It had been so long. Too long.
She clutched his back, her nails digging into his broad shoulders, even though the fabric of his shirt. He seemed oblivious to anything other than worshipping her body with his mouth, his lips leaving hers only long enough to push aside her nightgown to expose her naked breasts. Lowering his head, he gorged upon her until she was pulsing around him in a release so fulfilling that she collapsed back against the cushions in limp ecstasy. After a few more thrusts, he made a sound similar to that of a growl, where she thought he heard him say, “Mine,” before he finally collapsed on top of her, his breathing heavy and his body awash in a sheen of pleasured sweat.
Once Roarke and Mara’s passions had cooled to a dull simmer, he stood and walked over to the sideboard, putting himself to rights as he did so. He had a sinking feeling that he would soon require the fortification that the alcohol would provide.
After pouring himself a draught, he turned to face Mara. She was sitting up, her back straight and hands firmly clasped in her lap. This is promising,he thought with a snort. Taking a long, fortifying sip of his drink, he finally asked, “What just happened?”
She looked away and bit her lip. “A mistake.”
While her words cut, Roarke knew that she wasn’t as immune to him as she might like to believe. So why was she still fighting it?
He crossed his arms and dared to call her bluff. “I don’t think so. You’re lying to yourself if you imagine tonight meant nothing.”
“What is it that you want from me?” Her eyes suddenly flashed as she turned that bright, green gaze back to him.
He shrugged, his gaze direct. “Everything.”
“Impossible.” With a sigh, she stood and walked several paces away, making sure to keep her back to him.
“And why is that?” he countered, lifting a brow in challenge. Edging steadily closer to her, he whispered, “What are you afraid of, Mara? Why do you insist on keeping us apart?”
When she didn’t answer, Roarke gently reached out and brushed the hair away from her neck, where he leaned down and planted a soft kiss at the nape. He could feel the shiver that passed through her, and it was obvious that she was still vulnerable. He wanted to coax something—anything—from her that might give him a glimpse into the past.
“Tell me, Mara,” he murmured huskily. “Trust me to rescue us.”
Abruptly, she pulled away from him. “I have nothing to say.”
Frustrated, Roarke grabbed her arm. She might wish to brush off the subject, but he refused to give up when he felt he was so close to the truth. “You’re not going anywhere just yet.”
“You have no right to keep me here!” she shot back, her eyes flashing. “I am not your wife to command at will!”
“Yes, you made sure of that, now didn’t you?” he sneered.
Roarke instantly dropped her arm, his own anger and pain from the past bursting forth with that harsh reminder. He turned on his heel to leave her standing in the middle of the room. “I had no choice!”
Her sudden confession stopped him in his tracks. Her voice was choked with raw emotion and pain, and Roarke turned to see tears coursing down her face.
“I never wanted to leave you,” she said.
He crossed his arms, resigned. “Then why did you?”
“Because I loved you,” she whispered brokenly.
“And you don’t any longer?”
She closed her eyes. “Yes.”
“Then isn’t that enough?”
“No.”
When he would have opened his mouth to say something further, she held up a trembling hand.
“If you ever once cared about me, even the slightest bit, you’ll let me go.” Her face was a mask of grief. “Please, Roarke, just let me go.”
It was the quiet plea that finally broke his resolve.
With his back to her, Roarke gripped the sideboard so tightly that his knuckles turned white. It was either that or hold on to her and make her stay until she confessed all, but while he wanted to know what had happened all those years ago, he couldn’t face the anguish on her face and feel that he was the reason for it.
He wasn’t the villain in this story, but until he found out who was, he had to make a choice.
“Goodnight, Mara.” He waited until her departing footfalls faded away before he drained his glass. “And goodbye.”
