Pull yourself together, she told herself impatiently.Finding the phone, she called Anna to thank her for the tray.“You didn’t have to do this for me.”
“It’s a pot of tea and a few cakes.”
No.It was much more than that.“I really appreciate it—” She paused at a knock on the door.
“Karolina?Are you in there?”
“Anna, could I ask you for a pot of coffee too?”
Putting the phone down, she braced herself for whatever might come next.Her marriage to Conor was in name only, and she had no right to have expectations of the romantic kind, or make demands on him.
“Karolina.”
Conor’s expression was full of concern, which was more than she deserved after flinging her fury and self-doubt in his face.She was surprised that he’d come to find her.
Her heart thundered as she stood back to let him in.It was clear that, like her, Conor had spent his entire life avoiding feelings.She had to hope that he understood that when she lost control, it was years of pent-up emotion pouring out.
“Are you okay?”he asked with a piercing stare.
“Yes, I’m fine.”She busied herself offering cake—anything to escape eye contact with a man who seemed to have the power to see inside her soul.Toweringly formidable and impossibly desirable, Conor was such a big presence, his charisma alone took over the room.The hands he’d held tingled at the memory, while the lips he’d barely pressed against longed for another kiss.He had no need of black diamonds at his cuffs, or even the X-rated breeches he’d worn for their wedding.In a pair of banged-up jeans and workmanlike boots, with a black top sculpting his tan and toned muscles, Conor Murphy was a breath-stealing sight.It was hard to believe that this was the man she had married…the man who had agreed for some reason to marry her.The man who had kissed her, briefly, gently, as if he’d meant it.
Refusing the offer of cake, he glanced around.“Do you like your accommodation?”
“It’s absolutely beautiful.I love your house.And your housekeeper.”
“Anna’s special,” he agreed.
“Each room in the suite is decorated with such style,” she said following his interested gaze.“I especially love the bedroom—”
“Why are you blushing?Do you think I’m related to Bluebeard?”
“Honestly?”she admitted, “I don’t know what to think.I don’t know you.”
“You’ll get to know me,” Conor reassured her, with a glance at the door as if he was impatient to leave.“Well, just so long as you have everything you need?”
“I do, thank you.”
Anna chose that moment to knock on the door.“Thank you, but no coffee,” Conor told her.“I won’t be staying.”
Karolina’s heart sank at his obvious wish to get away.As soon as Anna had gone, he turned to face her.“I’ll leave you to sleep tonight.I’m sure you’ll be relieved about that.I don’t expect you to fulfil any of the customary marital obligations.”
“Obligations?”
“I won’t be joining you in bed,” Conor stated firmly, dipping his head to stare into her eyes.“Is that clear enough?”
“Like you said, it’s a relief,” she lied.What she’d witnessed at the embassy should have put her off sex for life, but that was before she married Conor Murphy.His kiss had stirred something inside her that Conor had just made clear he didn’t feel.Perhaps it was more that he’d felt sorry for her and was just being kind.
“Well, I won’t keep you,” he said as he prepared to leave.
Why was he in such a hurry?Mistress?Mistresses?She was drowning in uncertainty.
“If I get back in time tonight, I’ll drop by to check you’re okay.”
“Great,” she said brightly, covering for the doubt inside her with a fake smile.
He was a man, not a saint.Passing up his wedding night with Karolina was no easy task, but he would not force himself upon a virgin who didn’t know him from Adam.And he had business to conduct.
The expression on Karolina’s face when he abandoned her in the suite only piled on the agony, but at least she was safe; safe from him, safe from slavers, safe from anyone who might mean her harm.One less captive at the embassy.She could rest easy tonight, and so could he.His mission with Blood and Thunder took precedence over everything else.
