Page 6 (1/2)

"Not truly!" she cried, ready to tear out her hair in frustration

Gray snorted "As truly as e can be without sex I intend to correct that lack"

"Is that why you came back? To fuck your wife?"

"I came back because you wrote to me Every Friday the post would come and there would be a letter, written with soft pink parchment and scented of flowers"

"You sent them back, every one of them Unopened"

"The contents were not important, Pel I knehat you did and where you ithout your recounts It was the thought that mattered I had hoped you would desist, and leave ht the th of the sation to write to you"

"Yes!" he cried, triuation as my wife, which in turn forced ation to you So I returned to quell the ru I did you by leaving"

"That does not require sex!"

"Lower your voice," he warned, grabbing her ar her closer He cupped her breast, his thu it until she whimpered in helpless pleasure "This requires sex Look how aroused you are Even in your fury and distress, I would wager you are wet between the thighs for me Why should I take someone else, when it is you I want?"

"I have soh, obviously, or you would not want er for him She never entertained the idea of another man while attached to one Months passed between her lovers, because she h she was the party who said good-bye

"You are wrong" She yanked her ar where he had touched her "I do not want you"

"And I used to admire your honesty," he jeered softly

Isabel stared at Gray, and saw his determination The slow, dull ache in her chest was so fahost of the hell Pelham had left her in

"What happened to you?" she asked sadly, la the loss of the comfort she once felt with him

"The blinders were torn fro"

Chapter 3

Once appropriately attired, Gerard moved aside the curtain and stepped out into the short hall He caught sight of Isabel iht stray rays of sunshine and turned to fire The contrast of those silken threads of fla, and very apropos The heat of her desire had scorched him, even as she chilled him with her words In fact, he was surprised she had rearments Gerard had half-expected her to leave But Pel was not one to hide fro them, but she would not actually run from them It was one of the quirky traits he rather liked in her

He sighed, da differently He did not understand her, and he could not make amends without co of importance between them? Why desire him, know he craved her in return, and refuse to act upon it? It was not like Isabel to deny herself the pleasures of the flesh Did she perhaps love her present aht Gerard ell aware that it was possible to love one person, and yet physically require the attentions of another

At that thought, he cursed inwardly He had obviously not changed all that roped at his wife What in hell was the entleman did not treat his spouse in that fashion He should be wooing her, not salivating to rut in her

He called out as he approached so as not to startle her "Lady Grayson"

Pel turned to face hi"

So it was that as it? Pretend as if nothing had happened

He sloved hand to his lips "A husband must, to escort a wife as fair as you, my lovely Isabel"

Her hand shook a little in his, and her voice when she spoke had a slight catch "You flatter reat deal more to her, but that would have to wait He tucked her hand around his arm, and led her to the door

"Even I cannot do you justice," she said, as he retrieved her flowered straw hat fro it in place with the ease of fa, and he stepped closer, his back to the street, to allow the new custo her skin and tensing his frame

"You need a lover," she breathed, those sherry eyes wide and held by his gaze

"I have no need of one I have a ho desires me"

"Good afternoon,the counter

Gerardthe doorway, he saw the distinguished-looking gentleman ore an expression of such horror it did not take but a ister who it must be And what he ers closed over Pel’s on his ar been a possessive man, he frowned and tried to examine why he should feel this way now

"Good afternoon, Lord and Lady Grayson," the earl said tightly

Isabel straightened "Lord Hargreaves, a pleasure"

But it was not, not for any of them The tension was palpable "Excuse us," Gerard said when Hargreaves continued to block the doorway "We were on our way out"

"Lovely to see you again, my lord," Isabel reavesthe door, Gerard gave one last studious look at his rival, and then led his wife out with a hand at the small of her back They walked slowly down the street, both lost in their thoughts Several pedestrians attelance was effective at keeping them away

"That ard," he muttered finally

"You noted that, did you?" she said, refusing to look at him

In a way, he o, he would have brushed off the encounter as a on several occasions, as social engageht him face to face with Pel’s lovers, and she with his Noas all too aware of his flaws and shortcoreaves had none

"I’ve no notion of hoill explain your comment to him," she said, obviously upset

"He knew the risks when he chose to dally with another man’s wife"

"There were no risks! No one could predict that you would come ho you don’t, however, is ridiculous"

He stopped abruptly as ainward, and a custoies,his hat before he strode away quickly

Gerard looked at the establishment, curious about the reason for the man’s excitability His mouth curved as he reached for the door