Page 30 of His Dark Pact

He skimmed his index finger over her heated flesh, and her eyes fell closed at the gentleness of the caress.

“You’re exquisite.”

She didn’t feel exquisite.

As he stroked her cheek, she felt overwhelmed, confused, and awkward, but she held the levy of those emotions back, trying to grasp for control.

“Don’t ever let me hear you denigrating this beautiful blush.” The side of his fingers grazed her skin. “Not when it’s so wonderful.”

Wonderful?That wasn’t the word Amy would have chosen.

“Is that clear?” He rested his palm against the side of her face, the soft pressure drawing her eyes open.

“Yes, sir.” Her voice was a strained whisper.

What was he doing to her?

Standing there beside him, it didn’t even seem strange calling him sir. Not while he was so close and his touch was so tender. It felt almost... natural.

“Good.”

His thumb glided to her chin while his palm remained pressed to her cheek. It took every fiber of her will to resist the urge to lean into his warm hand. Instead, she stood there, staring at the buttons of his shirt, her chest rising and falling as she attempted to think of something—anything—to say and break the spell he held over her.

“Do you have any specific dietary requirements that Cook should know about?”

She’d never been happier to hear a question. “No, sir.”

“I’ll speak to him and ask him to whip up Eggs Benedict.”

The tip of his thumb strayed to her bottom lip, the tiny gesture inflaming the tension in her body by about one hundred-fold. He had no right to stroke her there. No right to be doing any of this, really, so why wasn’t she fighting him away?

Because of the money,the voice in her head snapped as her throat dried. I’ll do whatever I have to do for the money.

“How does my selection sound, Amy?”

“Lovely, sir.” She didn’t even recognize the raspy croak that emanated from her mouth. “Thank you.”

“You’re welcome.” His hand fell away, and she was instantly engulfed with an odd sense of loss. She missed his warmth, she supposed. Yes, that would be it. It had nothing to do with the sensual way he’d been able to insist she yielded nor the way she sensed her body softening at his caress. She was only cold.

“The time is now fifteen minutes after twelve. Meet me in the dining room in ten minutes.”

Fifteen minutes past? She blinked at him. Where had those minutes gone?

It was just like the evening at Worthington’s. Time with Kyle seemed to protract, then speed up in anomalous pockets she didn’t comprehend. One moment, she’d been meeting him in the evening, and the next, she’d woken up in his house at almost midday.

“Amy.” His eyes were like two deep pools that she might imagine diving into on a fancy, exotic holiday. “Are you okay?”

“Yes.” Why couldn’t she pull herself together? The heady schoolgirl act wasn’t quite the look she’d wanted to convey on her first day. Or ever, to be honest. She wanted to seem organized and capable, not pathetic. “Yes, I’m fine, sir.”

She took a small step back and pulled in a breath, inadvertently inhaling more of that intoxicating spicy scent he always seemed to be wearing.

I have to get a grip!

Kyle had a way of bewitching her, but she was still in control. She had to be. She had Graham and Jonah’s debts to take care of. It was time she demonstrated the responsibility she shouldered.

“Go then.” He motioned for the door. “You’re dismissed.”