Page 38 of Sir Hugo Seeks a Wife
Her eyes widened.“What about George?”
He exhaled with impatience.“I don’t give a flying fuck about George, beyond the fact that he wasn’t worthy of you and I’d happily murder him for hurting you.”
She sighed.“You’re still such a knight in shining armor.”
Hugo heard the reluctant affection in her voice.“Then let me rescue you.”
Her expression closed against him.She hefted in a shuddering breath, as if steeling herself for what was to come.“Then who would rescue you?”
“My darling…” How could he stay away any longer?He hurtled around the desk and reached for her.Not touching her had tortured him since he’d entered the room.“I want to be your husband, not your client.”
“Marriage isn’t on the table.I beg you to take what I’m offering.The only thing I can offer.”Athene avoided his grasp and twined shaking hands together at her waist.“But could I…could I call you something else, so I don’t feel like a whore?”
He ran his hand through his hair.“It’s all nitpicking, though, isn’t it?I want you for a lifetime, and you want a temporary affair.”
Her linked hands tightened, until the knuckles shone white.“Perhaps an affair will burn away our interest.Then you can seek a suitable wife and I can continue as I did before we met.”
“Enduring endless punishment for a youthful mistake that you obviously believe is an irredeemable sin.”
She flinched.“That’s how the world sees it.”
“The world is wrong.”
“But we live in the world.”The sadness and the conviction in her voice made him realize that his entreaties had failed.She wouldn’t compromise.The knowledge made him want to punch a hole in the wall.
“So I accept your terms or leave with nothing at all?”he asked with what he considered was justified rancor.
She raised her chin and stared him down like the great lady he knew she was born to be.“Yes.”
“No negotiation?”
Her throat moved as she swallowed.“No.”
His usually well-concealed temper told him to consign her to Hades and go on his way.But these last two weeks had demonstrated that without her, his life was in ruins.And if they were together, he had a chance to change her mind.He wasn’t ready to give up yet, by Jupiter.
Hugo met eyes shadowed with apprehension and doubt.She wasn’t as cool as she strove to appear.He took encouragement from that.Their war wasn’t over, and from here on, he could enlist pleasure and passion to help achieve his ends.
While he hated the answer he gave, it was the only answer possible.Walking away was never an option.“Very well,” he said somberly.“I agree to your terms.”
Chapter 11
I surrender myself to you.
All I have and am I yield.
Promise you’ll be ever true.
Your love will make me healed.
The prospect of Hugo walking out of this room and out of Athene’s life had jammed the breath in her lungs until she was dizzy.However right her decision might be, his rejection would destroy her.While she waited in agonizing suspense for his answer, she couldn’t help remembering how stubborn he was.
His assent, even if grudging, left her tottering with relief.She wanted him so much.Her desire made a mockery of caution.Perhaps this was another mistake, but the chance to scale the heights of pleasure with Hugo made the risk worthwhile.
In the meantime, he might have yielded, but he wasn’t happy.“I assume you have more conditions.”
He didn’t like losing, although when he returned to his senses, he’d concede that she’d made the only choice possible.If as a girl, she’d obeyed the rules of the world that she’d been born into, she would be a fitting bride.But she hadn’t.That little word “if” carried such terrible power.“You can’t ask me to marry you again.”
He shook his head.“I don’t agree to that.”
