“You took the vial,” he stated. “I will need it back.”
“We will get to that later. The problem I was referring to was Devlin.”
“It is about time you realize that he is a problem.”
“He is not the problem.” Her eyes flashed battle bright. “The problem is thatyoutold him we are married. That you are myhusband.”
Perhaps not his finest hour.
“The bounder was about to kiss you,” Jack muttered.
“Devlin could have been about to bed me, and you still had no right to do what you did! Now I am obligated to come up with a suitable explanation…”
She kept talking, but he didn’t hear any of it. Because his brain was stuck on her words, spinning like a wheel mired in muck:about to bed me, about to bed me…
Another man. About to bedhis Lottie.
“No right?”
The words left him in a roar, and even Lottie started. He slammed his glass on a table, stalking over to her. She remained on her throne, staring at him with arched brows. Not the least bit cowed as he glowered down at her.
“We are married,” he growled.
“Weremarried,” she retorted. “The marriage ended when you faked your death. When you decided to abandon me for twelve years.”
“Christ, we’ve been over this. I did it to protect you. Because I love you. And I stayed true to my vows becauseyou”—he stabbed a finger at her—“are the only woman for me. Ever. Until the end of bloody time. So, if you think I’ll allow some sod to put his hands on what is mine?—”
“You love me?”
Her question pierced his fog of rage.
“I told you I did,” he bit out. “Back in the cave.”
“No, you said youlovedme. You used the past tense.”
He braced his hands on his hips, inhaling through his nose for patience. “Now you’re grasping at straws.”
“I amnot, you imbecilic man.”
She surged to her feet, moving so quickly that her head almost hit his chin. He refused to budge, and they stood toe-to-toe, glaring at one another.
“You love me. Now.”
He didn’t know why she was insisting on it when he’d just told her.
“My memory is not faulty, woman.”
“But clearly your reasoning is. Last night, you told me we were sharing pleasure without strings or commitment.”
Her accusatory tone irked him. Especially because he didn’t understand it.
“And?” he said shortly.
“And how can we do thatif you love me?”
He twitched…not just because she’d shouted the words. Her bosom was heaving, and her cheeks were flushed; she looked a lot like she did when he made her come. Simultaneously, he realized he was hard, his shaft stretching the wool of his trousers, and when she dipped her gaze, running it over the visible outline of his erection, he felt it like a caress.
“What do you truly want from me, Sebastian?” she demanded.
