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It was the s very inti that spoke of heat and…and naked flesh What was happening to her? Francesca’s blood seeh her body like a runaway coach, turning her hot and a little sick Sebastian was doing this to her She must not allow him to see her weakness He already knew far too ainst her, to take what he wanted

Self-restraint Self-control The roo…

She felt his hand, clasped about her elboith a ironlike grip, and realized he was holding her upright Her knees see

“Don’t swoon on me, my Valkyrie,” his deep voice said in her ear

Fainting was for debutantes and expectant mothers Francesca was not the sort of wo her teeth until her jaw ached “I…it is very warm in here,” she said in a small, husky voice

Amy was on her feet “Francesca? Are you well? You are not yourself, are you? I knew it the moment I saw you in that…that dress Oh, I do wish you would not prowl the hter found you, but she will make herself ill one day, if she hasn’t already…”

“I am perfectly well, Mama,” Francesca said “The room is overheated, that is all”

“You ht to bed,” Amy insisted

Bed I do want to go to bed I want to go to bed with Sebastian Thorne and ht, and when the dawn coain

Oh dear God! Her thoughts shocked her witless What was happening to her? She was truly losing her mind, and it was all his fault Francesca looked up, full of fear and guilt, and found herself staring directly into his black eyes His oidened, and soht? Whatever it was, Francesca knew she had just succeeded in s worse

“Nonsense,” Mr Jardine was arguing gently with his wife, “the girl needs a sip of brandy, that’s all Here you are, Francesca Drink up”

The cool glass was pressed into her hand and she lifted it to her lips, doing as she was told because she wasn’t capable of doing anything else Her mind was numb, suspended She choked as the alcohol burned her throat, the roo toward her solicitously, and everything came into her sharp focus She are of his clean, masculine scent

What was happening to her? She kneas dangerous; she knew shedrawn into his orbit like a ed moth, she felt raw, her e it difficult to breathe

“I’ away “I have been out on the moors in far worse weather, as you well know, Mao to London with you, noill I?”

Amy’s brorinkled “Perhaps you should stay here”