Unexpected relief ballooned in him. “Thank you,” he said softly.
“You’re welcome. And... I’m sorry.”
He tensed. “I don’t want your pity, Emma.”
“There’s a difference between pity and empathy. I don’t feel sorryforyou—I’m sorry that you had an experience that sounds dreadful.”
“It’s over and so is this conversation.” He wasn’t about to tell her the worst part—his unforgivable disloyalty to Will. He wouldn’t risk exposing his faults any more than necessary.
She wrinkled her nose. “That speaks to another difference between us. I won’t be dictated to. Any marriage that I’ll be a part of will be based on mutual respect.”
“Again, I see no problem.”
“How can you say that?” she said incredulously. “You want a wife who will submit to you without question. Whereas I am an independent woman who knows her own mind, who has opinions and won’t be ordered about willy-nilly—”
“Will you deceive me, Emma? Betray me in any way?”
She frowned. “No. Of course not.”
“Then we’ll work on the rest.”
“People don’t change that much,” she said dubiously. “I don’t see me getting any less independent—or you any less domineering.”
“I don’t hear you complaining about that when we make love. When you’re in my arms, you surrender so sweetly,” he murmured. “As if you’ll give me anything I ask.”
A painful flush stole over her cheeks. “I’mnotweak,” she blurted.
He looked at her in surprise. “No, you aren’t. Why would you think it?”
“Because of what you just said. What happens when we’re together. I don’t know what comes over me, but truly I am not subservient or weak-willed...”
The crux of what was troubling her dawned upon him. Staring at her embarrassed, wide-eyed expression, he was filled with equal parts desire... and tenderness. With all his jaded experience, he’d forgotten that true innocence existed.
“Come here,” he ordered softly, patting his lap.
He saw the way her muscles quivered to obey even as her mind resisted. She scooted back against her side of the bench. “No, we should talk about this.”
To preclude further argument, he simply reached over and scooped her onto his lap. Delightful as her squirming was, he stilled it by tightening his arms around her. “Submitting to me doesn’t make you weak,” he told her. “On the contrary, it takes a strong, spirited woman to give me what you do.”
She stopped struggling. “It does?”
“Aye.” He brushed his knuckles against her silky, flushed cheek. “Your surrender is potentbecauseof your strength. Because I know what you’re trusting me with,” he said huskily. “Besides, outside of lovemaking, I know you’ll go on doing as you please.”
Her brow puckered. “My being headstrong doesn’t bother you?”
“Aye, it does—but it also excites and arouses me.” Deliberately, he pressed her down against his erection, and her color heightened even further. “The same way my arrogance excites and arouses you.”
She bit her lip. “This is all very confusing.”
The carriage was slowing; they were nearly at her home. Time to push his advantage. “So let me court you. We’ll explore this together, so you won’t be afraid of the passion that burns between us.” He nipped her ear. “Give me your answer. Say you’ll let me woo you, sweeting.”
A tremor passed through her. “I will... on one condition.”
He ought to have expected as much. “What is it?”
“If I respect your rules, you’ll let me help with your investigation where it’s safe to do so. Please, Alaric,” she said earnestly, “I can’t stand by and do nothing when your life is at risk.”
If he refused, she’d go ahead and do it anyway. Better to contain a fire than be burned by it.
