer his fear for this woman. ‘I am merely making conversation.’
He scanned the bedroom. Surely there was some kind of pole he could use to push it off her. He need not touch the beast.
‘Nolan,’ she whimpered, her eyes wide. ‘Spiders are terrifying. If there is one on me, please get it off.’
‘I…’
‘Please. I am begging you.’
Sweat trickled down his spine. Was this day some kind of test designed to break him? If it was, it was working.
She caught sight of the black behemoth and ran screaming towards him. ‘Get it off, get it off.’
Faced with her terror, he reached down, scooped the colossal spider from her dress without thought and threw it onto the bed. She flung her arms around him, burying her head in his chest. ‘Thank you, Nolan, thank you so much.’
Unaccustomed to being hugged, his arms hung loosely by his sides. As she continued to express how grateful she was, he slowly lifted his arms and slid them around her. A warmth spread from his chest out to every corner of his body.
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