Page 12 of Separated from My Love
“That’s not it… I…” Trenton swore under his breath. His voice rose with each word he uttered. “I’ve been trying for well over a year to find you—ever since the first lead that you were alive surfaced. Do you have any idea how hard it was? How much research I had to do to figure out where you were? There were so many sleepless nights I’ve lost count.” He shook his head in disbelief. “That marriage you spoke of? It’s been over for a long time. It didn’t have a chance of lasting. Do youknowwhy?”
Genevieve stepped back out of his reach. His face was bright red and his eyes had grown stormy. He might be about to crack and lose his temper. Trenton never… He wasn’t the same man she remembered. The love of her life would never have yelled at her as he was now. Had losing her done this to him? Was she perhaps being too condemnatory? Did she dare ask why? What if she didn’t like theanswer?
“Why?” she taunted. “Because you think you’re still in lovewithme?”
Her tone could’ve been better, but she had to hear him say it. Actions spoke louder than words, but saying them were equally important. Maybe after he admitted his feelings she could find a way back to him. It was all supposition at this point and she wasn’t sure ofanything.
“Iamin love with you,” he replied. “But I’m not going to lie. Right now, I don’t particularly like youverymuch.”
Genevieve snorted. “You say the nicest things. Kisses to you too. You can leave anytime. I’ll be glad to show you the door.”Fuck.Someone muzzle her before she said something elsestupid.
Trenton froze in place and didn’t move an inch. He stalked forward and stood directly in front of her. They didn’t touch but the short distance between them made her crave his warmth. He’d been her weakness for so long, and that hadn’t changed much in the years they’d beenapart.
“You and I, we were always meant to be, and I refuse to believe you actually want to marry this bloke.” The muscles in his cheek twitched. “You can’t love him. I refuse tobelieveit.”
She really didn’t want to marry Brandon. When she’d said they were engaged it was a moment of insanity, but now she wasn’t so sure she could find a way to extricate herself from it. Brandon wouldn’t hold her to that promise, but she still felt bound by it. Why did she have to be such a conundrum ofidiocy?
“Pretty words,” she said derisively. “But it doesn’t mean a thing. Words are just that—words, and completely meaningless in our situation.”Wrong.She loved hearing them, and after she sorted through the nonsense in her head she’d appreciate them more. She had too much to work through, and she wasn’t any good toanyone.
Trenton scrubbed his hands over his face. “What do I have to do to get through to you?” He stopped and turned toward Serenity. “Find someplace else to go. Eve and I need somealonetime.”
Before she had a chance to object, he picked her up and carried her back into the duke’s study. After Serenity exited, he closed the door shut and set her down. Genevieve looked up at him and swallowed the lump in her throat. His focus was completely on her. He believed he still loved her, but she wasn’t so sure he understood whatlovewas.
Before she’d disappeared, he’d been distant and unavailable on a good day. How was she to believe his supposed love had never died. Admittedly, while she was locked up she’d had hope that he did. It was why she worked so hard to reach out to Regina. After she was alone for months on end, she’d decided that it was time to move on. If she’d understood how to travel through time and find her way home, she’d have done it a long time ago. Since she didn’t, she’d given up on him, on them, and a realfuture.
There was one thing she was certain of: Trenton desired her. That had always been clear and evident in his actions, but even the biggest fool realized desire and love were two very different things. He was reacting to his need to claim her. Love had nothing to do with that. Hesaidhe loved her, and admittedly traveling through time was a huge indication he might, but she was too messed up to see past anyofthat.
“What are you doing?” she askedbreathlessly.
“I’m going to remind you of what we have. Words don’t work for you?” He lifted a brow mockingly. “Then actionsitis.”
Trenton leaned down and placed his lips on hers. Heat spread through her body immediately upon the connection. She stepped into his embrace and wrapped her arms around his waist. He pulled her tight against him and deepened the kiss. When their tongues touched she barely repressed a moan. This. Him. Everything. How could she have believed she’d ever be able to let him go and not experience the joy of his kiss? Only he had ever made her feel as if she’d float away with the touch of his mouthtohers.
She pulled back and stared up at him. His eyelids were drooped low and his bottom lip jutted out. The need to kiss him again was almost too hard to resist, but if she gave in to it he’d never let her go. He had to go back to his time. Her heart couldn’t handle being broken again, and Trenton Quinn would destroy her if shelethim.
“Don’t ever do that again.”Please ignore me. I’m clearly stupid, and possiblyinsane.
The corner of his mouth tilted upward. It held an edge of cockiness and something she couldn’t quite identify. Genevieve didn’t have anything to protect herself from what that grin did to her. He had an infectious smile. It slammed a dose of happy through her so fast she didn’t have time to dodge its effect. All she could do was brace herself for the impact and pray she couldhandleit.
“Darling,” he said a little too pleased with himself. “I refuse to make a promise I don’t intend to keep.” He leaned down and whispered in her ear, “You can deny it all you want, but the feelings are still there. I’m not going anywhere until you realize we belong together. You’re worthfightingfor.”
With those words, he let her go and strode out of the room. Trenton had thrown down the gauntlet, and it was up to her if she wanted to pick it up or not. He was being stubborn and even the possibility of her marrying another man wouldn’t deter him. How had she not taken into account his competitive nature? He wasn’t going anywhere, and she might have to actually go through with the wedding in order to make himleave.
She didn’t like either choice, and would have to find a different solution. Maybe the easiest course was to find out how they’d managed to time travel and use it to her advantage. She didn’t have to go back with Trenton and Serenity. If she figured it out, she could go back herself and leave them both behind. No reason to marry anyone at allthatway…
Gaining that information wouldn’t be easy though. Serenity was suspicious by nature and would easily see through any ploy Genevieve concocted. Trenton might not have all the details. Serenity wasn’t the sharing type, and if she was as important as Trenton had indicated, she held some important facts back. Her cousin’s stepsister was sneaky like that. Genevieve had a decision to make and not enough information togoon.
What a fine mess she’d made for herself this time… At least she had a plan to extricate herself from it. She needed time and distance to figure it all out, and she’d make sure she found it …somehow.
