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“Mark...” she whispered as he pulled her close.
He had to kiss her. He had to.
She was stiff as he brushed his lips against hers, but she slowly relaxed, leaning her body into his. He slid his hands around her waist and held her tightly. His tongue probed her lips and she parted them with a soft groan. She clung to his shoulders, kissing him back, her tongue sliding against his own.
Oh, God, he should stop. He didn’t want to. He didn’t want to scare her, but he couldn’t let go.
Reluctantly, he pulled away and searched her face for what she was feeling.
Her eyes were soft as she gazed up at him. He smiled and she did the same.
Thirty-Two
Emily stared up at Mark,blinking and wondering what the heck had just happened. He’d kissed her.Again.
Why?
Why would someone like Mark Pierce—Mark Pierce!—kiss someone like her? Especially after she’d told him her history... Told him where she worked. Didn’t he know what she did? Yeah, she served tables, but the other stuff, too.
He had no idea she slept with his lover’s husband.
The thought chilled her and she stepped back. “You shouldn’t do that.”
“Why?”
“Because of... You know what I am.”
“You’re not your past.”
She gave a grim smile. “But I am my present.” She glanced down at the violin. “Besides, what about Abby?”
“Abby?”
She nodded. “You guys have some sort of relationship.”
He stared at her and she swallowed. She shouldn’t have said that. “I’m sorry. It’s none of my business.”
He was quiet for a long moment, and she shifted on her feet.
“I kissed you. You have a right to ask.” He chewed his lip. “She’s—” He ran a hand through his hair. “We’ve known each other for several years.”
Emily closed her eyes. How old had he been when the affair started? Abby had to be in her mid-40s. He was in his mid-20s. Had Abby seduced him like Rafael had her?
Emily shuddered. That relationship was too close to hers with Rafael. Except Mark was a consenting adult. She drew her brows together. “Did she... seduce you?”
Mark’s lips parted and he blinked, staring at her for a long moment. His brows twitched and he went to sit down on the couch, head hung. “She never did anything I opposed.”
“How old were you?”
“Old enough to know better but too young to make a better choice.” He shook his head and looked up at her. “You think she took advantage of me?”
“Did she?” Emily sat down next to him.
He pursed his lips and hung his head.
“I’m sorry. It isn’t any of my business.”
“I never thought about it that way.” He put his hand on Emily’s. “I need to think about that.” He smiled. “She was supportive of me, even before I became famous. I guess I thought I was sophisticated, being with an older woman.”
