Dusky Rose by Joanna Scott

Author:Joanna Scott
Language: eng
Format: epub

Chapter 8

No sooner had they entered the apartment than David excused himself and took his work into the library. Laura escaped to her room, grateful for the opportunity to flee his overpowering presence. She changed into a blue silk nightdress and lounged in bed, reading a magazine she had found in the room. For some reason, she was unable to fall asleep and decided to venture into the kitchen for a glass of warm milk. Since it was well past midnight, she was quite sure that she wouldn't meet anyone on the way. She slipped into the lacy robe that matched her nightdress and left the room. When passing the open door of the library, she noticed that the lights in the room were still burning and peeked in, wondering if David had forgotten to turn them off when he went to bed.

David was stretched out on the leather sofa, one hand still clasping the papers he had been reading before he had fallen asleep. Laura walked over to him and looked down at him as he slept. In repose, his face had the innocent look of the child in the photograph albums. Gone was the arrogant demeanor she had come to dread. Her heart filled with love and compassion for the man before her, whose cold hard features had been softened by the warmth of sleep. She took the papers from his hand and placed them on the nearby table. Then she walked across the room and gathered up a heavy woolen afghan that was draped across a chair by the fireplace. She smiled down longingly at the sleeping man before her. If only he would always be like this, she could be so happy. But she knew that once he awoke he would turn back into the man whose presence she had come to fear. Sighing softly, she gently placed the colorful afghan over him.

Suddenly he jumped up, his hands tightly grasping her wrists. Laura tried to move back, startled by the abrupt violence of his actions. Then, his eyes softening in recognition, he lay back on the sofa again. He loosened his grip on her wrists, sliding his hands down to hold her hands in his. His eyes, still drowsy with sleep, looked into hers, then traveled the length of her body, taking in every gentle curve revealed by her silky blue negligee. She was aware that the robe clung to her body with all the sinuous softness of silk. David's eyes lingered at the low vee of the neckline, outlined by several tiers of lace. His voice was low and husky when he spoke.

"What are you doing here, Laura? Isn't it past your bedtime? What time is it anyway?"

"It's twelve o'clock. I couldn't sleep, so I was going into the kitchen to make myself some warm milk. I saw you dozing in here and thought you might be more comfortable with something covering you. I'm sorry if I disturbed you."

She tried to remove her hands to leave, but she felt David's grip tighten once more, preventing her escape.

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