Bound by Love (Russian Connection 2)
His gaze drifted down her slender body, lingering on the ribbon tied about her neck to disguise her injury. His own bullet wound was nearly healed, but the memory of how near he had come to losing this woman would be forever seared into his mind.
How the hell did she expect him to simply walk away?
“That depends entirely upon you, Leonida.”
“What do you mean?”
He crossed his arms over his chest. “I possess no particular inducement to deceive the Czar Alexander. Indeed, it would be the height of foolishness to risk such a powerful man’s displeasure.”
Her expression hardened. “You did not mind risking his displeasure when you threatened to kidnap me.”
“Ah, but the reward would have been worth the cost,” he drawled. “Now I have no reason to lie.”
“It is not lying to avoid revealing my purpose in coming to England.”
“A fine distinction.”
She stepped from the wall, her curls shimmering like liquid gold in the candlelight and her eyes the pale blue of the finest sapphires.
Stefan swallowed a groan as his body clenched with an impatient surge of lust.
“There is no reason for him to suspect that my visit was more than a desire to become acquainted with England,” she said, seemingly impervious to the torture she was inflicting on him.
“You are not so innocent as to think the Emperor will not demand to know what occurred during your time at Meadowland and why I chose to follow you back to St. Petersburg.”
“Which only proves that you should never have come here.”
“Why should I not?” Stefan shrugged. “I have nothing to hide.”
“This is absurd.” She glared at his mocking expression. “If you reveal the truth you will only cause Alexander Pavlovich further distress.”
“He has endured both scandal and disappointment before.”
“And he still carries the wounds,” she retorted. “Why burden him with more?”
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He stepped toward her rigid body, unable to deny a smug satisfaction at the fluttering pulse visible at the base of her throat.
He did not believe for a moment that it was fear making her heart race.
“So you only desire to protect the Czar Alexander?”
“Of course.”
“And your mother?”
She shifted restlessly, easily sensing his derision toward the Countess Karkoff.
“Yes.”
“And what of me?”
She faltered, a hint of uncertainty flaring through her eyes.
“I do not understand.”
“Thus far the only reason you have given me to hold my tongue is for the benefit of the Czar Alexander and your mother,” he said smoothly. “Why should I hazard Alexander Pavlovich’s anger should he discover that I hid the truth from him?”