“If I was thinking of a stranger, you would be correct.”
“I am the only person who is not a stranger to you,” she whispered and held his eyes.
“And I wish to know you better.”
Lavinia frowned. “You have known me since March.”
Demetrius smiled. She had just confirmed that she wanted him as well. “I knew one Lavinia in London but now am coming to know an intriguing side of her that I did not know existed.”
“I was not intriguing in London?” she demanded.
He could not help but chuckle at her demand. “Oh, but you were. I simply had no idea how much until we both took a holiday.”
“Does it matter so much?”
“Oh, Lavinia, it does to me because I would like you to know me better as well. I would hate for you to make a decision that you would later regret.”
“I could not imagine that I would.”
“That is because you do not yet know my secrets.” Secrets that only few knew, but he would not feel right becoming her lover when she did not know the truth about him. With others it had never mattered; with Lavinia, it did very much. It also could be because he had been half in love with her for months and this might be the only chance.
“What if I know all that I need? You do not know my secrets.”
“The fact that you have some makes you even more interesting.”
“Perhaps a few secrets, and one more of a scandal,” she murmured before she frowned and her blue eyes filled with sadness.
Demetrius could not understand what he had said wrong or was she hoping that he’d simply bed her and be on his way?
“I had not fully settled on taking a lover, but once you kissed me…I wanted to know if passion was even possible…but you would rather get to know me instead.”
“Did you think I would sweep you up in my arms and take you to my bed?”
“I…uh…I do not know what I expected.” She shook her head and waved a hand. “That is not the point. Instead of seducing me, you want to get to know me. Is it truly because that is what you want or is it an excuse to avoid being my lover? If so, simply tell me and I will not ask you again.”
Her insecurity and uncertainty were nearly his undoing and Demetrius rose from his chair and walked around the table. “Oh, Lavinia, you have no idea how badly I do want to sweep you up in my arms and carry you off to a bed.” And then to further convince her that she was wanted, he settled beside her on the settee then kissed her, deeply and passionately, holding nothing back and was achy with need when he finally pulled away.
Her blue eyes were wide, lips parted and swollen.
“Goodness!”
That was only a taste of what was to come, but not tonight. Being with Lavinia was too important to rush.
Once they left Seaford, he and Lavinia would go back to who they were in London. He as the solicitor for her brother, she the sister of a duke, which was why he was going to spend these next few days courting her and loving her. There may be no future, but at least she would be his for the next fortnight.
Chapter
Fourteen
Lavinia suffered a second night of little sleep.
After Demetrius had kissed her in a manner that left her dizzy, he had bid her goodnight and left.
Why was it so important to come to know her better? There was really nothing else to learn, and what had he found so intriguing?
This was all so very confusing.
She had assumed that if he wished to be her lover too, and given that he was a rake, the matter would have been settled last night and she would wake up today knowing for certain if pleasure and passion existed or if it truly was a myth.
