Page 41 of Forbidden Noble
So why darken the room? Her breaths came faster. She hoped she didn’t make his day worse as she hugged herself and asked, “Astorre, why did you need to be alone? Your sister having a child really isn’t something to hide from.”
He touched her, and her body was on edge as he traced her upper arms and elbows. “That's not it. Clara…”
His lips came toward her and she lowered her arms to hold him, ready if he kissed her. “Yes?”
Every cell in her body grew in awareness as he said, “You should want to be far away from me.”
Her eyes widened and she met his brown hues filled with mystery. “That’s impossible. I love you.”
He backed up. “Don’t say that anymore.”
“It’s the truth.” She balled her hands into fists. This wasn’t good and her heart hammered in her chest. He saw something wrong in her, and she'd ruined everything with him too.
His shoulders were tight and his expression brooding as he said, “In time that will die.”
Facts were facts. She'd never been a loveable person. Her heart fell to her stomach, but this was a fact she understood. She’d hidden for years. This was just one more fence around her heart she’d have to erect before he saw how much she'd been hurt.
She turned away to face the door and the bed, where she’d school her expression and ensure no one saw her cry. She glanced over her shoulder and asked, “Astorre, are you ready to meet your niece?”
He crossed his arms and stepped toward her. “No. I heard you on the phone.”
Speaker hadn’t been a good plan, but she’d never lived any place where anyone cared what she said, before here. Her gut twisted as her eyebrow shot up. “Yeah?”
He reached for her again. “Your grandmother was foolish if she didn’t see how valuable you are.”
She trembled and cleared her throat. If he saw her reaction then he would know her weakness. “She… I don’t like talking about Grandma May.”
Astorre made an O with his thumb on her arm as he massaged her. She stopped shivering, until he said, “You’ll never be poor again, Clara. You can go back to your own estate, or take the money you've inherited and travel.”
Money didn’t make her loveable to anyone, except for sharks that wanted cash. Like Max. She lowered her head and heard the wistfulness as she said, “I wanted to go with you.”
He pressed his forehead to hers. “I might never be free to move from here again, not if I take my duties seriously.”
He wasn't asking her to stay. She licked her lips and tried to overcome her wounds from childhood to give him an out. “I’m not sure I’ll be a good lady of a manor, to be honest.”
He ran his hand through her hair. “You’re smart and savvy. You proved that today.”
Her body blossomed from his touch. Her lips tingled for him to kiss her, but that was stupid. It wasn’t going to happen. “I’ve seen enough reality TV to understand baby daddy drama I’m not involved in.”
His mouth claimed hers and she was a puddle of emotion that allowed him to touch her anywhere he wanted. He directed her backward, toward the bed, but as the kiss ended, he said, “I shouldn’t do this to you.”
Even if he didn’t love her, she could show him that she loved him. She went on her tiptoes to be closer to his lips again as she said, “I want you, Astorre. That’s never been our problem.”
He lowered his head and his lips were a fraction away from her throbbing mouth when he asked, “Even if you know love can never exist?”
Tomorrow she’d figure out what to do next. For now she wrapped her arms around his neck and said, “Let’s stop talking.”
He must have agreed. He reached for her clothes and she let him do whatever he wanted to her. Her friend took hours to get ready so there was plenty of time. She loved him and trusted him. Even if she couldn’t make him love her back, she could show him one more time.
Chapter 15
Astorre Mandredi understood Clara was too good for him and he’d hurt her if she stayed close. And if she stayed, he’d continue to act like an animal in heat instead of the gentleman she deserved. If he was honest with himself, she needed to arm herself against her emotions better.
He heard the shower in the adjoining bathroom go off and sat up in bed, grabbing his pants.
He shouldn’t have taken her again. If he was stronger, he’d have sent her packing.
The fog outside the arrow slits made it impossible to tell the time, but his grumbling stomach made him assume it was lunch.
