Page 99 of A Rogue to Watch Over Me
A muscle in his jaw tensed. “I cannot stand by and see ye take such a chance.”
If his eyes had not betrayed a true sense of shock, his forceful words might’ve left her indignant. After all, it was not as if they had spoken any vows. Or made any promises.
They had never even uttered a single syllable of commitment.
Not a single word of love.
But she supposed he had a right to be surprised. Days earlier, she could not have anticipated she’d consider leaving the city that had long been her home. Let alone cross an ocean in the hopes of starting again. She might not find love in America.
But at least, she could still harbor that hope.
Amazing how very much could change in such a short time.
She reached out, drawing the tips of her fingers along the hard edge of his jaw. “You’ve settled your debt, Logan. You’ve protected me. Now, you will be able to return to your life.”
“And ye to yers, eh?”
She fought back tears. “Everything I thought I wanted in my life—it is no longer enough. I need to begin anew.”
He stilled, regarding her as if he’d discovered something quite new and rather fascinating. “What is it that ye do want, Amelia?” His question was raw, rough-edged with emotion.
“I’m not quite sure,” she said truthfully. “I only know that what I have—what I have with you—isn’t enough.”
He stared down at his hands. “The two of us... we are not so different, Amelia.”
“I beg to disagree, Mr. MacLain.”
“Mr. MacLain?” His brows quirked. “Rather formal coming from the lips of a woman who’s warmed my bed.”
She lifted a brow. “A gentleman would not speak of such things.”
“Ye knew I was no proper gentleman from the first time I laid eyes on ye.”
“Quite true.”
“And yet, ye wanted me.” His husky voice seemed a caress. “From the first time I kissed ye. Just as I wanted ye.”
She laced her fingers together, determined to project a sense of calm she did not feel. “Danger has a way of heightening passion, or so I’ve been told.”
His eyes darkened with emotion. “So ye’ve been told, eh?”
“Perhaps I read that . . . somewhere.”
His tempting mouth curved at one corner, as if he was not quite sure what to make of her. “Or deep inside, ye know the truth—yer body and yer heart can recognize a man who wants yemore than the air he breathes, even if that oh-so-practical head of yers cannot.”
For a heartbeat, perhaps two, Amelia could only look at him. He’d left her momentarily speechless.
Wants ye more than the air he breathes.
“And if wanting isn’t enough? If I need more... if I need love?” The words tumbled out in a rush.
“Then, lass, ye’ll have to make a choice.”
Without another word, he rose and crossed the room. The door to the terrace swung shut behind him.
He’d left her. Just as he had walked away that night in his study.
Tears she had willed herself not to shed burned her throat.
