Behind the Courtesan - By Bronwyn Stuart Page 0,45

clean tables before he spoke again. “What is really worrying you?”

“I told you, it’s nothing.”

“Another thing I won’t understand?” He said the words softly but couldn’t keep the hurt from them. “There was a time when we could tell each other anything.”

“Those days are long past.”

“They don’t have to be.” He stepped to her side, caught her wrist in his hand when she made to walk away. “I hate this distance between us, Sophie. You can tell me what’s on your mind. I promise I won’t judge.”

She shook her head, her gaze on the floor.

Blake crowded her against the wall until she was forced to look up at him. Her blue eyes sparkled with tears and she bit her lip until the normally pink bow turned pale.

“What is it?”

“Yesterday...”

God, she was trembling. He let go of her wrist so he could pull her close and wrap his arms around her. The shock from their accident must only just be settling in and because of his injury and his convalescence, she hadn’t had even a moment to herself all day. “I’m sorry. You’re working so hard and caring about everyone else, but no one is caring for you.”

“It’s not that,” she sobbed.

He tightened his embrace and tried to swallow past the unfamiliar lump in his throat. Did he push her too hard? Let her do too much? In the back of his mind he knew he still punished her for leaving. He would never say it out loud, but he wouldn’t let her continue to do his work if she was going to fall apart. He wouldn’t be held responsible for that.

She pushed against his chest and met his eyes with her own. “You could have died.”

Thump-thump went his heart against his ribs again. What?

“You could have died and the last words we shared were nasty and hateful and I would never have had the chance to take them back.” By the time the words were out, she cried in earnest.

“Died? It was just a little accident, Sophie.”

“It was not,” she cried.

“Sshhh. I’m right here.” He gathered her back into his arms.

“I know.” She sniffed against his collarbone. “But what if you weren’t?”

“You don’t even like me.”

She leaned back again, shock written all over her beautiful face. “I never said I didn’t like you.”

He could understand that. “Could we start again? Could you forget that I’m a pigheaded oaf and just be my friend again?”

“Can you forget who I am?”

It was on the tip of his tongue to ask her once again who she really was, but it wasn’t the time. “I’ll never forget who you are.” When she made as if to wrench herself from his grip, he softened his tone, pulled her closer again so they were nose to nose. “You’re the woman who saved my life, who gathered firewood and kept me warm. You fixed me when you should have kicked me and left me on the road to die. I know who you are and I’ll never forget that. Neither should you.”

This time when she pulled free, she didn’t turn and stomp away. She didn’t slap him or shout abuse. She raised her hands and placed them on his cheeks and whispered, “Thank you for being so nice to me.”

“You’re welcome,” he whispered back.

And then the damndest thing happened. He didn’t move. He didn’t breathe or blink or have time to react before Sophie pressed her lips to his. If it was comfort she sought, he would ensure she received it.

When she melted against him, smooth, liquid honey in his hands, Blake put his arms back around her and pressed his body to hers. When she angled her head, he deepened the kiss, and coaxed her lips apart so he could truly taste her. With the gentlest of pressure, he walked her back a step until the dining room wall brushed his forearms. She threaded her hands into his hair and moved against him until all he could think of was her. He could smell her, taste her, feel her and he wanted more. So much more.

His lids were only half closed when the darkened room around them lit with the power of lightning and thunder shook the walls a scant second after. The booming sound of it made Sophia jump with a gasp, stealing the air from his lungs, her blue eyes wide, her breathing heavy.

He looked from those sparkling eyes to her swollen lips and back again, his hands running the lengths of her arms