“Kiss me first.” She reached for him.
How he ached to kiss her! But he stepped away from the bed. “No, you must leave.”
“Cam?” Her blue eyes widened.
“Now, Rose. I…I’m tired of this.”
“Tired of what? What are you talking about?” She sat up.
He swallowed, willing himself to be strong. “Tired of you, Rose.”
“You can’t be serious.”
“I am serious. I…you and I…we don’t belong together. We never did.”
“Of course we do. You’re not thinking straight, Cam. You’re worried about Kat. I don’t blame you.” She stood and reached for him.
He used every ounce of strength he possessed not to rush into her arms. “That’s not it. I mean…of course I’m worried about Kat. But, I…we…can’t continued this…tryst.”
“Tryst?” Her eyes glistened.
“Of course. That’s all it was. A tryst. It could never be any more. We both know that.”
“Cam, you’re not making any sense at all. I…we just made love. You…you came to me. You needed me. I need you.”
“Don’t be ridiculous.”
“I’m not being ridiculous.” She sniffed. “ Let me help you. I’ll do anything I can for you and for Kat.”
“For God’s sake, I’m perfectly capable of taking care of my own family.” He swallowed. “Now I want you to get out of here.”
“All right, Cam,” she said, turning. “If that’s what you want, I’ll leave. But I’ll be at Laurel Ridge, and I want you to come if you need me.”
“I won’t. It’s over, Rose.”
“But—” Her eyes filled with tears. “You said you loved me!”
Cameron looked away from her. Her tears hurt him more than a thousand punches to his face. “I…I lied to you Rose.”
“No, you didn’t,” she sobbed.
“Yes. I…lied to you so you would sleep with me.” He shut his eyes, unable to look at her. He deserved to burn in hell for this.
“No. You love me. I felt how much you love me. You wanted to take me to Gretna Green.” Still naked from their lovemaking, she grabbed him around the waist and buried her face in his strong shoulder. “I love you. You can’t mean any of this. You can’t!”
Filled with self-loathing, he wrenched her body away. “Cover yourself. Then leave. Your carriage is waiting out front.”
“Cam, don’t do this!”
He turned, walked toward the door, and opened it. Without looking back at her, he said, without emotion, “Go back to Xavier, my lady. I don’t want you.”
Then he left, the sound of her crying still hammering in his head, even when he was beyond hearing distance. He stood in the stables for a half hour, watching from a small window, waiting until he saw Rose step into the carriage and drive away, Begonia trotting along behind.
Only then did he sit down in the hay and sob.
* * * *
When she returned to Laurel Ridge, Rose went straight to her chamber. Her eyes were swollen from crying, and her body ached with yearning