Page 39 of Unmasked By a Captivating Lady
Andrew had smiled. “I can see why you are entranced by her, brother. She is a beautiful little spitfire, isn’t she? A definite match for you.” He had hesitated. “You must try to handle this well, Miles. She is justifiably hurt, and angry. Do not push her too much. A simple apology might be all that she needs for the moment, until she processes it all.”
Miles had nodded, but inside he had disagreed. He was afire, and he needed to not only apologise to Ara, but lay his heart at her feet once and for all. It was all or nothing.
The courtyard. He knew a secret back entrance to it. He had left the ball, making his way around to the rear of the property, letting himself in through the entrance. And then he had seen the small figure of a woman, sitting on a bench. His heart had seized. He was almost certain it was her.
And he had been right. Here she was, now, before him, in all her glorious, angry beauty.
She stiffened. “What are you doing? How can you evendareto show your face to me after what you have done?”
He ran a hand through his hair. “Ara, please, let me explain…”
“Your brother explained everything,” she said, in a scornful voice. “Your brother, therealDuke.”
He flinched slightly, as if she had struck him. “It was a stupid bet,” he said desperately. “I never thought of the consequences. I never thought…that I would see you again, after our chance meeting. I never intended to…”
She smiled bitterly. “Well, why did you then? Did you find the challenge irresistible?”
He paled. “No. No. It wasn’t the challenge.” He gazed at her beseechingly. “I intended to miss this ball entirely, because I did not want to embarrass you with my presence. I knew that you would find out tonight, of course. But then, I realised that I could not do you such a disservice….”
“You were a coward,” she spat, her eyes sparking. “You could not bare to witness my anger, knowing what you had done. Why do you not just admit it?”
“Yes, Iwasa coward,” he said slowly. “I did not know how to handle the situation. But I am trying to handle it now, the best way that I can.” He gazed at her beseechingly. “What started out as a bet has turned into love, Ara. Iloveyou.”
She reeled back a little, looking stunned. For a moment, she simply stared at him, obviously at a loss for words.
“I am in love with you,” he whispered, stepping forward, so that he was standing only inches away from her. “I never intended it. I thought that I was not capable of it. I tried to stay away from you but found that I could not.”
She didn’t say anything. She simply stared at him.
“I am sorry that I hurt you,” he whispered, his eyes glittering fiercely. “I never wanted to. I am trying to make amends for it now. Please, tell me that you will give me a second chance?”
She lurched a little, as if out of a trance. The stunned look was slowly leaving her face, and the anger was sparking again in her eyes.
“If you love me,” she said slowly, “then why did you not tell me before? You had every opportunity.” She took a deep breath. “I waited for you, every day this week, and you never came. Why did you not come and tell me, if you are so in love with me?”
He ran a hand through his hair. “I did not know then that I loved you,” he replied. “I was still trying to fight my feelings for you, believing that I was not capable of love. And I simply did not know how to explain to you the lie…”
Her eyes flashed. “I do notbelieveyou! You are a liar, and a rake, and you are just trying to sweet talk me to make yourself feel better…”
“No, Ara,” he cried desperately. “It is the truth! I swear it!”
But she had turned away, walking quickly, back towards the house.
He cursed underneath his breath, running after her, grabbing her by the wrist. He swung her around abruptly so that she fell against him. She stared up at him with blazing eyes.
“Let me go,” she whispered viciously. “I willnotlisten to another of your lies…”
Desperately, he grabbed her, claiming her lips. For a moment, she stiffened against him, resisting him. He kept kissing her ardently, desperately, trying to show her how much she meant to him.
Suddenly, she sagged against him. He felt her tremors as sensation swept through her. Her mouth opened beneath his, and his tongue eagerly sought entry. The kiss deepened, so that they were straining against each other.
In a fever, he grabbed her tightly, dragging her away from the path, so that they were hidden behind a tall oak tree.
“You are so beautiful,” he whispered feverishly, his mouth leaving hers, kissing her face.
She groaned beneath the onslaught. He gazed down at her face, seeing that her eyes were closed in a kind of rapture.
A wave of intense desire swept through him, so deep that it shook him to the core. Dimly he was aware of music, playing in the distance, and laughter. It might have been a million miles away. All he could focus on was the woman in his arms, and how he felt about her.
