There was a catch in her breath. “Yes,” she whispered. “I think she loved me very much.”
“And your father. I think your father loves you greatly.”
“Yes, Papa loves me. H-he’s just absentminded.” She shivered under his touch.
“Not so absentminded to call me out for hurting you.”
“He called you out?”
His hands crept up the back of her frock beneath the large cloak enveloping her and worked the buttons free with deft fingers. He rested his lips at the pulse throbbing on her neck, then lowered to the skin above her loosened bodice. “I turned him down, of course.” He licked her skin and was gratified to feel her hands clutching the front of his waistcoat.
Her breath grew more erratic.
“I love you,” he said, surprised at the huskiness of his tone. “I find I don’t wish to live without you. You invigorate my somber, overly restrained existence.” Sebastian’s heart pounded. “Will you marry me?” he asked. He sensed her unease. She started to rise, but he firmly resettled her against him.
“No.”
“Why not?” He took her chin and forced her meet his eyes. They reflected the pewter in the moon’s light until another cloud passed over, turning her into a dark shroud. “Why not marry me?”
She struggled against his hold, and after a minute, he did release her and watched as she moved to the edge of the cliff.
“I’m waiting.” There was steel beneath his implacable calm.
“I’m leaving for Scotland. In the morning.”
“Like hell you are.” He was on his feet and whipping her back from the edge.
“I’m not the duchess you require,” she bit out.
“You’re the only duchess I require.” He was furious. He somehow kept from tossing her over the cliff, tempting as it was.
She broke his hold and moved out of his reach. A sudden gale tore at her loosed frock. She faced him, using one hand to hold up her gown. “Sebastian, be reasonable.”
The moon reappeared, the clouds moving off completely. It was large and white and round. And looked close enough to touch. She held out her left arm. Both wounds glowed brilliantly beneath the sudden illumination. Anger riddled her expression. “What do you think your cronies will think of these? You precious reputation will be obliterated.” All the panic, fear, and dread she must have staved off for years crashed any semblance of her remaining reserve. “Don’t you understand?” Her control crumbled into a heap of dust. “I can’t do that to you.” She was screaming at the top of her lungs, her voice breaking between her words.
His heart was smashing to bits and scattering on the wind. She shivered violently until her knees buckled beneath her, and she slid to the ground.
Sebastian prowled in her direction until he was at her side. “I asked you a question.” He applied his most ducal hauteur. The one that brooked no argument.
Tears streamed down her face, the sight breaking his insides. But he could not afford the cost of softening at this moment. She shivered violently, propelling him to wrap her in a hold and vowing to never let go.
“Is it because you must champion a cause so desperately that you must invent one?” he said heartlessly. “Is it due to some sort of disjointed sense of chivalry that you’re inclined to save me from myself? Or is it because you love me?” He pelted her with his questions, one after another.
“Yes,” she screamed. “Yes.” Softer. “Yes,” she whispered, her body shaking with her sobs. “Yes. Yes. I love you.”
He buried his nose in her hair. “Thank God,” he whispered. “Thank God.” He moved his hand to her skirts, fighting to reach one stocking-clad leg. There was no stocking. He groaned. “You’re barely dressed,” he rasped out. His hand touched her heated center, and he pressed his thumb against jeweled core of her.
“That’s hardly my fault.” Her voice rose to a breathless squeal.
“True,” he growled. His lips moved back to hers, stopping short of touching. “So, you’ll marry me?”
He could feel her tremoring, her breath heating his chest, in rapid intakes, her hesitation, killing him.
“Perhaps.”
Her response hurt. But he suspected, he’d hurt her worse. He couldn’t force her, nor could he relinquish her. He swept her up into his arms and carried her to just inside of the trees. He set her on her feet and unfastened the oversized cloak. He fanned it out then spread it on the ground. It landed with a curious thud. He snatched her hand and lowered to the ground, bringing her with him.
He cupped her head and slid his fingers up through her hair, sending pins scattering, and crashed his mouth over hers. The contrast of the sharp air to the warmth of her skin set a force of need surging through him. There was nothing sweet or gentle about his kiss or her response to it. To him. It was all raw sensuality. It was all about her and that ignited his nerve endings.
