Page 53 of Revelations of A Secret Princess

It was appallingly difficult to focus on the past.

Had she abandoned Ariane or had her daughter been stolen? That was the crux of the matter. If she was lying she was the best liar he’d ever met. His gut told him she spoke the truth. Yet he needed evidence.

‘I’ll reserve judgement till I have proof you didn’t give her away.’

Instead of her being downcast at his words, her expression lightened. ‘I’ll arrange a meeting with the midwife.’

She looked almost excited. The contrast with her earlier vulnerability was almost painful to observe. Surely that meant he could trust her.

Except people could be bought, stories altered.

‘You do that.’

Jake wouldn’t easily be convinced. He clenched his jaw against the wild see-saw of emotions. He was used to assessing situations quickly, trusting his instinct and taking decisive action. This uncertainty, the conflict between his desire to believe and the knowledge he couldn’t, yet, was maddening.

‘Well...’ for the first time since she’d stormed out of the gala she looked uncertain ‘... I suppose it’s time you returned to the ball. Do you need me to show you the way?’

Jake frowned. ‘I’m not interested in the ball. I only came here to see you.’

The words echoed with a profound resonance. It was truer than he’d thought. Even now, when he knew he’d get no further proof tonight, he was magnetised by her. He didn’t want to leave.

Whether it was the sexily mussed look of her ripe lips, untidy hair and crumpled dress, or the deeper thread of sympathy stirred by her story, Jake didn’t know. But he felt...connected, drawn to her. Though he couldn’t allow himself to trust her.

His voice must have revealed his doubt. He saw her react, her pupils dilate and her body sway infinitesimally nearer, till she jerked back.

‘It’s late. There’s no proof I can give you tonight.’

‘You want me to go?’

Caro felt her eyes widen as Jake’s low voice rumbled through her.

She opened her mouth to say of course she wanted him to leave. He’d been brutally insulting. He’d made her feel like dirt.

Right before he’d made her feel as if she’d found heaven.

A squiggle of arousal stirred deep inside and she rubbed her damp palms down her skirt. Jake’s eyes tracked the movement. To her dismay her nipples budded against her silk bodice while between her legs that slow circling ache of want started up anew.

Caro swallowed. She tried to summon a convenient lie.Yes, I want you to go.But her tongue didn’t cooperate.

‘Caro?’ That gravel-wrapped-in-velvet voice reminded her of the night she’d kissed him and he’d held her while she cried. It was rough yet tender and strangely reassuring. It shouldn’t be. They were on opposing sides.

‘I—’

‘Because I don’t want to leave.’ His features took on a grim cast, the planes of his face stark and sheer.

‘Whatdoyou want?’ The words came this time, breathless and quick.

‘You.’ He didn’t move closer but it felt as if he did. As if he’d reached out and trailed his hand over her flesh, awakening dangerous longing. ‘Us. Together. Again.’

‘You despise me.’ She summoned her pride as a last defence against his appalling power to tempt her. He’d flayed her with his insults. She wouldn’t forget that soon.

He shook his head. ‘I did, before you told me what happened.’

‘You’re saying you believe me?’ It couldn’t be so easy.

She was right. ‘I told you, I’ll reserve judgement till I have proof.’

He drew a slow breath and for the first time she realised he was as tense as she. His big chest rose in a shudder and the muscles in his jaw worked as if he held himself back with difficulty. ‘But I still want you. More than ever.’

---