Page 42 of The Duke's Stubborn Wallflower
“That is not what I sai?—”
“— you said it would be a ‘terrible fate’ to marry me.” Olivia prodded Nigel in the chest. “Stop trying to pretend differently. Stop acting as though you do not think I am worthy of you.”
“I am not worthy of you!” Nigel’s voice rose as he grabbed Olivia’s hand, holding her in place. “How can you not understand this? Everything I said that day, everything I have done since. It is not because you are not worthy of me, how could it be?”
“But —” Olivia began, but this time it was Nigel who cut her off.
“How could someone like me be worthy of someone like you? You, who are good and pure and all things delightful in this world. You, who have so much to look forward to, so much time to enjoy. I could not ever hope to be enough for you.” Nigel reached a shaking hand towards Olivia’s face.
“But… but… you said…” Olivia’s eyes widened, her breath seeming to catch in her throat.
“I said that I would never wantyouto marryme.” Nigel shook his head, a wry smile spreading across his face. “The thought of you being forced into a life with me, that was the fate I wanted you to avoid. I did not want you to be shackled into such an existence.”
“What - I - I don’t understand.” Olivia’s eyes darted between Nigel’s. “You… You do not think you are good enough for me?”
“I know that I am not. I know that a life with me would be a fate worse than death for you. I could not ruin your life like that.” Nigel’s finger brushed a tear from Olivia’s cheek.
“If I had thought for even a moment that my words would cause you to believe yourself less than, I would never have said them.” Nigel’s voice was little more than a whisper. “That I have made you feel like this, that I made you doubt all that you have to offer. I shall never forgive myself.”
Olivia’s voice was as breathless as his. “What are you saying?”
“You are perfect, just as you are,” Nigel whispered, willing her to see the truth of his words in his eyes. “Do not ever doubt that.”
Olivia caught his hand in hers. Nigel felt the warmth of her touch spread through him, travelling from the tips of his fingers deep into his chest. Her lips parted. Nigel made to look away, but Olivia gently caught his face with her free hand.
He let her pull his gaze back to hers. They were so close that he could feel her breath against his face. In the moonlight, he could see the delicate features of her skin. Each beautiful eyelash, the subtle curve of her lips. They were less than a hair’s breadth apart.
“Nigel,” she breathed into the space between them.
He closed the distance, his lips finding hers. Something inside him screamed in triumph, flooding him with a wild exhilaration, drowning out all sense of reason.
He lost himself in the moment. Lost himself in the feel of her lips against him, the perfect shape of her pressed against him. He felt something tug the fabric of his coat.
Before he could react, something jerked him backwards. He didn’t even have time to cry out as he smacked into the bookshelf against the wall.
“What the hell do you think you are doing?” Alexander roared as he towered over Nigel.
Ah. Damn.
Chapter Fifteen
The Kiss that Broke the World
As soon as Nigel’s lips touched her own, Olivia had lost all sense of the outside world. Nothing else existed, only her and Nigel. Her head swam. And then, suddenly, the warmth of Nigel vanished, and the world came hurtling back.
Olivia’s mind was still reeling from everything that had just happened.He kissed me. Nigel kissed me.She touched her lips, still feeling the faint brush of his skin against hers.
“What the hell do you think you are doing?” Alexander’s thunderous roar filled the room.
Olivia saw her brother looming over Nigel, rage emanating off him in such waves that she was amazed the paper and books did not burst into flame around them.
An odd giddiness filled Olivia, and she only just stopped herself from saying, “What did it look like we were doing?”
She was equal parts elated and furious.Of course, if anyone was going to interrupt this moment, it would be my brother.She glanced around and was relieved to see that no one else appeared to have followed Alexander.There is still hope.
“Well? Answer me!” Alexander leaned towards Nigel, who was still on the floor.
“Rokesby, I can explain,” Nigel said sounding dazed — though Olivia was not sure if that was a result of their shared moment of passion or her brother hurling him across the room.
