to Sebastian.
‘Thank you for that, but I could have handled it,’ she added, just in case he thought she was pathetic.
‘I never doubted it, but you shouldn’t have needed to. I should have laid some ground rules with my father before I left...but I’ve done that now and I don’t think there will be any more incidents like that.’
‘You’ve spoken to him already...before...?’ She stopped, lowering her eyes and thinking, Of course he went to see his father first, Brina. You are not his first priority.
‘How was your trip?’He dragged a hand through his hair. ‘It was pretty much like every other meeting I have attended—long...lots of time with nothing to do but think. I’ve been a fool.’
He took her face between his hands and paused, his eyes closing as he relived that moment of mind-numbing shock that had come after a week of denial and misery. A week spent wondering what she was doing, if she was all right, missing her voice, the smell of her skin, missing her! Fighting the knowledge that at some point Sabrina had crept into his heart, into his soul. Fighting because he was a coward, fighting what he ought to have been rejoicing, pushing her away when he ought to have been pulling her to him.
Sabrina saw the pain in his face and ached for him. It must have been a pretty catastrophic meeting to make him look like that. ‘I’m sure you weren’t.’
His soul-piercing blue eyes opened. ‘I was... I am... I feel as though the earth has shifted beneath my feet. Nothing is... I used to be so sure...’ Sure that love was a fool’s game, sure that it was not for him and enjoying the smug sense of superiority and the false sense of security his tunnel vision had given him.
The fact that this mind-set might actually shut him off from one of life’s greatest joys was not something he had ever considered.
‘You remember something I said once? That it wouldn’t happen to me...that I was not expecting to—?’
His words were like a blow she hadn’t seen coming. They drained her face of colour, and she spoke quickly because she didn’t want to hear him say it. ‘You’ve met someone,’ she said in a dead little voice.
It seemed ironic now that when she had overheard those gossiping bitches it had not even crossed her mind that they were telling the truth.
‘I appreciate your honesty,’ she lied, ‘but I would prefer not to know her name.’
‘What are you talking about?’
‘You’ve fallen in love.’ It was not a question; it explained the difference she sensed in him.
‘Yes.’
She tried to pull away but the hands on her shoulders tightened. ‘Look at me, Sabrina.’
‘I can’t. I hate you.’
‘Has anyone ever told you you have the most incredible mouth?’
Her head slowly lifted; she looked up at him, tears trembling on her lashes. ‘Why are you saying that?’
He stood there looking down at her feeling that he was standing on the brink of a precipice about to step out into the black unknown. It didn’t make him the least bit fearful.
‘And why are you looking at me like that?’ She gasped, feeling her insides melt.
‘Because you’re incredible. Your skin is like cream.’ He reached out, an expression of fascination stamped on his lean face as he let strands of caramel-streaked honey slip through his fingers. ‘Have you any idea of how much of a turn-on it is to know that I can make you shake without even touching you?’
‘But you are touching me.’ Sabrina, her head spinning, let out a faint whimper as his hand moved to cup the soft curve of her cheek in his hand before rubbing his thumb across the plump lower lip of her Cupid’s bow mouth. ‘You love someone else.’
He shook his head. ‘How could I when I can only see you? Your eyes are extraordinary.’ He stood staring deep into the dark liquid depths framed by long curling lashes, waiting for them to darken with passion before he kissed her.
The kiss seemed to go on for ever, and when he lifted his head she felt as though she were floating.
‘You are my life. I love you.’
‘I love you, Sebastian...’ Her whispered echo was barely audible above the clamouring beat of her heart.
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