A Royal Amnesia Scandal

“No.” He turned, facing her with his hands on his narrow hips. “I took advantage of you. Kate, I am so, so sorry. I had no clue. I got caught up in the moment and wanted to forget this memory loss and just be with you.”

“No. This is not your fault in any way.” Holding on to the knot on her towel, Kate shivered. “Let’s get dressed. We need to talk.”

Eight

Luc grabbed his clothes from the bedroom and went to the spare room to get dressed. Of all the plans he’d had for Kate, taking her when she wasn’t mentally prepared for it sure as hell wasn’t one of them.

Their history explained why she’d tensed when he’d come up behind her in the shower, explained the onslaught of tears afterward. Not to mention the way she’d stiffened against him in bed last night.

Luc cursed himself once again for losing control. He’d thought he was doing the right thing, thought he was getting them both back to where they’d been just before his ridiculous accident.

Heading back down the hallway, he spotted his clothes. Looking at them now he felt only disgust, as opposed to the excitement and anticipation he’d felt when he’d left them behind without a care.

He grabbed each article of clothing and flung them and his towel into the laundry area. He’d worry about that mess later. Right now he had another, more important mess to clean up, and he only hoped Kate would forgive him.

Guilt literally ate at him, killing the hope he’d had of making this day less about his amnesia and more about them.

By the time she came out, she’d piled her hair atop her head and sported another one of those little sundresses that showcased her tanned shoulders and sexy legs. The legs he’d demanded she wrap around him.

Kate took a seat on the sofa and patted the cushion beside her. “Just relax. Okay?”

Relax? How could he when this entire mess had started with him forgetting every single damn thing about the woman he supposedly loved?

Wait, he did love her. When he looked at her and saw how amazing and patient she was with him, and damn it, how she’d let him take her in the shower, and didn’t stop him, how could he not love her? When he looked at her, his heart beat a bit faster. When he touched her, his world seemed to be a better place.

He just wished he could remember actually falling in love with her, because all he could recall was this all-consuming, aching need that was only stronger now that he’d had her.

“Luc.” Kate held out her hand. “Come on.”

He crossed to her, took her hand and sank onto the couch beside her.

“Tell me you’re okay,” he started, holding her gaze. “Tell me I didn’t hurt you physically or emotionally.”

A soft smile spread across her face. “I already told you, I’m fine. You were perfect, Luc.”

She held on to him, her eyes darting down to where their hands joined.

“Before you fell, we were fighting,” she told him. “I take full responsibility for everything that’s happened to you, so don’t beat yourself up over the shower.”

Luc squeezed her hand. “The shower was all on me. If we were fighting before my fall, then that took two, so don’t place all of that blame on yourself.”

Kate smiled. Her eyes lifted to his. “We could play this game all day,” she told him, her smile dimming a bit. “But I need to talk to you.”

“What’s wrong?”

Her tone, the worry in her eyes, told him something major was keeping her on edge.

“There are so many things that you need to know, but I’ve been holding back because I don’t want to affect your healing process.”

Luc edged closer, wrapping an arm around her shoulders and pulling her to his side. Easing back against the cushions, he kept her tucked against him. “If something is worrying you, tell me. I want to be here for you. I want to be strong for you.”

Kate’s delicate hand rested on his thigh. She took a deep breath in, then let it out with a shudder.

“I was adopted.”

Her voice was so soft, he wondered if she actually meant to say it out loud.

“Did I already know this about you?” he asked.