“Yes.” She nodded. “I do. Do you know why?”
David shook his head, still bemused as to where the conversation was headed. “No, why?”
“Because I can control myself when I drink.”
David frowned. “Are you saying Bell can’t?”
Annabelle shrugged. “To my knowledge, he’s never tried. But there’s every reason to believe he might not be able to control himself.”
David continued to frown. “What does that mean?”
She slowly walked toward the canopied bed and stared down at the mattress as if it were a foreign object. “Why weren’t you at dinner?”
The conversation had taken another turn. It took everything in him to keep from asking her why she cared, why she’d come, but instead he rubbed the back of his neck and said, “I didn’t feel up to it tonight.”
She traced a finger along the top of the bedspread. “Up to what?”
David blew out a deep breath. When he’d first seen her at the door, he’d been concerned that she was foxed, but she wasn’t. Now that he’d spoken to her, he could tell that she was perfectly sober. Then why had she risked scandal to come to his door? And how would he ever get her back to her own room without her being seen? But first he had something to say. He’d been wanting to apologize to her all day. But apologizing to someone you had no intention of coming within fifty paces of was difficult. Now that she was in his bedchamber, he might as well take advantage of the opportunity. However unexpected.
“Look, Lady Annabelle,” he began, putting his hands on his hips.
“Lady Annabelle?” she echoed. “So formal? I thought we were long past titles, David.”
She wasn’t making this easy for him. He cleared his throat. “You’re right. Fine, then. Annabelle. I want to apologize for my behavior last night.”
“Which behavior?” she asked, blinking at him in an adorable manner.
He couldn’t think clearly when she was standing that close to his bed. Images of their naked bodies intertwined atop it kept scorching through his mind. What had she just said? Oh, yes. He supposed he deserved that last question. “I shouldn’t have questioned your decision not to marry. It’s none of my concern. I’m sorry.” There. He’d apologized. Now he could truly move on with his life. He wanted her more than he’d ever wanted any woman, but he’d gone about it all wrong. He’d ham-handed his attempted courtship and been nothing but an ass about it. He’d told her she was speaking in riddles, that she made no sense.
“David, I owe you an explanation…”
“You owe me nothing,” he continued, shaking his head. “Least of all an explanation of why you’re not interested in me.”
A short burst of laughter escaped her lips. “I’m not interested in you? Why, that’s news to me.”
His brows shot up at that pronouncement, but he was determined to set things straight and leave them there. This was his last chance. “Whatever your reasons for not wanting to be courted or to marry, they are your own, and I had no right to demand an explanation from you.”
“Do you want to know something?” she asked, leaning a hip against the mattress.
He eyed her warily, not wanting the conversation to take yet another turn. “What?”
“I don’t even like Lord Murdock.” She lifted her nose in the air.
“Really?” David arched a brow. This time he couldn’t help himself. “Then why are you spending so much time with him? The man kicks dogs, for Christ’s sake.”
She drained the champagne glass and set it on the bedside table and stared out the window. “I could ask you the same question. Why have you been spending so much time with Lady Elspeth?”
“To my knowledge, she’s never kicked a dog,” he shot back, hand on his hips again.
“I’m not defending Lord Murdock,” Annabelle retorted.
“Fine, but you still didn’t answer me. Why are you spending so much time with him if you don’t even like him?” Why was he continuing this argument? He’d said what he needed to say. It was over. He should be escorting her to the door and praying the corridor was still empty.
Annabelle wrapped her arms around her middle. “Because…because…he’s an ass.”
“What?”
“Oh, it’s all become so complicated—but none of that matters. I suppose I danced with him that first night at the Talbots’ because…I wanted you to care.” Her voice was broken.
“What?” His voice was hoarse now, shaking slightly. The question was completely different than the same word he’d just uttered moments before. He stalked toward her and spun her around to face him. Clutching her upper arms, he stared deeply into her ice-blue eyes. “Damn it, Annabelle. You already know I care. I can’t stop thinking about you. I can’t stop wondering what you’re going to do next. I think about you every minute. I want you every second. I can’t stop.”
Annabelle’s eyes were wide as moons as she stared up at him. “What did you say?” came her nearly silent whisper.
“I said I can’t stop,” he repeated.
She froze, tears pooled in her eyes. “Before that?” she whispered brokenly.
He pulled her into his arms. “I want you every second,” he repeated, his lips inches from hers. “But I can’t keep doing this, Annabelle. You’ve made it clear you don’t want me.”
“But I do want you, David. That’s why I came here tonight.” She reached up and wound her arms around his neck. “Make me yours.”
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Hope and lust flared in David’s chest. “Are you certain, Annabelle?” He searched her face. She needed to be sure beyond any doubt.
“I’ve never been more certain about anything. There’s only one thing I ask…” She bit her lip.
“What’s that, love?” He pushed a lock of her hair behind her ear and traced his finger along the line of her cheek.
“I cannot get with child.”
He leaned down and kissed her gently on the lips. “I’ll make sure.” It stood to reason that she would ask such a thing. Their wedding might not be for months, and a scandal would ensue if a baby came too soon.
She nodded, relief washing over her features.
That was enough. David allowed the lust to win. He was going to make love with Annabelle. First, he reached behind her and unbuttoned her gown. Then he slowly untied the sash. Next, he helped her pull the gown over her head, so she was standing in front of him with only a chemise and stockings. She’d already kicked off her slippers.
He let his gaze roam over her. “You’re gorgeous, Annabelle. Do you know that?”
“So are you,” she said with the hint of a smile on her face. She reached up and placed a hand on his rough cheek.
He leaned down and gently kissed her lips, but Annabelle clearly didn’t want things to be gentle. She pulled his head down to hers and kissed him with abandon. David reached down to pull her chemise over her head. She helped him and the garment was soon discarded on the floor.
David sucked in his breath. The sight of Annabelle clad only in her stockings would be burned in his memory forever. Her body was lithe and slender. Her legs long. Her breasts, supple and perfectly rounded. She looked like Venus having just emerged from the seashell.