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‘You must. You seem so sure of yourself in every other respect.’
‘I…’
‘Well?’
‘Why are you so desperate to know?’
‘Indulge me.’
‘I don’t have to indulge you.’
‘You’ve made my peaceful existence considerably more chaotic.I believe I’m owed a little indulgence.’
‘Well, I…’
‘Tell me?’
‘It’s different if you’re the one frightening me!’ Abigail didn’t realise she had raised her voice until she had finished her sentence. ‘Very different!’
That was a truth she hadn’t predicted feeling, let alone saying aloud. Marcus blinked; Abigail turned away again, looking at the fire with such ferocious embarrassment that her eyes hurt.
‘Not to mention the most salient fact, but you are a highwayman.’ She barely knew what she was saying now; the storm was breaking inside her, whipping everything up into chaos. ‘I’m meant to be a little afraid of you, aren’t I? And you’re meant to take advantage of whoever you come across—you’re meant to use people, steal things from them. Treat them in a… in a scandalous manner.’
Marcus was silent. Abigail swallowed, trying to stop talking, but the words continued despite herself.
‘And you’ve treated me with kid gloves. Do all highwaymen do that? I can’t imagine that they do. It’s not that I’ve been expecting you to treat me poorly, that isn’t what I mean, but—but I thought highwaymen were meant to… meant to flirt, perhaps, and… and steal kisses…’
Had she actually just said those words aloud? Truly? Abigail closed her eyes, hoping that the ground would open and swallow her up.
It didn’t. The universe could be most unforgiving. And from the sound of footsteps, Marcus was moving closer.
‘Miss Weeks.’ His voice was different now. Lower. ‘Did you just say that highwaymen were meant to flirt? To steal kisses?’
‘I… I don’t know what I said. The fire—it’s giving me a tremendous headache.’
‘You are giving me a tremendous headache. You said that highwaymen were meant to flirt and steal kisses.’
‘I—I’m sorry I said it.’
‘You’re not sorry.’ Slowly, deliberately, Marcus walked towards her. Abigail walked backwards, unprepared for his proximity during such an embarrassing conversation, until the wall of the cave pressed against her back.
She could run. That was an option. But for some reason, it was an option that neither her body nor her mind wished to take.
‘I don’t think you’re sorry at all.’ Marcus’ gaze travelled down her body and back, the slowness of it deeply frustrating. ‘Not in the slightest.’
She wasn’t. That was the most ridiculous part of all of this. Underneath the excruciating sense of having laid herself bare to be examined, Abigail realised that she didn’t feel the tiniest hint of regret.
Storms needed to break, after all. And after all the chaos and destruction, one could accurately see what remained.
‘Fine.’ Her voice trembled. ‘What if I’m not?’
Marcus took a single step closer. Now they were close enough to touch; Abigail realised she was leaning forward, her body aching for something that she couldn’t possibly say.
‘Do you want me to steal a kiss from you, Miss Weeks?’ Marcus paused. ‘Do you?’
‘I think highwaymen should steal kisses if they have the opportunity to do so. I would consider it a fundamental part of their work—a way of ensuring they reputation endures.’
‘And do you think kisses can be stolen, just as treasure can?’
