“No, my dove, you have hidden from your life, pretending to be a part of the world while always keeping yourself separate.”
She sharply turned away, hiding her expression from his penetrating gaze.
“That is absurd.”
“I have watched you,” he relentlessly persisted. “I have seen how you smile and mouth the proper words, but remain careful to hold others at a distance.”
She flinched. How did he always know where she was the most vulnerable?
“Just because I do not care for society does not mean I do not have a full and happy life.”
“Happy?”
“I am…” The lie would not pass her stiff lips. “Content.”
“You are alone.”
“I have my family.”
“Family?” he mocked. “They are no doubt the reason you push everyone away.”
She spun back to stab him with an angry glare. “What is that supposed to mean?”
He cupped her chin in his hand, his expression hard, despite his surprisingly gentle touch.
“You have been disappointed on too many occasions. You fear that if you allow another into your heart they will only use you for their own selfish advantage.”
Her humorless laugh filled the garden. “A fear well founded with most gentlemen.”
A faint color touched his cheeks as her thrust hit its target. “I only want to take care of you.”
“No, you desire to use my body until you weary of it.”
His gaze slid downward with a tangible force, lingering on the gentle swell of her breasts before at last returning to her heated face.
“You forget, in return I am offering you full and complete use of my body. You may take advantage of me whenever and wherever you want.” His voice thickened. “Surely that is a fair trade?”
Heat curled through the pit of her stomach, threatening to undermine her determination. She took an instinctive step backward. “Not for me.”
Her words snapped his fragile control, his eyes blazing with frustration. “Christ, what will it take to make you admit you desire this affair as much as I do?”
“More than you can offer.”
“So you keep saying. How the hell can you know if you will not even tell me what it is?”
She wrapped her arms around her waist. What would he say if she told him that she wanted nothing less than his heart?
A pain lanced through her. She knew the answer without even asking.
It was the one thing he would never offer her.
“You claimed that I live in loneliness, but you are no different,” she charged, eager to divert his attention. “When was the last time you enjoyed London society or filled Meadowland with guests?”
“I have duties…”
“Oh yes, your precious duties.” She did her own share of mocking. “You hide behind them so you do not have to search your soul and realize how empty it is.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN