Page 40 of When the Rogue Returns
“It matters tome,” she said, straining away from him. “I have to know what my actions wrought.”
He leaned close to nuzzle her hair. “Your actions wrought nothing. You’ve made it clear that your family was responsible, not you.”
She could tell from the edge in his voice that he still didn’t quite believe that. Neither did she, entirely. “But I let them use me. Useus.I believed them when they told me you had agreed to help them. Meanwhile, you—” A sob choked her. She clasped his head between her hands, forced him to look into her eyes. “Meanwhile, you were what? I can’t know how much I have to make amends for if I don’t know what happened.”
He stared at her a long moment, features rigid, breath coming fierce and fast. Then his breathing slowed, and something more frightening than anger sparked in his gaze. “You want to make amends?” he said in a harsh rasp as he moved her hands to his neck before gripping her waist. “Then share my bed. Tonight. Now. Prove to me that my memories of our marriage aren’t false. That you really did care for me once.”
The dark glitter in his eyes told her he was serious.
So did the terrifying thrill along her spine. And the idea of being with him again sent a yearning through her that made her belly tighten and her throat go dry.
“Making love never solves anything,” she protested weakly.
A smile ghosted over his lips before he bent to rake kisses along her ear, her cheek, her throat. “It always worked for us.” Then he paused, and his hands tensed on her waist. “But perhaps it didn’t work quite so well for you and some other man.”
“There’s been no other man in my bed since you,” she admitted.
He let out a long breath. Then dragged in another. “Right. And your ‘Rupert’ is just a friend,” he growled, a distinct note of jealousy in his voice.
She jerked back to eye him askance. “You’ve met Rupert. You’ve seen us together. Do you really believe there’s more than friendship between us?”
He gazed steadily at her. “Angus Gordon says you’re in love with the fool.”
“Mr. Gordonwantsme and Rupert to be in love. But it’s wishful thinking on his part, nothing more. He assumes that I’m free, which we both know isn’t the case.” She forced a smile. “Even if I were, can you imagine me as a baroness? It’s absurd.”
He didn’t laugh. “Not absurd at all,” he said solemnly. “You’d make a splendid baroness. Just not for a boy like Lochlaw.” His gaze scoured her, rousing heat in whatever part it touched. “You belong in a man’s bed, not a boy’s. You belong inmybed.”
“Vic—”
He cut her off with a devouring kiss that shook all her defenses.
She couldn’t fight him. She was engulfed by the essence of him—scent, taste, heat. It fogged her mind, destroyed her good judgment.
He gripped her arms, lifting her up on tiptoes for hot, ravenous kisses that stoked her own need, and she slung her arms about his neck to keep from teetering. She’d forgotten how strong he was, how much she used to love the very size of him. She’d forgotten how he dwarfed her with his height and broad shoulders and powerful chest.
Reminded of those heady days before they were torn apart, she couldn’t help wanting him. This very moment. She’d been secretly craving this ever since he’d found her.
Blast him for having such a hold over her. He was a randy rogue and a silver-tongued devil, and she didn’t care—as long as he washerrogue,herdevil.
He tore his mouth from hers to murmur, “Come to my bed, Isa.”
He dragged openmouthed kisses down her jaw, leaving her gasping for air. Or sanity. She didn’t remember him being so demanding. It probably would have frightened her back then.
It excited her now. “I don’t think that’s wise.”
“Of course it’s not wise. Neither was your showing up here late at night alone, but you did.” Grabbing her hand, he started for the open door to his bedchamber. “Surely you knew this would happen.”
“Certainly not.” But had she? Had a small part of her, the part that still remembered the joyous days of being his wife, come here to seduce him?
Determined to deny it, she slipped her hand from his. “No,” she said, “I didn’t.” She told herself to be strong, to hold out until things were more settled between them. Until she could be absolutely certain she could trust him. “And I definitely don’t think I should go in there with you.” She almost sounded convincing.
The corner of his mouth lifted. “Fine. If that’s what you want.”
She squelched a quick disappointment. “It is.”
He gave an exaggerated shrug. “Then I suppose we’ll just have to settle for staying here.” With a knowing smile, he began unbuttoning her riding habit jacket.
“Stop that!” She grabbed his hands. “That’s not what I meant, and you know it! I meant I don’t intend to come to your bed.”
