Genre: Historical Romance
This was his opportunity to admit why he was back in London. He needed her to know that he was now worthy of her. That after years of wandering the world, he began to feel whole again, but he was not complete, not yet.
Not without her.
Julia paused for a second before she took the sketch pad and started walking toward him. “I wouldn’t have a drink with you if my life depended on it.”
She tried to walk past, but he took her by the arm, halting her exit. His body vibrated from being so close to her after all this time. His member hardened in need at the scent of her—lavender and citrus. “We need to talk, Julia,” he said slowly, trying to fight off his arousal.
“We have nothing to say to each other, Lord Heartford.” She pulled her arm out of his grasp and tried to walk around him.
Shifting to the side, he blocked her way, determined to not have this animosity between them his entire stay. “I know you are upset with me leaving, but you must know what I did was best—”
Her head snapped up, and he was distinctly aware of their height difference. In the past, he had loved how he towered over her and how perfectly she fit in his arms. He would often rest his chin on top of her head whenever they were close. It made him feel like her protector. And he loved it because she was his.
“How would you know what’s best for me? Did you ask for my opinion, my comfort, anything before you recklessly ruined my life?”
Two of her fingers dug into his chest hard. The fire in her eyes was so scorching he had to look away for fear of being burned.
“Spare us both the damsel in distress routine,” he gritted out through clenched teeth, not wanting to fight with her. “I know you do not believe Amelia meant anything to me, but she was my sister.”
“You think I don’t know that? I see the evidence of your connection every day when the same green eyes you and she shared stare at me from across the breakfast table. The guilt I feel for how I reacted to her is as ever present as your own.” Her breasts heaved with the weight of her breaths. “Your guilt is nothing compared to mine.” He stared down at her, trying to ignore the pull he felt to her, even now.
Julia took a step back, her lips trembled slightly. “Perhaps not, but do not come here and pretend you care anything about me. We both know the truth.”
“Julia wait,” He tried to stop her but failed as she left the room, quietly closing the door behind her.
The sound of it so deafening it reverberated through him, loud and demanding. The weight of her words, the consequences of his own actions felt like stones on his shoulders. Winning her back wouldn’t be easy, he couldn’t even have a civil conversation with her.
None of it mattered because he would never quit.
