Page 155 of Dukes Are Forever
"And I shouldn't have."
Because this was the result.
Each kiss seduced both of them into... emotions he didn't have time to explore. It confused matters. Made it harder to work out where the line between them needed to stay.
Gemma had warned him.
He tried to make her understand. "For seventeen years, I have lived this life. Revenge. Power. They were the only things I ever wanted, the only things that have kept me going at times when my world was burning around me. I walked this path alone. I had to. I had nothing else to give to another. I couldn't give them my heart."
"Have," she pointed out. "For what has changed? You're still walking your path alone. You're still striving to bring him down."
"I have to end this. Because he will not stop coming for me."
"I understand that." She squeezed her eyes shut, as if fighting to work her way through these feelings. "You're trapped in this vicious cycle that will not end until one of you is dead. It's too dangerous to leave him alive. Iunderstandthat."
"Adele." He cupped her face, willing her to look up and meet his eyes. "What do you want of me?"
"Nothing," she whispered.
Nothing that you can give,remained unspoken.
He stroked his thumbs across her cheeks, across her mouth. "What do you want me to do? I will try to let you in."
"All I want is for you to talk to me. I want to share your secrets. I hate feeling like an outsider in this world. You all have your places here. You all know what you are doing, but I don't. I hate these doubts that afflict me."
"Then I will try. But you have to grant me some trust. You have to talk to me too."
Adele slowly nodded, the tension in her shoulders easing.
He leaned down, brushed his mouth against hers.
It was the only thing he could give her.
And yet, when he drew back, it was clear it wasn't enough, for her glorious eyes held shadows that stole the sparkle from them.
Chapter 31
Malloryn paced his study in the aftermath of the argument, raking his hands through his hair. She'd accepted his apology, but there'd been a distance within her, as if some sort of gaping wound still existed.
As if she was determined not to let him get too close to her again.
For once, he found himself on the other end of such a situation, and he had a swift insight into how others had felt dealing with him over the years.
Adele's words stabbed at him over and over again.
You're still walking your path alone.
And it was true.
Revenge. Power. Balfour. What was left of his life?
The sad fact was: Nothing.
There was no set of welcoming arms to greet him at night. No soft smile in the morning as he woke. No laughter ringing in his ears.
But there had been a chance for it.
Until he ruined it.
