Because I won’t be there.
He didn’t say it. Instead, he let the words linger between them.
“All sorts of horrors can befall a woman alone,” he said instead.
Clare let out a long, exasperated sigh. “Oh, thank youso very muchfor pointing that out. I’m quite well aware. I’ll have my maid with me, at least.”
Ash met her gaze. Damn. She wasn’t budging. He would have to try another tactic. “If you won’t stay, let me come with you then.”
The words shocked even him. But if she refused to stay, he would have to go. It was as simple as that.
Clare went still. Her eyes narrowed. “With me where?”
“To France, of course.”
She stood up so fast her chair nearly toppled over. Then she backed away. “Right,” she muttered. “I’m going to ring for a servant to come and fetch you now, because you’veclearlygot some sort of fever.”
Ash stood and made it to her side in two strides. “Nothing of the sort,” he murmured, leaning down and whispering the words next to her delicate ear.
She swallowed, pressing both hands to her middle. “You know this is madness.”
“Delirious, reckless madness,” he agreed, his voice low, rough. “And yet, here we are.”
He pressed his nose to her jaw, inhaling the scent of her. The scent he had come to crave. “I have just one question for you.”
“W…what?” Her breath hitched.
Ash smiled to himself. She may not be ready to admit she loved him, but she still wanted him. He could tell by the way her body tensed, the way she shivered at his touch. His fingers brushed down the side of her arm, slow, teasing. “Do you want me?”
She blinked, clearly caught off guard. “What?” Her voice was a ragged whisper.
He pressed forward, close enough to feel the heat of her body. This was a gamble. A calculated risk. Perhaps it wasn’t fair to use his body and his voice to seduce her, but he wasn’t in the mood to be fair. He had to show her that what they had between them was real…and rare. But yes, it was a gamble. And if she ran now, he would be lost.
But she didn’t run.
“Do you want me?” he repeated, his voice a rasp against her ear.
“Ash, I—” Her throat worked as she swallowed.
“Answer the question, Clare,” he whispered, tilting her chin up to meet his gaze. “Because if you say yes, I’m going to kiss you.”
Her pulse fluttered beneath his fingertips. Silence stretched between them, thick and charged. Then, on a breathless exhale…
“Kiss me.”
He didn’t need any further encouragement.
He pulled her sharply into his arms, his lips crushing against hers, swallowing the soft gasp that escaped her throat.
Her hands found his hair, fingers twisting, tugging just enough to make him groan. He lifted her effortlessly, setting her on the edge of the table behind them.
She gasped as the cool wood met her bare thighs, her skirts already gathered in his impatient hands.
“We can’t,” she breathed, glancing toward the door, but her grip on him tightened. She was obviously worried about the fact that they were in an unlocked room.
“We already are,” he said, trailing his fingers along the lace of her stockings, up, up, up.
And she didn’t stop him.
