Page 23 of The Forgotten Wife

He recaptured her foot and continued the massage, his touch even gentler. “Why not? It’s your name, and you love it when I call you that.” His sensual mouth curved with the tiniest smile.

“No, you onlybelieveI do. I think somewhere in that brain of yours, you harbour a fairy fantasy.”

His smile widened a touch. “I suggest we not discuss the subject of my fantasies and how you feature in them. You’re probably not well enough to cope with that…yet.”

“Yet? Try never. I’m a schoolteacher, Nick, not one of the actresses or trust fund babies you used to date. They may have obliged you with those…those…” She stopped when she felt heat flood her cheeks. How the hell had they even strayed onto this subject? “Whatever, you’re never going to be obliged by me!” Belle stopped and clamped her mouth shut. He’d always had this effect on her, had made her feel insecure and off-balance.

“You need to calm down, baby.”

“And you need to stop with the caring husband act. You’ve done the absentee husband thing quite successfully. Maybe it’s time we consider making it permanent?”

The fingers cupping her heel tightened a touch. “What the hell are you talking about?”

The hand she raised to her spinning head was decidedly shaky. “I’ve had a long time to think these past months. I…I think we were a little naïve to think we would ever make arelationship between us work. For a start, our backgrounds are just too different?—”

“I don’t know where this is all coming from, but you need to stop talking now.”

“Why should I? I freely admit that I was a little foolish to think someone like me would be enough for someone like you. Did you see your friends’ faces the first time you introduced me to them?”

“I don’t give a fuck what my friends think. And neither should you. Besides, you’re the daughter of an Earl. Anyone who wants to dwell on status can suck on that.”

“I don’t care about status, but maybeyoushould. If we’d stopped to think for a moment about what we want out of this?—”

“What, you’d have agreed to a hot and sweet session between the sheets and then gone on your merry way?”

“I don’t know. Maybe.”

“And what makes you think I’d have let you? You belong to me, Belle. You always will.”

Sadness welled inside her. “You know, there was a time when hearing you say that would’ve made me the happiest woman in the world.” The time before she realized he used words like that just to control her, to keep her the malleable creature he wanted her to be, and not because he actually loved her.

A bleak look fleeted through his eyes before he ruthlessly and efficiently veiled it.

“You seem to have developed a serious knack for bad timing. But there’s no way I’m having this conversation with you while you’re covered in bruises from surviving being kidnapped by a fucking despot.”

“I’m not some frail waif, Nick.”

“I know you’re not. But we never could have a lively discussion without it concluding in sex, and I’ll be damned if I let you push me into making unreasonable demands on youralready ravaged body. So here’s my suggestion—let’s table this and revisit later, hmm?”

“No, thanks. Like I said, I know where I stand with you. No revisiting needed.” Her words were flippant, delivered in a deliberately offhand manner, the urge to hurt him back paramount.

He studied her for a tense moment. When he spoke, all the warmth had left his voice. “We will revisit, Belle, becauseyouneed to know whereIstand.”

“Your silence these last months is blatant evidence on that score.”

His jaw clenched, he sat back. “This is where I usually just kiss you to shut you up. We can keep going around in circles on this. And since make up sex is off the table for now, I think it’s best if I go and check on how much longer dinner will be. We’re eating out on the terrace. I’ll be back in a minute to help you outside.”

“That won’t be necessary.” she replied stiffly. “And I guess I shouldn’t be surprised that you’re still a master controller when it comes to an honest discussion.”

His eyes narrowed. “Dammit, Tinkerbelle, what the hell has gotten into you?”

From nowhere, tears threatened. “Just go. I’ll see you on the terrace.” When he hesitated, she glared at him. “It’s only a short distance—I can manage,” she insisted.

For a long while, he said nothing, then he recapped the antiseptic cream and stood up. “Fine. I’ll join you there shortly.”

Her gaze followed him as he left the room, lingering over the broad set of his shoulders. A stab of longing pierced deep.

She’d loved him so much, had given her heart and soul to him, only to find out that the reciprocity she’d expected would not be forthcoming, nor would her most treasured wish ever be realized.

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