Before she could answer, he closed his eyes and covered her hand with his. Then he moved her hand again. One long, slow stroke. His entire body shuddered, and he let out a low sound of what she hoped was pleasure but could just as easily have been pain.
That was all he allowed himself before he firmly thrust her away.
“I do love you,” he told her, his voice shaking with frustration. “But I’ve never been so insulted in my life. I offer you marriage, and you tell me you’d rather become my whore.”
“Julian, please...” She tried to touch him again, but he surged to his feet.
“Get out.” He glared at her as though the mere sight of her disgusted him. “Right now.”
She stared at him for one long minute, her heart breaking anew as she realized how terribly she’d wronged him. Shehadinsulted him. From the look in his eyes, she didn’t think he’d ever forgive or forget this. “I’m sorry,” she whispered. Then she fled.
* * *
LONG AFTER JANE LEFT, passion still surged through Julian.
He sprawled across his bed on his back, glad for the chill in the air, though it seemed to be doing little to cool his aching erection.
“Bloody hell!” he cursed violently, reaching for the brandy on his nightstand and downing it in one gulp. He still couldn’t believe she’d come to him, wanting nothing more than sex, throwing his claims of love in his face, refusing to trust him, refusing tolovehim.
He couldn’t believe he’d let her go. She’d felt so good beneath him, her vanilla and lavender scent enveloping him, kissing him so sweetly he’d thought he’d died and gone to heaven. He’d thought that she’d forgiven him and had briefly envisioned that they’d manage to build a life together.
How had he become such a lovesick fool?
He should have taken her up on her offer. Maybe she was right and once he’d had her, he’d grow bored and want to move on.
He covered his face with a pillow, muffling a groan of frustration. Because he knew that wasn’t true. He’d been with enough women to know the difference between love and sex. And with every encounter he had with Jane, he was more convinced that if she’d just give him a second chance, he could show her more love than she’d ever imagined.
But after Michael and Emma were married tomorrow, he’d no longer be seeing her on a regular basis. And without their friends pushing them together time and again, he had no idea how to continue his suit. Should he even try? How could he bear it if she rejected him again?
Chapter Eight
Jane glanced over hershoulder at the darkened street, shifting nervously as she waited for one of Julian’s servants to open his front door. The hour was late, and she’d arrived unescorted. She’d be ruined if anyone saw her here.
The anxious energy coursing through her reminded her of last week, when she had gone to Julian’s bedroom at Sherbourne Hall. This time, however, her purpose was not seduction.
Another interminable minute passed, but finally, the door opened, creaking on its hinges. The dour-faced butler stared at her, obviously aghast. “May I help you, madam?”
