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“Lydia!”

Hearing her given nalanced back over her shoulder The sudden rass, lost her balance and arround hard

“Lydia” Miles reached her in seconds The sight of her pallid skin, blue lips, the dirt and scratches covering her bare feet took hi to her breasts, tried to ignore the pert nipples pressing for his attention “Why are you running?”

She gasped and fought to catch her breath “I—I don’t know” Raindrops trickled down her cheek, or perhaps they were tears, he could not tell Her shoulders shook froht …”

“That I ht sky drew his gaze heavenward “Coet out of the storm We can talk inside” It was then he noticed the trickle of blood running froht of what she’d suffered to reach him

“I do not wish to intrude” Another whi “It was foolish of me to come You … you’re busy with Dariell”

“I a her protests, gathered her in his arhtly to his chest

Oh,her so close … the feel of her body … he could lose his mind

“No, don’t I can walk Putto his neck

“You’ll not walk another step until I’ve exa wo over his neck and shoulders as she tried to find coed as his cock pulsed with need “Thread your arms around my neck and keep them there”

“I … I didn’t knohere else to go” Her voice lacked the confidence he’d couiling “I didn’t knohat else to do”

“You did the right thing cole to control his temper when he learnt the truth “You need a warht you here tonight”

“Thank you” Her sied at his heart

As he walked towards the house her head cah left her lips The need to cherish and protect her burst through him like a firework at Vauxhall Woe betide anyone who hurt her again She was his He’d known it the instant he laid eyes on her Perhaps the need to wreak vengeance was not the pri beauty had called him home, and Fate set him on his course

Miles mounted the terrace steps with ease, kicked the door open a little wider with his foot and strode into the ballroom