Page 100 of Duchess By Accident
“I never meant to hurt you. I wanted to trust you, but you were right. I was a coward.” Adrian shook his head.
“You broke my heart, Adrian. All I asked was that you let me in, I gave you my heart. I gave you my trust and you threw it in my face.”He let you leave.She forced her brother’s words from her mind.
“I have spent eight years fearing that someone would try and hurt my daughter. I became the devil duke to keep her safe, I thought fear would keep the wolves at bay, that if I was the scariest thing, I could not be scared.” Adrian sighed.
Natalie shook her head, shivering slightly. “That is not how fear works.”
“So I am learning. You showed me what my life could be, you asked me to be the version I had been before the betrayal. You brought colour back to my world.” His eyes danced as he said it, a flash of brilliant blue in the grey surrounding.
“You really hurt me.” Natalie’s heart twisted.
“I know.”
“And you have been an idiot.” She glared at him.
“I know.”
She balled her hands into fists. “And I am so furious with you.”
“I know.”
“How am I supposed to trust you?” she whispered.I want to trust you, goodness but I want to trust you.
She thought he would make some flippant joke, or tease her but instead he said, “I do not know. I will do whatever it takes to win back your trust, but for now, all I ask is for your forgiveness.”
“And what if that is all I can give?” She arched an eyebrow at him. “What if I forgive you, but choose to remain here?”
“Then it will have to be enough. I will not force you to come back.” He met her gaze. “I want you to choose me.”
Her breath caught, rain tickling her lips.
“I am choosing you.” Adrian continued. “I will always choose you. You are the only one that I want. You are the woman myheart beats for. There could never be anyone else. There will never be anyone else, no matter what you choose.”
She was frozen, rooted to the spot. She wanted to go to him, to tell him she forgave him, but she could still hear the echoes of their fight.You have to trust people.How could she?
“I am only asking you to forgive me.” Adrian took a deep breath. “I once told you that any man would prostrate himself before you to earn just a hint of your smile.”
“And I reminded you that you did not kneel.” Natalie frowned at him.What is he doing?
“For you, I will do anything.” Adrian knelt before her—not a suitor’s gallant gesture, with one knee raised, but on both knees as if in prayer. “If you ask me to throw myself at your feet, I will do it. Whatever it take to earn your forgiveness. I have no pride when it comes to you.”
He inclined his head, exposing his neck. She knew that it was not a temptation, that he was showing her that she could hurt him, and he trusted her not to.
The rain pattered between them and she said, “I do not want you to throw yourself at my feet.”
“What do you want?”
“I want you to love me.”
“I do.” His eyes were soft, a calm lake after a storm.She took a step towards him. “Then kiss me.”
His eyes widened and a tentative grin spread across his face. “Does that mean you forgive me?”
“Yes, but if you ever, ever do something so stupid again so help me-” her words were cut off by Adrian crushing her mouth with his.
He lifted her into the air, and Natalie felt as though she were the shore and he were a drowning man who had found his salvation. He kissed her with a ferocity that forced everything else from her mind.
The rain, the wind, it all vanished beneath the feel of his lips on hers. When they broke apart, they were both breathing heavily.
