Page 168 of Her Beast

He swallowed, his necktie suddenly uncomfortably tight. “Er—”

“First, I’m going to take off this mask.” She lifted her hands to his face.

Malcolm’s hands caught her wrists and he held her arms immobile. “No, you’re not.”

“Yes, I am. It’s only fair.”

He snorted. “What have I told you about fairness, Julia?”

“I know what you told me—but that was before, and now is different.”

“And why is that?”

“Before I was your captive but now—well, I’m your betrothed.”

A startled sputter burst out of him.

“That’s not very flattering to me, Malcolm.”

“I’m sorry, but you’realreadybetrothed—to another man.”

She cocked her head and cut him a flat look.

“Fine, that engagement is effectively over,” he agreed, his heart flooding with relief. “But that doesn’t mean I recall asking you to—.”

“Will you marry me?”

“Julia—”

“It’s a yes or no question, darling.”

“No.”

Pain flashed across her beautiful face but was gone quickly. “Then I’ll just have to live with you in sin, as your mistress and—”

“No.”

She shifted on his lap, until she was straddling him.

“Julia, what are you doing?”

She placed her hands on his shoulders and rose up until she was staring him in the eye. “I love you.”

Malcolm knew his mouth was open but could not close it.

“I love you,” she said again, the words shaking him from his stupor.

“You can’t do this, Julia?”

“Do what? Love you? Too late, I already do.”

“You can’t throw your life away on me,” he said quietly.

“Did you want to be on the stage when you were young?”

“What?”

“I only ask because you aresodramatic, Malcolm.”

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