Angel In My Bed by Melody Thomas

devoured by cannibals. My loss, dear cousin.”
    He wrapped an arm around her back. “And yet I was saved the fate of countless others in my hunting party. Your loss is my gain.”
    Her palms caught against his chest. “Let go of me, David.”
    He smiled, reading her reaction to him in the rapid beat of her pulse at her neck. He liked that he could make her uncomfortable and agitated after she’d so effortlessly sucked his libido through every pore in his flesh. “I should show you my scars, colleen.”
    â€œYou’re still a tyrant,” she managed between clenched teeth. “You and your fake title go well together.”
    â€œSo does yours, Lady Munro,” he said against her hair.
    Except that she did wear her title well, he realized. He loosened his hold on her. She fell away from him, her eyes wide, and he was aware of the confusion his words caused her. She retreated a step, then turned in a slide of damp fabric. Adjusting his trousers, his eyes narrowing on the swing of her skirts, he waited a moment before following her down the corridor.
    In the kitchen, Bethany had made two hot toddies and handed one to Meg. “I made them strong,” she said with a smile.
    â€œWhere is Lord Chadwick’s cloak?” his wife demanded with the clear intent of throwing him out into the storm.
    Bethany handed David the second toddy. “Oh, but you mustn’t think about leaving us tonight, my lord. We have room here.”
    â€œOh, for goodness sakes, Bethany—”
    â€œHe could ride off a cliff, Victoria.”
    Content to allow Bethany to fight his battle, David fixed his eyes on Meg from over the rim of his glass. She stood in front of the fire blazing in the hearth. “I’m sure His Lordship knows the way quite well. The storm isn’t that bad.”
    Thunder rattled the eaves. She took a swallow of hertoddy, and switched her gaze to him as if to blame him for the weather. His eyes continued to hold hers above the pewter. “I think my cousin still hasn’t forgiven me for tying her pigtails in knots when she was younger,” David said to Bethany, but he spoke to Meg.
    â€œHe did that?” The girl laughed.
    His eyes smiling into Meg’s, he reminded her that he had done far more than loop her hair around the bedstead. He had stripped her naked and put his mouth on places the memory of which even now brought a heated blush on her cheeks.
    His mouth edged up. “She never could beat me on a horse, either. Methinks she holds a grudge,” he said behind his hand in a mock whisper.
    Rain began to pound the cottage. Bethany turned to Meg. “No one should be out on a night like this. We have room here.” She smiled at David. “As long as you don’t mind Zeus, Lord Chadwick.”
    â€œZeus?”
    â€œMy brother’s cat. It sleeps on the bed in Nathanial’s room.”
    David looked at Meg, who, clearly flustered, had found solace in her toddy. He felt a twinge of guilt to see her so outnumbered and outmaneuvered, first by him, then by Sir Henry, and now by Bethany. “Only if it’s acceptable to Lady Munro.” He set his toddy aside. The last thing he wanted to be inside was warm and cozy.
    â€œOf course it’s acceptable.” Bethany turned her eyes on Meg. “Isn’t it?”
    â€œI’ve not changed the bedding.”
    â€œI don’t mind,” he said.
    â€œHe doesn’t mind,” Bethany echoed.
    Meg’s mouth went flat. “You haven’t any clothes.”
    He opened his arms, willing himself to be humble in the wake of her defeat. “I’m wearing them.”
    â€œWonderful!” Bethany clapped her hands together as if that decided the matter. “I’ll show him to his room.”
    â€œYou’ll do no such thing, Bethany Munro,” Meg snapped. “I believe it is time for you to retire.” She added on a softer note. “His