Page 149 of Trapped By the Blood Ruby

“Ready, little flower?” Laurent took my hand and kissed my knuckles, his eyes never leaving mine.

“As I’ll ever be,” I said, offering him a small smile.

We were promenading at the Genia Gardens tonight. Everyone important would be there. A big fireworks show was set for midnight.

There wasn’t much to it, frankly. Just a lot of peacocking.

I climbed into the town car and Laurent settled in beside me, his hand resting on my thigh. Tonight I wore a simple lavender silk and tulle gown with beads scattered about the skirt, making it glitter. It hung just below my knees, the perfect length for a garden party, as Gio had assured me. I’d paired it with a strappy pair of kitten heels. At six feet tall, I hated making myself any taller. I’d already stand out.

Two more weeks had passed since the ball at House Bardanes. I was starting to think Laurent would never give me an answer. Perhaps it was time to accept this and move on.

He no longer tried to put his hands all over me. No longer tried to seduce me into giving in. Perhaps he had accepted it, too. Or maybe he was never all that desperate for me to begin with. In which case, maybe that was answer enough.

He still looked at me in ways that made my insides curl with heat. I caught his eyes lingering on me and was all too aware of his desire to be near me, touching some part of me when we were together. There was always a hand resting on my thigh, or an arm around my shoulders. When he knitted our fingers together, he always brushed his thumb over the back of my palm. Even in his meetings—especially in his meetings.

Our kisses continued, too. They were more fervent than ever, filled with a desperate longing, as if we could make up for our lack of touch with nothing more than our tongues. It was maddening.

“Nervous for tonight?” Laurent asked, leaning in to brush his lips against my ear.

“Oh. No.” I stole a glance at him before returning my gaze to the townhouses that rolled by our window. I felt his gaze linger over me, like he wanted to press the issue. Instead, he planted a kiss on the side of my head, then snatched my hand from my lap, taking it in both of his. One of his hands laced with my fingers while the other caressed the back of my palm.

“You’re still determined to press your stubbornness against mine?”

My head jerked toward him. “I don’t wish to discuss this, Laurent.”

“Can you not accept me for who and what I am?”

I reared back. Is that what he thought? That I expected him to change? That I couldn’t accept him for who he was?

“Maybe you’re right.” I sighed, feeling my defeat for what it was. “Perhaps I’ve been unfair. I shouldn’t expect you to give me what isn’t in your nature to give. Let’s put an end to our battle.”

I said the words because I was exhausted. Tired of fighting the attraction between us. Tired of keeping my hopes up.

I thought making him desperate would force him to face his feelings—himself.

It hadn’t.

Laurent blinked at me. “Is this some sort of trick?”

“No trick.”

“Just like that, then? You’re willing to let this go?”

I closed my eyes, exhaling. “Yes.” I squeezed his hand.

His expression softened. “Then… I can touch you? Tonight?” The amount of hope in his voice caught me by surprise, but I knew better. I wouldn’t let myself fall for it—for him. I would begin the painful process of detaching my feelings from the physical aspects of our relationship.

“Yes, Laurent. You may touch me.”

The relief in his expression should have made me happy. Instead, it felt like another small death. “Thank fuck,” he breathed, using his free hand to tilt my face up. He kissed me, imbuing intention into the motion of his tongue. I felt his excitement, his yearning, even his relief.

I wished I could feel relief instead of the hollow ache building in my chest.

Laurent pulled away, a small frown marring his brows. “What is it?” he whispered, failing to hide the confusion creeping into his voice.

“Nothing.” I gave my head a rough shake and forced a brighter smile. “We’re here, I think?”

The car had come to a stop but we’d been too wrapped up in our discussion. Laurent blinked, coming back to himself. Vittorio had been waiting patiently, but upon my declaration, he opened the door and was around to mine in a flash. Laurent’s gaze lingered, as if trying to read what I was feeling, to grasp the remnants of whatever emotion he’d detected.