Chapter 23

Slowly, Mathias leaned down, turning his head at the last minute to skim her cheek with his. “Edmund’s always had bloody exquisite taste,” he murmured directly into her ear. “But you are, without a shadow of a doubt, the single most delicious woman who’s ever taken his fancy, Darby Bell.”

A cascade of shivers rolled down her spine. It was as much from the velvety compliment of his words as it was from the timbre of his voice, but fleeing its influence was impossible. Her feet might as well have been glued to the ground for as much good as they were doing her.

“He’s a good man,” was all she could manage to say.

Mathias chuckled. “Well. He’s good, at least.” She heard him inhale and wished suddenly she’d bothered to put on a little perfume before she’d left the house. “He kissed you, didn’t he? Of course, he did,” he said, answering his own question. “Frankly, I’m shocked he managed to hold off this long.”