Page 39 of Bride of Betrayal
‘And?’
Her throat suddenly felt dry. This was the most forward she’d ever been in her life. ‘And…while we both still want each other, why not let it burn itself out?’
He took a step back and said, ‘Three years ago, you told me you loved me. Nothing has changed… I can’t offer anything more.’
Angelica strove to look as nonchalant as possible. ‘Three years ago I was naive. You were my first lover. I was infatuated.’
‘I’m still your first and only lover,’ Leo pointed out.
She flushed. She wasn’t in love with him. She wasn’t. ‘And you won’t be my last. I know that. I do want a family some day, Leo, and I know you don’t want that, but that day is a long way off.’
He went a little pale. ‘We both come from a past where family puts you and them in jeopardy. How can you risk that? You’ve seen it first hand—your own family have been used against you.’
‘And they’re the only thing that kept me going and sane through the past three years. If we lose hope in the future, then what’s the point in anything?’
Angelica held her breath, waiting for Leo’s answer. Eventually he said, ‘Nothing has changed for me in that regard. If anything the last three years have only made me more determined not to subject loved ones to what you went through with your mother and brother.’
‘I’m not asking you to change.’Liar.
The distance between them suddenly seemed like a chasm. Feeling a sense of defeat, Angelica said, ‘Look, Leo, if you want to end this marriage now, then we go our separate ways for good. Maybe that’s for the best…’ She looked around for where she’d dropped her bag and jacket when her upper arm was taken in a firm grip.
She looked up and into Leo’s face and the stark intent and hunger in his expression told her all she needed to know about what he thought of that idea. Her heart leapt.
‘Why would I want to end this marriage when we haven’t even had a honeymoon yet?’
Angelica blinked at him. She hadn’t expected that. ‘A honeymoon?’
He nodded and tugged her closer, until their bodies were touching. He cupped her jaw and his thumb rubbed her bottom lip. She wanted to flick out her tongue and taste him. Her knees felt weak.
‘I can’t think of two people who deserve a honeymoon break more, can you? After everything we’ve been through?’
A slow unfurling of heat made Angelica’s insides tighten with anticipation. She shook her head. ‘No.’
‘Good, then how ready are you to leave right now?’
Angelica smiled and it felt good. She pushed aside the voices telling her she was playing with danger, courting Leo like this. He’d already hurt her once, he couldn’t do it again. ‘I’m ready.’
Chapter Nine
Angelica was in heaven. She’d never been so relaxed. The sun beat down but she was under the shade of an umbrella so it wasn’t too intense. The lapping of waves against the shore came from nearby. The only other sounds were birds, circling high in the air. And insects in the lush vegetation that bordered the small, private beach.
The entire island, a little jewel in the Caribbean, was private. The only thing on the island was a luxurious and very exclusive resort, with dwellings so spread out that, since they’d arrived, Angelica had only caught glimpses of other people in the distance.
They had a beach villa. A vast open-plan space, with a private pool and this private section of beach. When they’d arrived the day before, Angelica had had a massage in the villa’s spa room and her bones still felt like putty.
She’d lain down on the bed after her massage, while Leo had his massage, and had woken up this morning, still in the robe, after sleeping straight through.
She’d found Leo, bare-chested, wearing shorts, on the terrace having breakfast, which had been set up for them by staff. She’d felt shy, still not believing that he’d really spirited them away to this paradise for a honeymoon, even if it wasn’t a real honeymon. It had suddenly felt like it.
She’d said, ‘Sorry, I had no idea how tired I was.’
He’d smiled, and admitted, ‘I fell into a coma too.’ Then he’d held out an arm and said, ‘Come here.’
Angelica had gone over and he’d pulled her into his lap. He’d looked at her for a long moment and then just said, ‘Hi.’
Angelica had felt absurdly emotional. ‘Hi.’
‘How hungry are you?’
