he admitted with a sigh. ‘It never even occurred to me that you might feel you had to go to bed with me because it was what I wanted. Leonie, I don’t use women in that way,’ he shook his head.
‘I know,’ she nodded. ‘I think I knew that as soon as you began to make love to me.’
He took one of her hands in his, surprised at how cold it was considering the temperature inside and out. ‘Then why did you do it?’ he prompted softly.
She shrugged, releasing her hand with the minimum of fuss. ‘I thought it would anger you if I said no.’
He drew in a ragged breath. ‘That really was the only reason?’ He looked at her searchingly, hoping for some sign that she had felt even one tenth of the attraction that he had—that he still did! She had lost all her vitality, and the sparkle had gone from her eyes, but she was still Leonie, the woman he wanted to the point of obsession.
‘I enjoyed our lovemaking—–’
‘That’s something!’ He sighed his relief.
Her mouth twisted with dry humour. ‘Don’t worry, Hawk, you didn’t rape me that night.’
He had known that; her response had been complete and uninhibited.
‘But,’ she continued—and he felt a sinking sensation in his chest, ‘being shown the delights of the flesh rather than the abuses—because that’s what my marriage consisted of,’ she added hardly, ‘would make any woman feel pleasure,’ she finished dismissively.
Hawk rose slowly to his feet. Perhaps he should feel grateful that he was at least able to give her that. But he had come here earlier today knowing he wanted much more than a physical relationship from her. After months of fighting himself he had finally come here to admit he had been wrong, to ask Laura to please make Hal happy by marrying him, and to claim Leonie for his own. Instead he had jumped to a wrong assumption about Holly’s parentage, alienating himself from this woman yet again.
He didn’t know how to handle this situation any more, he was too close to it all. One thing he was sure of, Leonie cared nothing for him.
But once they were married—– Yes, that was the answer! She would be his wife, and Holly would be his daughter. And then he would be able to show her just how much he cared. He might even stop making a damned fool of himself every time they were together!
‘We can be married as soon as Hal arrives—–’
he began.
‘I’m not marrying you!’ Leonie cut in incredulously, staring at him with wide eyes. ‘I’m not going to marry anyone!’
His mouth tightened. ‘I’m not “anyone”, damn it, I’m the father of your child!’
She gave a weary sigh. ‘I’ve told you you can take Holly.’
Hawk’s hands clenched at his sides as he fought down the need he felt to pick her up and shake her; she looked as if she might disintegrate in front of his eyes if he so much as touched her. ‘I don’t just want Holly, I want you too—–’
‘Hawk,’ she cut in quietly, rising slowly to her feet, ‘I don’t want to marry you. I don’t ever want to be married again.’
He longed to put his arms about her, to take away the vulnerability that she couldn’t hide, no matter how valiantly she tried to do so. ‘It wouldn’t be like last time, Leonie,’ he assured her gently. ‘I’m nothing like Michael Spencer,’ he added hardly, wanting to crush the other man—slowly
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