her daring and caught his face in her hands. The fine prickle of his whiskers against her palms was welcome and yet uncomfortable all at once.
Fitting.
Pleasure and pain.
“What are you hiding in that chamber?” she demanded.
“Answer me first.” His gaze slid to her lips, but his hold remained upon her throat, part threat, part caress. “Do you think me a murderer?”
She stared into his eyes, unable to look away, searching herself for her response. He was a confusing and complex man, the Earl of Sinclair. But even when he had abducted her, he had been concerned about her eating, about her sleeping on the floor. She had smashed a figurine over his head, and he had kissed her…
He confused her.
Left her flustered and aching and hopelessly muddled in the head and heart.
“No.” Her answer left her suddenly. The moment the word fled her lips, she had to admit it was true. She did not believe he had hurt Alfred any longer. And nor did she believe he had killed his former countess. Callie had been alone with her husband enough to know she did not need to fear him. But not enough to know she could trust him. “That does not mean I accept you keeping secrets from me, however.”
His expression shifted. The anger seemed to drain from him. In its place was, unless she was mistaken, sadness. “You do not know what you are asking of me.”
She searched his gaze, trying to find answers that continued to elude her. “Honesty, Sin, as I said. That is all I am asking.”
His lips thinned. He was still near enough to kiss. A tip of her head, a push forward onto her toes, and his mouth would be upon hers. She told herself she should not want that kiss. She ought not to desire his mouth upon hers. And yet, she was helpless when it came to him.
“You want to know what I was doing in that chamber today?” he asked abruptly.
“Yes.” Her answer was instant. “Of course I do. If this marriage of ours has a hope at all, we must be as honest with each other as possible, Justin.”
His nostrils flared, and she knew it was at the use of his Christian name. “What makes you think I give a proper goddamn if this marriage has any hope or not, princess?”
His response filled her with disappointment. “If that is how you feel, then this dialogue is a moot point.”
But when she attempted to free herself from his hold, he held fast, his grip on her throat tightening just enough to keep her frozen in place. To remind her which of them was the more powerful when it came to strength. “Calm yourself, little wife. This is not easy for me.”
His frank admission caught her by surprise.
She could not be sure if he was talking about their marriage or about her request for his honesty. “What is not easy for you?”
His sensual lips compressed. “Having a wife again.”
She wished his answer had been different. “I did not want to marry you. This marriage was forced upon me.”
“It was forced upon us both.” His tone was cool, his expression unreadable. “Need I remind you of that? Of all the reasons why?”
Her patience snapped. “What are you so afraid of me discovering? Why will you not simply tell me what you are hiding from me and why?”
“Because there is nothing simple about it and you are once more being a brat, madam,” he bit out.
She was still cupping his face in her hands, the heat of him searing her. Part of her wanted to rage at him. Part of her wanted to slap him. Or kiss him.
No, not that.
“What a pair we make,” she said then, shaking herself from her thoughts and trying to tamp down the effect he had upon her. “For you are being an arse to my brat.”
His jaw clenched beneath her touch. “Fine. You want to know what lies within that chamber, I will show you. But first, I will have your promise that you do not speak while we are in the chamber unless I ask you to do so.”
What the devil was in those apartments?
“You have my promise,” she said without hesitation, releasing her hold on him at last when she realized how desperately they clung to each other.
He nodded, then removed his grasp as well. “Come.”
With a small jolt of unease, she settled her hand in the crook of his arm and allowed him to lead