Dangerous Weakness Read Free

more I expected from you.”
    She pushed harder, but he pinned her arms. When he leaned in for a kiss, she turned her head and kicked her knee up. He jerked away before she could hit his vulnerable parts.
    Instead of cursing as she expected, he laughed. “If we had privacy, I would show you how much I like my women feisty. As it is, I’ll leave you. For now.”
    Lily tried to slip out of his slackened grip.
    “Remember your father,” he murmured against her ear. “A gentleman who walks alone in a strange city? So many things could happen.”
    Lily’s eyes widened in panic.
    Volkov smirked. “Or to an unmarried-and no longer eligible-woman in London, for that matter. Though that would be a waste.”
    He pushed away. “Avoid Glenaire, Lily. Don’t make me question your loyalty.”
    Richard stood in the open door and watched Volkov swagger down the hallway. Lilias Thornton sagged against the wall.
    “Don’t make me question your loyalty.” What the hell did that mean? Loyalty to whom? The damned woman went off with that worm as soon as I warned her away .
    Richard saw them leave across the crowded dance floor and made it to the terrace in time to see them slip into a darkened hallway. A couple, intent on romance, came out behind him and forced him to slow his pursuit.
    By the time he turned into the door, Volkov leaned in like a lover to whisper in her ear. The look on her face when Volkov slithered away, made his guts clench. Whatever just passed between them wasn’t gentle.
    When he stepped inside, she jerked upward. Is she trembling? If I didn’t know better, I would believe she’s afraid.
    “Volkov,” he said.
    “What of it?” she demanded, pulling herself upright and lifting her green eyes to his.
    He saw defiance, yes, but he thought he also saw fear.
    “Did he hurt you?” The bastard.
    “No.” Her voice broke. “It is nothing. If you’ll excuse me . . .”
    “You’re afraid.”
    The defiant chin shot up. “What exactly do you want from me?” The chit has backbone. I’ll give her that.
    “What does Volkov want?”
    “Nothing. I keep telling you that.”
    “What I just saw didn’t appear to be ‘nothing.’” He moved closer. He saw her tremble and reached out a hand to steady her. Fear without a doubt. Volkov will pay for this.
    “What aren’t you telling me?” he asked softly. Russian machinations and Richard’s overwhelming responsibilities faded behind concern for this frightened woman, faded but didn’t disappear.
    “Nothing you need to know. It is—” she hesitated. “Personal.”
    Nothing that man does is entirely personal.
    “I doubt that. What Volkov does impacts England. What did he mean about loyalty? Where does that loyalty lie?”
    She swayed a bit at that, and he reached out his other hand, gently holding her shoulders and pulling her closer until they were inches apart. A fine rose scent wrapped around his senses.
    “With my family,” she rasped, her eyes on his. “And with my country.”
    “Then talk to me about Volkov.”
    “I can’t.”
    “You’re afraid to.”
    She turned her head away, unable to look at him.
    “He threatened you.” He didn’t need to ask.
    She bit her lip. He thought she wouldn’t reply.
    “Not me,” she whispered at last. “At least not primarily.”
    He waited. There has to be more. Talk to me Miss Thornton. The rose scent drew him in; he shook it off.
    “Tell me what you know,” he demanded. “Whatever it is, I can fix it. There is nothing I can't manage if I have all the facts.”
    Suddenly, she snapped her head up. “You want to know everything about Konstantin Volkov? Call my father home.”
    “What?”
    “He’ll come if the Foreign Office orders it.”
    “Thornton is in the middle of delicate trade negotiations,” he began, thinking out loud. If Volkov is involved, Thornton needs to come home. Another thought struck him.
    “ You asked him to come and he refused.”
    She didn’t respond; she watched him