Aylesbury arms slid around her back, drawing her closer until her soft curves pressed against him.His hands roamed upward once more to stroke her back and skim her bare shoulders.The slender line of her neck.She stilled beneath his caress, her breath growing shallow.
“Impersonal, Fiona?Does this feel impersonal to you?”
“Don’t, Harry.”She turned out of his arms without even bothering to look at him.“I can’t...”
“Are you just going to pretend there is nothing between us?”he persisted.“Well, I can’t.Damn it, woman, you’ve given me something to care for when I thought I had nothing left.You make me feel alive again.”
Her heart leapt at his words.Oddly enough, it was the frustration lacing them that nearly convinced her that he spoke true more than any romantic prose might have.
“I’m so glad you feel alive, Harry,” the words laced with more than a little fallaciousness, “but I don’t feel anything more than anger.”
“Nothing?”he asked gruffly.
Shaking her head emphatically, she watched Harry warily as he sauntered closer, like a tiger on the prowl, and she was nothing but his weak prey.“No.”
She shivered as he neared.Shivered from the touch that never quite caressed her skin as he lifted a hand to hover over her cheek.From the heat of his body still inches away.From the warmth of his words as they brushed over her cheek as he leaned closer to whisper in her ear.
“Liar.”
“Truth,” she choked out.
He closed the remaining distance between them until her every breath and heartbeat fluttered against him.Caressing her cheek lightly but insistently, he forced her to meet his gaze.
“Look at me, Fiona.”
She turned her head, tearing her gaze away from the dark emotion in his eyes.
“Fiona,” he commanded insistently, turning her face back to his.“How can you ignore this?Deny this?”
Her chin trembled as she stared up at him with wide eyes.“How couldyou?”
It wasn’t that night she spoke of, but nights long past.Nights she didn’t understand.Nights for which she would listen to no explanation.
Tenderly, he brushed his thumb over her lips; he whispered the words that were more of an answer than she might ever know.
“I cannot.Not any longer.”
