Page 91 of Pride: The Rogue
“For men—myself included, Livian?” he said bluntly. “Women are all the same.Sexis all the same. Women…especiallyladies,” he continued, “they get their feelings involved. I’ve witnessed it firsthand after my partner bedded an innocent miss. What did that get him, a heartless, consummate bachelor whose business mattered more to him than anything?”
He answered before she could. “Chained to that chit forever.”
Chained to that chit?
This cynical side of him gave her pause; it reminded her that admire Lachlan though she did, he was still a stranger.
“My sister once did extensive research on your club and its proprietors.”How I wished I’d given more attention to those pieces she’d ultimately collected and written.
“Given what I know of Mr. DuMond’s reputation,” she said soberly, “he does not strike me as a man compelled to do anything.”
He arched an eyebrow. “And?”
“And, isn’t it possible he was,is,in fact, in love with his wife?”
It was the wrong thing to say. Talking to a jaded, experienced man about love hardly strengthened Livian’s argument.
Sure enough, Lachlan’s expression grew shuttered.
Then it hit her.
I’m all but begging him to make love to me.
No, Iambegging!
Livian recoiled. An agonizing embarrassment started in her belly and swiftly spread.
Lachlan didn’t want to bed her because either he, one, didn’t desire her. Or, two, he might desire her some, but not enough to take the chance he’d risk being stuck with Livian for the rest of his life.
“I see,” she whispered, dumbly.
She wanted the floor to open up and suck her under to escape the utter humiliation and pain of Lachlan’s rejection.
Unable to look at him, Livian lowered her eyes and made to enter her room.
Lachlan shot an arm out quickly across the doorjamb, blocking her escape.
He placed his lips near her shoulder. The gentle sough of his breath, combined with the rough scratch of his stubbled cheeks, sent Livian’s eyelashes fluttering.
“And what exactly is it you think you see, love?”
The chore of answering his amused question, came more of the web of desire Lachlan wove about her senses, than embarrassment.
“You don’t…want me.”
Lachlan chuckled. “Is that what you think?”
He lightly nibbled her neck.
Livian sank her teeth into her lower lip. What had he said?
“Hmm?” he urged.
Oh, yes.Is that what you think?
“I-It is what I know.”
He trailed a path higher over her heated flesh.
