Once Upon a Kiss by Tanya Anne Crosby Page B

of
necessity. Yet another way in which these two brothers were alike—their
uncommon height. “I should be delighted to ride at your side,” she said... and
could not help but wonder if the Dragon would grace them with his presence.
    At the thought, her stomach roiled. She told
herself it had absolutely nothing to do with the prospect of seeing Blaec
d’Lucy again. Indeed, she hoped the demon Dragon didn’t bother to join them at
all.
    Not that it would matter, of course. Neither his
presence nor his absence concerned her in the least.
    Her brows knit, and she bit into her lower lip.
    Sweet Mary, but she didn’t seem to be able to put
two thoughts together this morn without thinking of that beast. Assuring
herself it was merely because he’d managed to distress her already this morn,
she forced her thoughts to graver matters. “My lord,” she began, “there is
something I would speak to you of...” She glanced over her shoulder at her
maid, and then back. “Alyss, you see...”
    “Nay, m’lady!” Alyss broke in.
    Startled by the protest, Dominique turned to
question her silently, and saw that she’d taken an urgent step forward. Truth
to tell, she appeared very much as though she would swoon, and the expression
on her face was nothing short of fearful, growing more so by the second.
    “I beg you, please!”
    Dominique thought she might be horrified by the
notion of broaching such a tender subject before Graeham, and she relented with
a nod, resolving to ask him later, when Alyss was not present. Perhaps they
would even have a moment aside during the hunt when she could speak to him
privately.
    Graeham’s brows lifted, assessing them both. “If
there is aught I can help with, demoiselle, you need only ask.”
    Demoiselle. The sound of it upon Graeham’s lips was strangely
unappealing after hearing it from his brother’s—but how absurd when Blaec
d’Lucy had used the word only in anger and never in affection.
    For a flustered instant she could not find her
voice to speak. Recalling the way he’d looked at her, with such potent, silent
fury, and she wondered again what ailed her that she should care whether he
despised her unjustly, or nay. This man standing before her would be her
husband. This was the man she should concern herself with, this man and no other. This man , and
not his brother.
    Graeham watched her with the most peculiar
expression upon his face. “Very well, then,” he said. “If there is nothing
else...” He waited for her to speak up, and when she did not, he added, “Now
there is something I would have you do for me...”
    Annoyance pricked at her, unreasonable though it
might be. She wanted to please him. Nay, it was her duty to please him, and she
would do anything she could to realize her place in his home. She tilted her
face to his and prayed he could not spy the confusion that filled her soul.
“Anything, my lord. You need only ask,” she said, and meant it.
    His smile was amiable, and she thought in that
instant that Graeham d’Lucy was the most gentle man she’d ever known. God’s
truth, not even her own flesh and blood had been so tender with her—not
ever. She must remember to count her blessings.
    “My brother,” he said softly.
    Dominique’s heart lurched. She lowered her lashes
at once.
    “He is bathing in my chamber,” Graeham pointed
out. He lifted her chin with a finger so that she was sure to see his eyes as
he commanded her. “As my bride to be... I would have you go there now and
accord him the honor of bathing him.”
    “Nay!” The single word exploded from her lips,
startling even Dominique, for she’d never dared deny a behest before. Still,
having done so, she could not find in herself an apology for her outburst. He
frowned at her. Brushing his hand away from her face, and she took a panicked
step backward. “My lord! you cannot mean for me to—”
    “Ah, but I do,” he broke in, his expression
hardening at her refusal. “He is my