Page 70 of The Scholar's Key
She took a breath. She had said that. In fact, it was one of the very reasons she had initially opposed her attraction to Noah.
“That was before I knew you.”
“You mean, before you changed me.”
There was an edge to his voice, and she eyed him. “What has overcome you?”
He ignored her question.
“You changed me into the man you wanted. Altered my appearance, told me how you wanted me to speak, to flirt. It was only then that you had any interest in me.”
Percy rubbed her forehead in frustration. Goodness, this man could be ornery, analyzing every word, every moment. Why could he not understand that none of it mattered if what they felt for one another was true?
“It was what caused me to take greater awareness of you, yes, but I would never want to be with you simply for how you look or how you flirt. It is you that I want, Noah. One of the reasons I want you is because you understand that I need to make my own decisions and you do not try to keep me back from what I choose to do. So do not start telling me my own mind now.”
He ran a hand through his hair. “Then why did you not outright deny Lord Stephen?”
“Heiseverything IthoughtI wanted. As it turns out, I did not quite know my own mind. When I am with him, I do not wish for him to touch me or to hold me as I wish for you to do.”
“It is only because of what we did together. Although I would suggest you find another. Lord Stephen does not seem to hold much respect for your wishes.”
“You are telling me what I think again,” she said, placing her hands on her hips. “And I do not like it.”
“Percy, I am leaving Bath in the next few days,” he said quietly, and she wished that he would show some emotion, would shout or growl or do anything but just stand there and speak facts to her. “I wanted to tell you and to wish you farewell.”
“So this is goodbye.” She heard the crack in her voice and willed away the pain that was rising through her stomach, doing all she could to turn it into anger.
“Yes.”
“You are not going to fight for me?”
“I am doing thisforyou.”
She stepped toward him, raising her finger and pointing it into his chest. “Do you know something? You are no better than the woman who left you.”
“Percy—”
“No,” she said, blinking furiously to prevent the tears from falling. “You are a fool. A fool who is giving up on what could be a lifetime of happiness together.”
She walked over to the door, opening it and gesturing out. “Leave.”
“Percy, I do not want it to be like this.”
“I said get out!” she said, but then was completely unprepared when he walked over, stopped in front of her, and leaned down and kissed her, hard.
She wished she had it within her to push him away, to slap him and tell him to leave her be, but instead, she kissed him back as the tears began to fall from her eyes. Finally, she had the wherewithal to do what she should have from the start, as she pushed him back and the sobs threatened.
“I need you to go.”
“I’m sorry, I—”
“Go!” she choked out between sobs as she pulled the ring off her finger and threw it at him. He caught it just before she pushed him out the door, shutting it behind him as firmly as she could, before sinking against it, placing her head in her hands, and allowing all of the emotion she hadn’t known she possessed to break free.
It was where Cassandra found her minutes later, and she allowed her friend to take her in her arms and provide her with all of the comforts that she needed.
It was then that she made a vow. She would never give another man her heart. For it hurt far too much.
CHAPTER25
