Tempest of Passion by Elyzabeth M. VaLey Page B

told him in confidence that he believed Emily
did have feelings for him, for he’d seen the way she looked at him.
He did not know what that meant but he held onto it. William chewed
on the inside of his cheek. It mattered not. Even if she hated him
he’d protect her.
    His thoughts strayed to his family in London. His mother, his
brothers and sisters, and his dying father. He prayed that they
were still safe and that his father had not died yet, that he could
at least speak to him one last time. William kneaded his forehead
where a headache was starting to build. For the hundredth time he
pondered the questions: Why? Who? He had never done anything to
intentionally harm another. He was fair to his business partners.
He believed himself to be loved by his family and friends alike.
Who was so intent on removing him? What purpose did they have?
Perhaps, he hoped, someone back home had some answers that could
enlighten him or make his and Emily’s life safer in some
way.
    William stifled a yawn. He’d barely gotten any sleep the past
few days. Throughout the day he’d been around town preparing
everything for their marriage and their trip, whilst at night he’d
watch Emily’s house from the cover of the surrounding forest. Now,
she was safe. As safe as she could be for the time being. His eyes
drooped. His wolf scouted Emily’s scent. She was fast asleep. He
followed her only seconds later.
    William woke to the soft touch of
inquisitive fingers on his cheek. Emily . He recognized the soft
pressure of her fingers and her sweet scent. He took in a breath,
pretending to be fast asleep. He didn’t want to scare her away. The
sadness was still there but it was riddled with a new musky tang
that denoted her curiosity for him. Hope blossomed like an evening
primrose. Could Reeves be correct? Could she still feel something
for him?
    Gently, she touched his cheek, tracing the scar that ran from
above the left side of his mouth to almost below his eye. Her
skirts rustled. Her breath fanned his face. Everything around him
vanished to center on the woman that was poised over him. He held
his breath. What would she do?
    The coach rocked violently and she toppled over him with a cry
of surprise. She scrambled to get away from him, but he was faster.
William closed his hands over her wrists, preventing her escape. A
frustrated groan escaped her lips as she struggled against him.
Eyes, sizzling with internal fire, found his.
    “ Be still, Emily.”
    The tip
of her tongue snaked between her lips, licking them and causing his
cock to stir.
    “ Release me,” she demanded. Her voice came out a hoarse
whisper, denoting the effect he was having on her.
    “ Are you all right?”
    “ I…” She paused. Her eyes narrowed and her nose wrinkled
slightly just as her lips disappeared between her teeth only to pop
out seconds later. “Yes. I am fine.”
    William searched her face. Her pulse beat erratically against
his fingertips on her wrist. He leaned toward her. He only had but
to move an inch and their lips would meet.
    “ Release me.”
    She tried to jerk away from him. Feigning nonchalance, William
chuckled and leaned back against the seat, pulling her down with
him and forcing her to place the flat of her palms against his
chest. They burned through his clothes, kicking his heartbeat into
a fiery storm and sending fire signals through his veins straight
to his cock.
    “ The more you pull, the stronger my grip shall be.” She
stilled. Her breath came out in short pants and she looked away.
“What were you doing, Emily?”
    He knew he was baiting her, teasing her, but he couldn’t help
himself. Now that he was fully awake he recognized that musky scent
for what it was: arousal. She felt something for him. Something
primal. Something carnal. It was a start. One that, if he could
uncover the true meaning behind them, could potentially lead to
more.
    “ Emily?”
    He repeated her name and watched an array of emotions play on
her face: