Page 49 of The Trouble with Tigers
Zeke slowed to a halt. “I think we’re safe enough here.”
Though the morning temperature was fresh, Kitty felt her cheeks throbbing with heat. Still, she lifted her chin and met his blue stare. “You want to discuss last night.”
“I do.”
She took a deep breath. “I wanted to thank you for—”
“I wanted to apologize for—”
They both went silent.
Zeke sent her a condescending smile.
She returned the smile. Inwardly she fumed.
While lying awake last night, she’d decided on a course of action should Zeke insist on a conversation. She’d thank him for coming to rescue her and that would be the end of it. They could both pretend nothing untoward had happened and move on.
Meanwhile Zeke, the cur, was apologizing for their kiss,again. As if last night’s apology, followed by him charging out of her bedchamber like the house was on fire wasn’t bad enough. Humiliation swamped her anew.
“May I go on?” He asked.
“Please.”
“I’ve considered the matter, and have come to an inescapable conclusion.” He laughed softly, as if he couldn’t quite believe what he was about to say. “We must wed.”
“Wed?” she squeaked. She had not seen this coming.
His face showed only resolve. “While it’s true I didn’t enter your chamber with the idea of…” His loss for words and ruddying cheeks gave Kitty a modicum of satisfaction.
She smiled sweetly. “Of ravishing me, my lord?”
A muscle in his jaw ticked. “Perfectly worded, my dear, though, if you wouldn’t mind keeping your voice down? I’d be much obliged.”
“Certainly, Lord Thurgood,” she said in a low tone, that reeked of sarcasm, she hoped.
His eyes danced with merriment. “Ah, Kitty.” After a moment, he sobered. “My treatment of you was abhorrent and demands atonement. As such, I am fully prepared to take responsibility for my actions, and as we are already acting under the guise of—”
“No. Absolutely not, my lord.”
His brows furrowed in what looked like confusion. “No?”
“I can’t allow you to make such a sacrifice.”
“Kitty, under the circumstances, you must allow me to decide—”
“Just last night you went out of your way to”—she put a finger to her chin as if searching her mind—“clarify, I believe was the word you used, the nature of our arrangement. If you’ll recall, I told you at the time I have no desire to marry you.”
He clasped his hands behind his back and gaped at her, clearly perplexed. “You truly don’t wish to marry me?”
“Allow me to congratulate you on your excellent hearing, my lord.”
His mouth curved in a pirate’s smile. “In that case, do you mind explaining your”—he scratched the side of his nose—“participation, for lack of a better word?”
She swallowed hard, beyond mortified now. Participation was a kind way of putting it. She’d practically initiated the whole encounter.
She ducked her head, certain her cheeks glowed red. Her entire face throbbed with heat. “I was curious? That is, I’ve never…never…” She glanced up, helpless to complete her sentence—and glared at him when she saw his eyes crinkling at the corners with restrained amusement.
“Curiosity, you say?”
