Malone's Vow

His tone was polite, his expression pleasant. But there was something just under his words, something flickering in his eyes, that made her shiver.

“Does it matter? I only know that—that—”

“That you can’t do this.” A muscle knotted in his jaw. “Is that how you ended up saying yes to Bill when he asked you to marry him?”

Her head came up. “What?”

“You heard me. Is that how it happened? Did you lie to yourself about your feelings, tell yourself you loved him when

you knew that you didn’t?”

Jessie stood straighter. She dropped the tote bag and put her hands on her hips. “I never lied to William.”

A tight smile etched Liam’s mouth. “I didn’t accuse you of lying to him. I asked if you’d lied to yourself.”

“That’s ridiculous. Lie to myself? About my feelings?”

She tossed her head and the spill of her hair over her shoulders was like the swirl of a flamenco dancer’s skirt. Liam unfolded his arms and dug his hands into his pockets. It didn’t matter that she was beautiful, that he wanted her more than he’d ever wanted a woman in his life or that he could seduce her in a moment because, even if she wasn’t ready to admit it, her need for him was as wild as his for her. What mattered was that she come to him on her own, that she put aside the lies and give herself to him fully. That was how he wanted her; it was the only way he wanted her. It was the way she wanted him, too, and he needed to hear her say it.

“Why would I lie? William’s a wonderful man.”

“You don’t love him.”

“He has so many wonderful qualities that I could never list them all.”

“And you still don’t love him.”

“He’s kind and good and decent, and he’d never, not in a thousand lifetimes, do what you’ve done.”

“No, he wouldn’t.” Liam narrowed his eyes and stepped away from the door. “That’s the difference between us, I guess. I see what I want and I take it.”

Jessie’s skin prickled. “Charming. I bet that goes over big with the ladies.”

“Maybe I should clarify that.” He reached behind him, turned the lock, then came toward her as lithely as a big cat, his green eyes locked to hers. “I only take what’s offered to me. I’m honest in what I want, Jessie. I don’t lie to a woman.”

“That’s even better,” she said, and hoped he couldn’t see the pulse leaping in the hollow of her throat. “Really a smooth come-on, Liam. You telling a woman you know what she really wants, even when she says you’re wrong.”

He reached out, cupped her shoulders with his hands. “Don’t do this. If you don’t want to be with me, say so. But, dammit, don’t play games. Not now.”

“I don’t want to be with you. Okay? Is that what you wanted to hear?”

“I want to hear the truth.” His eyes were dark and angry. She felt the press of his fingers, knew the tension that was building inside him because it was inside her, too. “Say it. Say that you want me.”

“You’ve no idea what I want, Liam. You—”

He kissed her. Not hard. She’d have fought him, if he had. He kissed her gently, his mouth moving lightly over hers.

“Say it,” he whispered. “Let the world tilt, sweetheart. Let it happen.”

Jessie’s heart thudded. How could he know her so well when he hardly knew her at all? He brought her hands to his chest. She could feel his heart racing under her fingers. A honeyed weakness was spreading through her bones. It would be so easy to do…

“Let go,” she said sharply. “Damn you, let go of me!”

He did, so suddenly that she stumbled back. “To hell with it,” he growled.

“Oh, that’s nice.” Her voice trembled. She grabbed her bag and stepped around him, heading for the door. “You can’t get what you want so you say to hell with it?”

“You’re the one who’s not getting what you want, because I’m not about to deliver.”