He pulled away, thumb sweeping over her cheekbone as he opened his eyes and looked down at her. “You were saying something, Commander?”
Aimilia’s chest heaved as she tried to catch her breath, leaning against the tree, Nikias still not even a step away from her. “I’m not—I’m not marrying you.”
“Good thing my plan isn’t to try to seduce you into marrying me then.” Nikias’ hand still rested on her waist. With the other he reached up and found a strand of hair that had fallen out of her braid.
“Then—why?”
He moved back in, tucking the strand behind her ear as he said, “Because you don’t know how long I’ve wanted to do that, and this was the first time I was certain you wanted me to.”
Aimilia couldn’t deny she’d kissed him back. Even though she couldn’t quite wrap her mind around why.
The question almost left her lips,“How long?”
But she’d already flung open too many doors she could never close now. She didn’t want to know. She couldn’t afford to know.
“I don’t… I don’t understand.”
Nikias sighed. “Of course you don’t. You want to be needed. You don’t know how to be wanted.”
Aimilia’s heart jolted in her chest. “You don’t want me. You want a wife.”
“Should I kiss you again and see if this time the point sticks?” Nikias braced a hand on the tree behind her. “If I wanted just any wife, then I would have been married by now.”
He would. He absolutely would.
Worse. He’d rather be beaten than even think of marrying anyone but her.
“Nikias…”
“No, you just can’t see yourself clearly yet. You want someone who needs you. You always have. But I don’t need you.” His other hand settled on her shoulder. “You were always so in love with and fiercely loyal to Gavril because he needed you. But he didn’t want you.”
As much as Aimilia had tried to heal that wound, Nikias’ simple words were tearing it open again. Her throat closed and she squeezed her eyes shut. “Reminding me isn’t helping your case.”
“Look at me.” His hands came up and cradled her cheeks, and she did so. His green eyes burned as his commanding voice gripped her racing heart. “I want you. I want all of you. That’s the difference. I kissed you because I wanted to. Not because Ithought it would convince you. Aimilia, I am going to make you see what it’s like to bewanted.”
Then he pulled his hands away and began to back away, leaving her leaning against the tree. She called after him, “That doesn’t mean I’m going to marry you!”
Nikias grinned. “I can’t wait for the day you do.”
She’d kissed him back.
Aimilia looked up at the branches as the breeze rustled them in the early night.
Why had she kissed him back?
Chapter 32
AIMILIA
Aimilia finally peeled herself away from the tree and made her way back into the estate, mind spinning.
How much worse was Nikias going to be now?
What had possessed her to be so foolish as to give him hope?
And why was she beginning to wonder if he meant it? If this was more than just a logical choice that had turned into a desperate attempt to salvage his wounded pride.
Of course, she would hope anyone entertaining the thought of marriage would have some attraction to their partner, but it wasn’t always the case, especially when the arrangement was practical like Nikias’ was aiming for.
