Burning Up

she felt exposed. Stripped. With as much dignity as she could, Mina claimed the glove.
    “Thank you, Your Grace. I can manage the other.” She stuffed the glove into her pocket. With her bare fingers, she made quick work of the buttons at her left wrist.
    She looked up to find him staring at her. His cheekbones blazed with color, his gaze hot.
    She’d seen lust before. This marked the first time that she hadn’t seen any disgust or hatred beneath it.
    “Thank you,” she said again, amazed by the evenness of her voice when everything inside her trembled.
    “Inspector.” He inclined his head, then looked beyond her to the stairs.
    And as she turned, the trembling stopped. Her legs were steady as she walked to the steps, her gaze unflinching, her mind focused.
    “You were to assist her, not undress her,” she heard his companion say. Trahaearn didn’t reply, and Mina didn’t look back at him.
    Even the pull of the Iron Duke was not stronger than Death.