Page 31 of Back to Claim His Crown
‘And I will do everythingelseyou wish,’ he argued.
She ached as he stood so close she could feel his uneven breathing, but she didn’t want to feel this emptiness. She didn’t want to settle for less any more. She made herself push him back,hard.
‘Then I wantnothingof that from you.’
He stepped back. ‘What?’
‘I say no. To everything.’
Astonishment flashed in his eyes. ‘All or nothing? Is that your position?’
‘Yes. We either go all the way or we don’t go anywhere.’ She just knew she was scarlet in the face as she said that.
He stared at her and the most fascinating smile tugged at the corners of his mouth. ‘I think I can make you change your mind.’
Now she was so angry she almost stomped her foot. ‘You don’t take me seriously?’
His gaze hardened and, impossibly, the atmosphere thickened with the fire of challenge. ‘I take you extremely seriously. And I will be extremely serious in my efforts to win a compromise from you.’
Win? The arrogance angered her but theplayfulnesssimply stunned her. Whowasthis man?
‘Because you just have to win?’ she asked huskily. ‘I didn’t think you would play such games.’
‘Perhaps I surprise us both,’ he agreed. ‘But surely you must concede thatsomeis better than none.’
‘I thought you were all about protecting me from harm and being honourable.’
‘I am.’ He cupped her face. ‘Neitherof us is in a position to handle a full-blown affair. I have too much work. You have too much uncertainty.’
Neitherof us. That little admission soothed something deep inside, reminding her that he too was at sea. He too faced all kinds of upheavals and challenges right now.
‘But perhaps we can handle a little indulgence. The slightest, smallest tryst. Just to smooth the edge off it.’
Tryst? He was trying to contain this—he wouldn’t even call it an affair.
‘Control is important to you,’ she said slowly.
‘You want control over your life too. Correct? Face it, Zara. Both of us have too much else going on to deal with anything too intense.’
She felt a little hit inside. Because he was right. But while he was offering to tease and flirt and give her unspeakable pleasure, though it was the most tempting offer of her life, shecouldn’tagree to it. She couldn’t let that be enough.
‘Then I think it’s best that we not deal with it at all.’
‘Ignore it?’ He shook his head. ‘That won’t work.’
‘Sure it will,’ she said resolutely. ‘That’s what you excel at, Lucian.’
‘What?’
‘You think I can’t handle you—that’s why you’re so honourably suggesting we keep this under “control”. But I think the truth is thatyoucan’t handleme. You literally ran away from me last night.’
‘Because—’
‘You haven’t let yourself have any fun inyears,’ she said hotly. ‘Ihaven’t had the chance to have fun before, butyouhave. You’ve made it yourchoicenot to indulge.’
He stared at her. Silenced. But she saw the flare in his eyes and knew she was onto something.
‘What’s holding you back, Lucian?’ Did he not want to be vulnerable with anyone—or did he feel as if he shouldn’t have pleasure for some reason?
