Angel in Scarlet (Bound and Determined #4)(75)

“You may be right, but that is not quite what I meant.” His thumb moved to her wrist, sliding back and forth across the tender skin.

“I know.” She looked down at their joined hands. “But you cannot create troubles just to overcome them. I think perhaps we should get to know each other better first. Then you may ask again.”

His thumb stilled. “That is not possible.”

“Why?”

He held both her hands steady, then waited until her eyes lifted to his. “I did not want to tell you this. I probably still should not tell you. It may cast all I have said in doubt. You must believe that I would not ask you to wed if I did not wish to. What has happened has only made me act faster, not made me change what I want.”

What was he talking about? Angela looked up as a cold chill took residence in her gut. She was already emotionally drained by the discussion and didn’t know how much more she could take. “What has happened?”

He pulled in a deep breath, expanding his chest, the buttons of his shirt pulling tight. “Thorton saw us in the folly.”

She bit down on her lip, feeling the pain, trying to have it lend her clarity. “Truly?”

“Why would I lie?”

She felt as if she were covered in worms. “He saw us? He saw me?” She had the urge to stand and run.

“Yes.”

“And what does this have to do with your wishing to wed me?”

“He claims that if we do not wed he will have no choice but to tell everyone what he saw. I will deny it—and it may seem to stretch the boundaries of belief. In many ways it would have been worse if we had been engaged in something more simple. Who would believe that an innocent virgin would kneel, bound and beautiful, and—”

“They will simply decide that I was neither innocent nor virgin. The fact that I am rumored to have engaged in such activities will ruin me.” She said the words flatly, not allowing any emotion to seep through. If she did not feel it, it could not be real. If she pretended that long enough, perhaps she could come to believe it. She had certainly grown good at pretending, at hiding things even from herself.

“Not if we are married.”

“So you want to marry me because of Lord Thorton’s threats. I didn’t think it could be worse, and now it is. You don’t actually want me at all.”

“We both know that is not true.”

“You know what I mean.”

“And I already explained that I do wish to wed you. Thorton may have sped things along, but the result would have been the same in the end.”

“Do you really think so? I still have not agreed, and now I do not know that I can.” She stood and began to pace back and forth across the small cabin.

“We both know that I could have persuaded you if I had not told you. You want to marry me.” He sounded quite confident.

She turned on him, marching over to his seat. “You sound very sure of yourself, my lord.”

“I am.”

She wanted to hit him. “I won’t force you to this.”

“You are not forcing me.” He reached out and grabbed her hips, holding her captive. “If anything, I am forcing you.”

“I will never know that.”

“I think that I will have to show you.”

“I can’t think of anything you could show me that will change my mind.”

He closed his knees about her legs, so strong, so warm—so distracting.

He released her hips, knowing that his legs held her tight, and instead caught her hands. “We do not have a choice.”

“And I too refuse to be forced.” She tried to pull away.

“Angela.” His voice was low. “Do not do this. You know how this will play out. Don’t push a situation that you cannot win.”

“I just can’t. I can’t.” It was all too much. She felt as if her every emotion had been taken out and stomped on, ground into the dirt. The sound of tears filled her voice, but she would not let them fall.

He pulled her forward until she sat upon his lap. Again she tried to resist, but he held her firm. “Can you not simply agree? You know that it is what you want.”

“I don’t.”

For the first time, his voice sounded harsh. “Do not pretend with me.”

“I am not.” But she was. She did want him, but she didn’t want him this way, didn’t want him forced and tied as firmly as a brace of pheasants.

“God, you try my patience, woman. I think it is time that I show you exactly how persuasive I can be.” He stood, lifting her in his arms.

She struggled more. This was not what she wanted. It wasn’t. But she could feel the excitement brewing within her, feel her heart beginning to speed, feel the ache growing deep within her womb. And still she fought. She could not let him win, could not let it happen this way.

He took three steps and then tossed her upon the bed. She rolled fast and sure, trying to go off the other side, but he caught her ankle and pulled her back. Her legs slid about his until she cradled him between her thighs. The bed was high and she could feel him press against her, feel him grow and twitch.

He caught at her hands and held them tight, stretching them up over her head.

“Please don’t,” she whispered.

“Please don’t what?” He held her still, his eyes searching her own.