Free Desperate and Daring 02 - Belle of the Ball by Ella J. Quince

speechless if only she had the air in her lungs to do it.
    “Get thee to a nunnery,” he said at last.
    Lucy snorted. “Very funny, Shakespeare . Answer the question.”
    Anabelle peeked at him and he was looking around frantically.
    “Where in God’s name is your brother?”
    “Draven,” Lucy pleaded, “this is very important.”
    “You’ve lost your damn mind and in front of an innocent like Anabelle, no less.”
    At this Anabelle’s head snapped up. “It’s me who wishes to know.”
    His gaze slowly turned to her. The black emptiness of his eyes pinned her where she stood.
    “You want to know if a rake is a better lover than a good man.”
    “Well… not exactly. I want to know if rakes have different skills than men who are not rakes.” She blushed even harder.
    “In bed?” he pressed.
    “No—ugh, in areas outside of the bedroom. What is it that makes a rake different from a good man when it comes to courtship? Why is it some men have something that draws women to them and other men don’t?” she finished, surprised at the calmness with which she had finished her question.
    He was dead silent. He looked back and forth between them, but ultimately, his attention settled on her. “What makes you think a good man can’t be a rake?”
    Both women took a moment to process that. “By the very definition of the word,” Lucy answered.
    Draven turned to her. “You don’t consider your brother a good man?”
    Lucy stumbled for an answer. “Well, of course. He is my brother. I know him to be a good man, but I’m not sure others hold the same opinion.”
    Draven shook his head. “And what of you?” He addressed Anabelle.
    “I… I don’t know.”
    “You don’t believe a good man can also be a rake,” he stated.
    She shook her head. “How can that be? A rake is a man who cares for naught but his own enjoyment.”
    Draven digested that. “Do you consider me a rake?”
    Anabelle swallowed. There was no going back now. “Yes.”
    Draven wanted to press her further, but not in front of Lucy. He thought he had made their encounters quite enjoyable for her. He refused to believe otherwise—hell, he knew otherwise.
    “Let me see if I understand what you are asking. Rakes are dashing and exciting. We set women aflame with a single look. You want to know if a good man can do the same.”
    Lucy nodded. Anabelle narrowed her eyes at him.
    “My answer is this. Women are drawn to rakes because they want what they have to offer. Women are drawn to good men because they want what they have to offer. A good man can be a rake and a bad man can, as well. It all comes down to the woman and the man.” He looked at Anabelle as he said this.
    Anabelle felt a shudder go down her spine.
    “What in God’s name are you blundering on about?” Lucy folded her arms and looked at him quizzically.
    Draven sighed and looked up at the sky. “Whether the intent is a temporary liaison or lasting love, something will be felt before anything is said or done. It cannot be fabricated. It cannot be coerced. I can’t say it any plainer than that.”
    “I had no idea you could be so philosophical,” Lucy teased.
    Anabelle remained quiet. She was shaken inside as she comprehended his words. They were a startling realization. Something will be felt before anything is said or done . What did that mean for her and what did it mean for him? Because as much as she wished otherwise, she felt something with him, something so strong it was impossible to ignore.

Chapter 8
    Anabelle still hadn’t recovered from the masquerade. The rest of the evening had been uneventful, but she couldn’t stop thinking of what Draven said, which inevitably led to her thinking about him. He hadn’t stayed very long in their presence after issuing his advice—if it could be called that. But all night long, she could feel him, a presence in the room, even amongst hundreds.
    She woke the following morning still unsettled and weary of the coming day.