As did the woman at his side. So he put away the worries for a while, as he was only able to do when he held her. He pulled her close once more and dropped his lips to hers.
“Have I told you lately, my precious little hoyden, how lucky I am to have you?”
She laughed against his kiss and pushed him back into the chamber, toward their bed. “You haven’t,” she said. “But perhaps you might have time to show me?”
He nodded as he lowered her back on the pillows. “I have all night.”
ENJOY THIS SNEAK PEEK OF THE QUEEN’S MAN
BOOK 5 OF THE REGENCY ROYALS SERIES
“Dashiell?”
He stopped, frozen at the sound of his name from her lips. He smoothed his jacket and slowly turned to face her. “Your Majesty, I did not realize you were still downstairs. I thought you had gone up to your quarters to have your maids ready your wardrobe.”
She stepped into the hallway and closed half the distance between them. “I was going to do so, but I…I wanted to speak to you, so I waited here.”
He blinked. “Speak to me?”
She motioned him toward the parlor. “Will you join me?”
He nodded and entered the room. When he turned, he watched her shut the door behind her and rest her hand against the barrier for a moment too long. They were alone. And they were often alone, yet this moment felt different somehow. More charged.
She faced him and worried her hands before her. “Have I…done something to upset you?”
He moved toward her almost against his will. “Of course not! Why would you think such a thing?”
“I could see your resistance to attending me on this trip,” she said softly. “Do you not wish to go?”
“I am happy to go,” he assured her. “If you saw resistance it is only because of my concerns about your safety. You know I begin to run those equations the moment a new plan is hatched.”
She nodded, but there was no mistaking her relief in his answers. It washed over her beautiful face like a waterfall.
“Oh good,” she breathed, raising a hand to her heart. “For you know I cannot do without you.”
He moved toward her and now they were certainly too close. He flexed his fingers toward her but didn’t touch her. An impossible task. “Of course, you could. You have always been more than capable at everything you’ve ever done Gia…” He stopped as she caught her breath. “Your Majesty,” he corrected himself.
“Dash,” she whispered, her voice barely carrying in the slim space between them. He saw her body coil, ready to move even closer. To go beyond too close. To unleash something he would have to physically fight to deny himself.
But before control could be lost, there was a knock on the parlor door. She jumped and stepped back before she said, “Yes?”
When the door opened, it was Giabella’s maid, Betsy who stood there. Her gaze darted from the queen to Dash and back. “I’m sorry to interrupt Your Majesty, sir, but I’ve been informed of the imminent travel plans and I have asked that the royal tiaras and crowns be brought for you to choose from if you have time.”
Giabella shot Dash a quick glance before she turned away to the door. “Yes, of course. I know we have little opportunity to ready for this journey so let us get that out of the way.” She stopped and looked back over her shoulder. “Dashiell.”
“Your Majesty,” he said softly.
ALSO BY JESS MICHAELS
Regency Royals
To Protect a Princess
Earl’s Choice
Princes are Wild
To Kiss a King
The Queen’s Man (Coming Soon)
* * *
The Three Mrs
The Unexpected Wife
The Defiant Wife
The Duke’s Wife
* * *
The Duke’s By-Blows
The Love of a Libertine
The Heart of a Hellion
The Matter of a Marquess
The Redemption of a Rogue
* * *
The 1797 Club
The Daring Duke
Her Favorite Duke
The Broken Duke
The Silent Duke
The Duke of Nothing
The Undercover Duke
The Duke of Hearts
The Duke Who Lied
The Duke of Desire
The Last Duke
* * *
The Scandal Sheet
The Return of Lady Jane
Stealing the Duke
Lady No Says Yes
My Fair Viscount
Guarding the Countess
The House of Pleasure
* * *
Seasons
An Affair in Winter
A Spring Deception
One Summer of Surrender
Adored in Autumn
* * *
The Wicked Woodleys
Forbidden
Deceived
Tempted
Ruined
Seduced
Fascinated
* * *
To see a complete listing of Jess Michaels’ titles, please visit:
http://www.authorjessmichaels.com/books
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
USA Today Bestselling author Jess Michaels likes geeky stuff, Vanilla Coke Zero, anything coconut, cheese and her dog, Elton. She is lucky enough to be married to her favorite person in the world and lives in the heart of Dallas, TX where she's trying to eat all the amazing food in the city.
When she’s not obsessively checking her steps on Fitbit or trying out new flavors of Greek yogurt, she writes historical romances with smoking hot characters and emotional stories. She has written for numerous publishers and is now fully indie and loving every moment of it (well, almost every moment).
Jess loves to hear from fans! So please feel free to contact her at [email protected].
Jess Michaels offers a free book to members of her newsletter, so sign up on her website:
http://www.AuthorJessMichaels.com/