Nicholas’s eyes narrowed slightly.“What is it?”
“I…” She pulled the sheet up again, clutching it like armor.“We must talk.”
He gave a soft huff of amusement.“We’ve already established that that’s the most alarming phrase in the English language.”
“This is serious,” she said.
“I gathered.”He slid his hand under her hair, rubbing his thumb behind her ear in a way that made her stomach flip.“But must we have it now?This conversation?Can’t I have five more minutes of relishing your absolutely perfect body?”
His voice was so low, so gentle, so unbearably tender, that she almost broke.
Almost.
“No,” she whispered.
“Are you certain?”he asked, brushing her collarbone with the backs of his fingers and moving closer to nuzzle her neck.
“Nicholas.”
He stilled.
She pushed herself upright, gathering the sheet around her.“We have to talk about what this means.About us.”
He sat up beside her, the mattress shifting.His expression was suddenly sober, all humor gone.“I think it’s obvious.Because of what we just did…we have no choice.We must marry.”
He watched her, expression unreadable.
She took a deep breath.“I know I should have been more cautious.I should have thought…should have stopped, but I didn’t.I…”
She broke off.
A muscle moved in his jaw.“Bea,” he said softly, “did you think I would seduce you and then leave you to bear the consequences alone?Of course I will marry you.”
She swallowed hard and nodded.“That’s not what I meant.”
“Then what did you mean?”he asked, voice quiet but edged.
“I don’t want to trap you.”
His eyes flared.“Trap me?”
She nodded, throat tight.“My father will demand it.Society will demand it.But I don’t want… I don’t want you forced.If you don’t want me after what I tell you?—”
“Beatrix,” he said, and the way he said her full name turned her bones to water, “I would marry you if no one in the world demanded it.Including you.”
Her breath hitched.
He took her hand gently, thumb tracing her knuckles.“I should have asked before I took you to bed.I should have said the words first.”
“You didn’t take me to bed,” she whispered.“I walked.”
He gave a faint, pained smile.“Then we both should have said the words.”
She stared at him, chest aching.
“Do you want to marry me?”he asked quietly.
Yes.No.Yes.Perhaps.Too late.
