Page 33 of Black Widow

Amelia thought they were going to make love, but he was pressing his heated member against her where his mouth should havebeen.

At first, the delicious weight of him felt good, but something was wrong. The blunt pressure of his staff was starting to hurt. “Gideon, I don’t mean to tell you your business, but I think you are going about this the wrong way,” she said in a thinvoice.

He stopped, holding himself in check with a supreme effort of will. “Have you changed yourmind?”

A shudder racked his body. She couldn’t begin to guess what those words had cost him. “No.It’sjust…”

“Then this is all right—Martin will forgive us. I can feel your need. You’re so hot and wet for me. I’m going to take care of you—I’ll make you forget the viscount,” hevowed.

“Forget him?” Surely he still didn’t believe she would ever let Crispin touch her sointimately?

Gideon didn’t answer. Instead, he pushed his hips against her, thrusting deep inside her body in a singlestroke.

All the heated pleasure incited by his touch vanished abruptly. The sharp pain overwhelmed her senses and made her body archviolently.

“Amelia?” Gideon sounded bewildered. His dark burning gaze was boring a hole into her. It was as if he could see directly into her soul. “What’s wrong? Did I hurtyou?”

The pain made her eyes tear. She pushed at his shoulders. “Get offme!”

He swore heavily, trying to soothe her ineffectually by stroking her shoulders. But she was having none ofit.

“I said get offme.”

For a second, he didn’t respond. He seemed utterly bewildered by her response. Another shove and he finally moved. The strangled gasp she gave as his body lifted from hers seemed to hit him like a blow. He flinched, his shoulders drawingdown.

Ever so slowly, he stood. His clothes were in disarray, but he made no move to right them. Gideon just stared at her, his face waxen. From some unseen pocket, he produced a handkerchief. Surreptitiously wiping himself clean, he looked down at the blood staining the pristine whitecloth.

This was too much. She loved him so much, but all he felt for her wascontempt.

“You did it on purpose, to punish me,” Amelia flung at him, the pain and confusion evident in hervoice.

She got to her feet, shakily covering her legs with the skirt of her gown. “I thought you wanted to makelove.”

Gideon stared at her as if she was some apparition from beyond thegrave.

“Amelia,” he whispered. “Weweremakinglove.”

He looked back down at the blood staining the handkerchief, and his eyeswidened.

“I don’t understand. You were married to Martin for years. How could you possibly still be avirgin?”

Amelia could feel the blood draining from her face. She swayed on herfeet.

Gideon’s arms reached out, but she steadied herself and ran toward thedoor.

“Amelia!”

“Never come back here. I never want to see you again.” She flew up the stairs, locking herself in herchambers.

Chapter 12

What have I done?Gideon fastened his trousers, his mindreeling.

He stared down at the bloody handkerchief before shoving it into his pocket. Though he didn’t fully understand what happened, he had managed to hurt Amelia very badlytonight.

And last night as well.He sucked in a deep breath as the suffocating twin weights of grief and confusion crashed down onhim.

Amelia had been married to his cousin when they were both eighteen. Martin had diedyearslater. All his letters had been full of affection and praise for his clever and kind bride. Theirs had been an affectionate and lovingmarriage.

---