Free DD-Michaels-END.rtf by The Dangerous Debutante

considering the way you're staring daggers at me."
    She did long to slap his face. "My reputation? So how had you planned for our association to play out, Aylesford, before this attack of conscience, or perhaps vanity? Or, because of what I've told you, are you simply afraid Chance will see me as compromised and demand you marry me, see your title as a real coup for his sister?"
    "So many questions. Depending on my answers, I would have to be a hardened seducer, a socially conscious twit or a bloody coward. Why not all three?"
    Belatedly, Morgan realized that , while she had been testing him, he had been testing her. And, damn his eyes, she was fairly certain she had been bested in their contest to see which of them was the worst, the most unsuitabl e — o r which of the two of them was to be in charge of their association.
    Well, he might have put her down, but she was far from out, and was more than ready to begin again. "Why not, indeed. All three. Since that's what you want me to believe."
    "Added to all the things you want me to believe about you," Ethan told her as he motioned for her to turn toward the flagway. He quickly dismounted, and took Berengaria's reins in one hand as he stood on the cobblestones, looking up at Morgan.
    Yet again, Ethan understood, she'd seen through him, judged him correctly.
    And she knew. She knew, just as he knew. They'd been going round and round since the first moment they'd looked at each other. And all to no effect. They could never be friends. They would have to be so much more than friends, or nothing at all.
    "You've warned me away. I've warned you away. And now we're here, at your brother's door. What next, Morgan? We can't keep on fencing like this, or we'll exhaust each other. So, does it end here? Do you believe we should end here? We've both certainly given each other enough reasons to have it end here, whatever in hell it is we seem to have begun between us."
    Morgan fought back the urge to run her gloved fingers through Ethan's dark blond hair. She'd known, from the first moment she'd seen him. And he'd known, as well. She wasn't congratulating herself, being pridef ul in thinking that. He'd also known, from that first moment.
    Dangerous Ethan. Dangerous Morgan.
    Like recognizes like.
    She wet her lips, spoke carefully. "Together, we could be very dangerous, to society, to each other. Mostly to each other. Couldn't we, Ethan?"
    He put a hand on hers as Alejandro gracefully stepped to his right, bumping up against his master, pushing him closer to Morgan.
    "Damn horse," Ethan said mildly, near enough now to see the deeper gray rings around Morgan's pale gray irises. "I swear, he's worse than my mother."
    She relaxed, only then realizing how frightened she'd been that this man, this so very different, so very intriguing man, had almost walked out of her life as quickly as he'd walked into it. Giving in, just this once, couldn't be called total defeat.
    She leaned down, her face within scant inches of his, and whispered , "You won't leave now. Will you? Please."
    "I was only fooling myself if I thought I could. No, I' m not going anywhere, unless we go to hell together." Ethan's attention was now fixed on her full, slightly smiling mouth. "If I were to kiss you right now, could you promise Saul won't loose Bessie on me?"
    Something inside Morgan relaxed. Lose a battle, win a war. "I can't promise that, my lord Aylesford. I suppose you'll simply have to decide if the kiss would be worth taking that chance."
    Ethan's slow, knowing smile served to curl her toes inside her riding boots. He cupped his hand around the back of her neck and gently pulled her closer. "Oh, that decision was made long ago, on the road to Tanner's Roost. By both of us. Bessie, do your worst...."
    Morgan allowed her eyelids to flutter closed as she waited for the touch of Ethan's mouth against hers. Not her first kiss, but she knew this one would be different. She didn't know how it would be