“And what of y
ou, Stefan?” she could not resist prodding.
“What?”
“When will you put your past behind you?”
His jaw tightened, proving her blow had landed, but his brooding gaze never wavered.
“We are discussing Edmond. Now that he has Brianna and the baby, I would not so readily allow him to be lured back to Russia again.”
She heaved an aggravated sigh. “So far as I know Alexander Pavlovich has no intention of requesting Lord Summerville’s presence.”
“He has returned to St. Petersburg.”
Leonida felt a measure of relief that the Czar was safely back in his palace, but little more. He possessed her loyalty and gratitude for ensuring her a comfortable existence, but he had simply been too distant for her to ever think of him as her father.
“His advisors will be pleased. As will my mother. The Emperor’s enemies become far too bold when his attention is distracted.”
“Which enemies?”
Leonida turned to study the dragon, realizing that she had said too much.
“Why did you bring me here?”
“You seem devoted to exploring Meadowlands from attics to cellar. I did not wish you to overlook my childhood haven.”
She refused to react to his deliberate jab. The estate was too large and the staff too numerous for her to keep her search completely hidden. She had to trust her pretense of casual curiosity would conceal her true purpose.
“You did say I could explore the estate,” she said stiffly.
“So I did. Of course, I did not realize that you would be quite so thorough.”
“You have several lovely works of art.”
“And you are interested in art?”
“I appreciate beauty.”
His hands landed on her shoulders, spinning her back to meet his hooded gaze. She expected his expression to be one of accusation. He was, after all, dangerously suspicious of her interest in Meadowland. Instead she shivered at the barely leashed hunger that tightened his beautiful features.
“As do I,” he rasped.
“Stefan…”
She did not know what she intended to say and in the end it did not matter as his head swooped downward and he caught her mouth in a savage kiss.
Leonida’s strangled gasp of surprise was caught in her throat, but she made no effort to push him away as his arms wrapped around her and he yanked her against his hard body.
She tried to tell herself it was pointless to struggle. He was, after all, considerably larger and stronger. Unfortunately, she was too honest to deny the fierce joy that hummed through her body, making her lips part in silent encouragement and her arms circle his neck as she arched even closer.
She had ached for this moment since Stefan had joined her in the garden.
Stefan muttered something beneath his breath, his lips moving restlessly over her face. Her fingers sank into the satin curls at the nape of his neck as his impatient caresses sent jolts of excitement through her.
There was no explanation for the explosive reaction to his touch, and at the moment Leonida did not care. All that mattered were the delicious sensations that curled through the pit of her stomach.
Lost in the pleasure of his mouth nuzzling along the curve of her neck, Leonida was unaware of anything beyond Stefan’s arms and it came as an unpleasant shock when he was abruptly thrusting her away.