“That is the p
roblem between us, isn’t it Lily? You see me merely as an obligation.”
She regarded Heath uncertainly, wondering what his objective was in bringing her here. “Since you asked…yes. I am obliged to endure your formal courtship since you won the game. Yet I agreed to the terms, so I am prepared to honor my word.”
“But you would rather be drowned in boiling oil.”
“Well, to be quite candid-”
His mouth curled with irony. “Are you ever otherwise?”
“To be honest, Heath,” Lily began again, trying to keep the desperation out of her voice, “your courting me continues to be pointless. I will never wed you. And I don’t believe you truly want to wed me.”
“You are gravely mistaken, Lily.” His searching eyes were vibrantly intense, disturbingly aware. “I want to wed you more than ever…because I have fallen in love with you.”
Lily drew in a sharp breath, certain she hadn’t heard him correctly. “You cannot mean that.”
“Of course I can. I love you, Lily. Rather intensely, in fact.”
The desperation she felt increased to panic. How could she keep her heart safe when he was saying such tender things to her?
“You do not love me, Heath! You couldn’t possibly. You have known me for barely two weeks.”
“It has been much longer since we first met. And even then I knew you were very special. Someone who might prove to be my ideal match.”
“But love?” Lily shook her head earnestly. She wouldn’t believe that Heath really loved her. She couldn’t let herself. “I just cannot credit it.”
His bright eyes held hers, never wavering. “Do you want to know why I fell in love with you, sweetheart? Because you are vibrant and passionate and full of life. You make me feel alive. You make me feel joyous and exhilarated. With you I look forward to each new day as an adventure. That is why I love you.”
He gave a soft laugh. “I have been looking for you my entire life, Lily, even though I never realized it. And once I found you, I had no choice but to love you.”
At his confession, Lily felt a helpless dismay wash over her. She didn’t dare listen to Heath’s beguiling words. They were too seductive. Too dangerous. They made her heart too vulnerable.
She had to return their argument to a logical footing at once, she thought frantically.
“You want me as your wife because you want heirs,” she insisted.
“No, Lily. I once thought I could be satisfied with a marriage of convenience because we are compatible in so many ways. But I was wrong. To be happy, I need a real marriage with you. I want a family with you, children. A future. But most of all I want your love. I am not asking for that now. I think in time it will come. But for now I will be satisfied if you simply give me a chance.”
Stepping closer, Heath curled his hand against her cheek. “You fill a void in me I never knew existed, Lily. And I believe I can fill that same void in you. I could be a good husband to you.”
Her gaze was caught helplessly in his as he stroked her cheek with his thumb. Lily wanted to protest. That fierce yearning was stirring inside her again, and she knew it would only lead to pain and heartache…
When she determinedly managed to push away the tender feelings and draw back abruptly, Heath sighed and lowered his hand. “You will have to come to the same conclusion on your own, Lily. The decision to marry me must be yours, because you want to. Because you want to spend the rest of your life with me. Because you can’t imagine any other choice. That is how I feel about you, Lily. I can’t imagine living my life without you.”
“And I cannot imagine living my life with you, Heath,” she said rather desperately. “You know I plan to never marry.”
“Because you fear being hurt.” His eyes delved deeply, intently into hers. “I cannot guarantee that I will never hurt you. I can only swear that I will never betray you or abandon you. But you will have to take me on faith. I cannot make you trust me, any more than can I make you believe my feelings for you.”
Clenching her fingers together, Lily retreated another several steps. “I don’t believe you truly love me,” she repeated fervently. “Noblemen of your ilk don’t fall in love.”
Faint amusement touched his mouth. “Try telling that to Marcus and Drew.”
Knowing she was losing the debate, Lily groped for an even more desperate argument. “Even if you did fancy yourself in love with me, you cannot promise me fidelity forever. My father was disastrously unfaithful in his marriage, and you could be just like him. I couldn’t trust that you would give up your myriad lovers for my sake.”
Heath’s gaze was intense, clear, and suddenly ruthlessly focused on hers. She could see he was struggling to keep his emotions in check, and his tone held a rough edge when he replied. “Even if you question my honor, you should have more confidence in your own abilities. Any man who can command all that fiery passion of yours in bed will likely never stray. Fidelity is one thing I can promise you.”
Lily shook her head again. “It doesn’t matter how many promises you make, Heath. I won’t risk it.”