Page 63 of Redemption

"No, but you're as pig-headed as ever,” he bit out through clenched teeth. With a speed that took her by surprise, Lionel closed the distance between them and grasped her upper arms to keep her from retreating. “Look me in the eye and tell me you don’t love me.”

The moment he touched her she shuddered. As hard as she tried it was impossible not to breathe in the scent of pine and leather she remembered all too well. Fire skimmed across her skin until the years melted away to leave her heart pounding wildly. Overwhelmed by the mere proximity of him, a tremor streaked through her.

Palms braced against his chest, the beat of his heart pounded out a fierce rhythm against her fingertips. She looked into his intense gaze, struggling not to flinch for fear he would see the truth. With great difficulty she swallowed the knot in her throat then looked away from him. A soft growl echoed in her ears as he shook her slightly.

“You can’t do it, can you Beatrice?” The authoritative note in his voice was one she remembered well. “You can’t look me in the eye and say you don’t love me.”

“And you ask too much after all this time,” she whispered as another tremor swept through her.

“No, Beatrice, I’m not asking too much. I’m asking you to believe me when I say that I love you. I want—need you to believe that if nothing else,” Lionel said softly and fervently.

“Please don’t.” She closed her eyes as his persuasive plea coaxed her into admitting she loved him. The gentle touch of his finger on her check made her realize tears had slipped past her eyelids. A shudder wracked her as he kissed her damp cheeks.

“I never stopped loving you, Beatrice.” The gentleness in his voice equaled the tenderness of his touch. She shuddered as he pulled her into his warm embrace. “I was a blind fool to believe Terrence. I should have said to hell with the damn cargo and gone to find you—to hear you tell me you no longer loved me.”

“And I should have gone to the docks,” she whispered. “I should have had the courage to know for certain that you didn’t want me.”

“God help me, Beatrice, I’ve never stopped wanting you with me. I’ve spent far too many nights longing to hold you in my arms again.” Lionel brushed his mouth against her brow before tilting her chin up to stare into her eyes. “I didn’t return to England until I realized that for my own piece of mind, I had to confront you. But when I returned more than a year later you’d already married Fremont—I wavered between despair and fury. I left England then to try and forget you. I wouldn’t be here still if not for the fact that with Terrence dead, my father’s title passed to me.”

The pain in his eyes made Beatrice’s heart ache, and she shook her head in sorrow for all the time they lost.

“Alfred married me knowing I didn’t love him. He became very dear to me, but he knew I’d never stopped loving you.”

In a loving gesture, she cupped the side of his face with her hand. Lionel immediately turned his head to kiss her palm as his hand came to rest on top of hers. After a brief moment, he turned his head to kiss her. It was a sweet caress filled with love and a restrained passion. Powerful arms pulled her deeper into his embrace, and she eagerly pressed her body into his. The past fell away as his mouth teased and cajoled her into parting her lips. Heat spread its way through her with blinding speed. No sooner had the kiss begun than he quickly drew back.

“Not like this. Not here. I want more than one moment of pleasure with you, and this is not the place for a leisurely night of lovemaking,” he said hoarsely. “But believe me, Beatrice I fully intend to make you mine again. At the first moment possible I’ll secure a marriage license.”

“Marriage,” she gasped then shook her head. “You move too fast. I need time—”

“Time for what?” he demanded with the same confident arrogance she’d learned to love so many years ago. But time had changed her. She was no longer a young woman who made rash decisions.

“I happen to like the freedom I have now. I have no desire to give it up.”

“I am happy to indulge your every wish or demand. But you will marry me.” The confidence in his voice made her glare at him. A split second later he’d pulled her into his arms and kissed her.

§ § §

Rhea emerged from the hack as it stopped in front of her aunt’s house. Handing the driver the fare, she slowly turned to climb the steps sighing wearily. It had been a long day, and it would be an even longer night. Although it had proven exhausting, she had taken the early morning train to the country. After spending the night in Percy’s arms, she’d needed time to think.

Instinctively, she’d known Percy would seek her out, but she felt far too vulnerable to see him so soon. So she’d spent the better part of the day at Green Hill. Despite the two hour train ride there and back, the visit to the country had helped clear her head. Seducing Percy last night had been as impetuous as it had been foolhardy, but she had no regrets.

If she’d not been so worried about him as she’d helped him into his house, she would have returned home. Instead, she’d chosen to spend the night, despite knowing the scandal it would cause if she were discovered. Her own reputation was of no consequence, but she knew a scandal could hurt her aunt. It was something she’d not considered until she was leaving Percy’s house early this morning.

Even her audacious claim to be Percy’s mistress had caught her by surprise. Her impulsive words had poured out of her without thinking. His valet hadn’t batted an eyelid at her announcement and had left her alone with Percy who had fallen into a deep sleep. Everything that followed had seemed natural and right.

The thought of being intimate with any man after being sold so often by Ruckley had always been a repulsive thought until she’d met Percy. Not once had she ever experienced revulsion when Percy had touched her. With every kiss and caress, he’d aroused feelings inside her that were not only incendiary, but dangerous as well. When she’d left him early this morning she’d done so with far greater reluctance than she expected.

It made Rhea realize her feelings for Percy were more serious than she’d realized. Where Percy was concerned, she was on the edge of a cliff that could well be her undoing if she were to take one more step forward. Going to Green Hill House had allowed her to adjust her bearings and regain her realistic perspective of her relationship with him.

Last night had been a wonderful experience, but she couldn’t allow it to happen again. It wasn’t simply about who or what she was that mattered. It was the possibility of Percy trying to do the honorable thing that troubled her. She had vowed that never again would she place herself at the mercy of any man, even a man as good as Percy. Rhea closed the door behind her as she entered Fremont Place. Intent on changing for the rescue of Peter, she headed toward the stairs. She’d barely placed a foot on the first step when she heard her aunt’s voice raised in indignation followed by a man’s voice. Fear and horror slithered through her. Ruckley. The bastard had found her and was threatening her aunt.

Frightened for her aunt’s safety, Rhea rushed to the older woman’s aid. The salon door made a loud crack as it slammed against the wall, as she charged into the salon intent on doing battle. The sight that greeted her drew her up short. Eyes wide with amazement, she watched her aunt break free of Lord Foxworth’s embrace and turn to face her. Beatrice Fremont’s face was flushed, and Rhea met the older woman’s gaze with a sense of embarrassment at having interrupted what had been an intimate moment.

Her chagrin was quickly followed by affectionate amusement, and she struggled not to smile too broadly. Her aunt, for all her efforts to secure a match for Rhea, had fallen for Lord Foxworth. She should have suspected something like this would happen from the moment the couple had appeared at the gazebo the night of the party at Melton Park.

“Forgive me, Aunt Beatrice, I thought…obviously I was mistaken.” Rhea started to back out of the room when Lord Foxworth took a step toward her.

“Please, stay, Miss Bennett, or Rhea if I may be so bold, since we shall soon be related.” Despite her suspicions, the man’s words still took Rhea by surprise and caused her aunt to gasp.