“How do you expect me to forgive you for this, Marcellus?” Her voice broke. “I died when I was told Maxwell perished, and you knew he lived. How could you have me endure such pain?”
He reached for her, his gaze regretful. “I wanted to tell you, but I couldn’t. I had my reasons, and I hope someday you’ll understand them.”
She jerked away from him. “You knew he lived and still took me! I did not know how to tell him I gave myself to you. I wanted to confide in Max several times, but I couldn’t. It would break him to know you betrayed him so. That I betrayed him.”
She inhaled and met the turbulence of Marcellus’s silver eyes. “You must never touch me again. It was a grave mistake. We will not speak of it. And we must not tell Maxwell. At least not yet.”
Marcellus’s countenance became hard, and his eyes glittered. That unwelcome fear that he always incited in her crept across her skin, and she stumbled back from him. A longing that nearly stripped her control stormed through her as he jerked her tight against him; then his hand dragged her gown up her legs.
“What are you doing?” she whispered furiously, pushing at his chest.
He tugged at her drawers until he could caress the core of her. She was already embarrassingly wet. Her arousal flowed over his fingers.
“Open your legs wider,” he growled, and rage burned her that she responded to the dominance of his touch. His fingers rimmed her entrance, teasing her, but she still winced.
“Don’t. I am sore,” she groaned, mortified at what she had to reveal.
He halted his finger, flexing his palm to cup her instead. “Tell me you hated when I fucked and ate this sweet pussy of yours. You wanted it as bad as I did. And that was even before you thought Max had died. I watched Max ride you hard and long. Watched you wail for more, and you knew I watched, and you wanted me. You and I coming together, Emmeline, will never be a mistake. I crave your touch, your smiles, and you hunger for me just as much.”
His explicit words had heat spiraling to her core. She wrenched from him, hating the weakness despite her rage. “No! I only came to you because I thought Maxwell was gone. I would never have come to you otherwise,” she insisted, though her heart screamed liar at her.
She stiffened as with two strides he was in front of her, drawing her into his arms. He slanted his lips over hers, taking her mouth with restrained anger. He stroked his tongue against hers, drawing her desire and igniting fire in her. She felt the pervasive hunger that overcame her each time Maxwell or Marcellus touched her infuse her limbs. It terrified her. Never had she known she could feel such cravings for two separate individuals at the same time. Her breasts were swollen, rising and falling rapidly, and her nipples were hard. Blistering shame swamped her along with fury. She forced her arms between their bodies and pushed with strength. He released her so suddenly she stumbled.
“Are you insane, Marcellus? Maxwell is back.”
Marcellus watched her broodingly. “Do you not want me now, Emmeline, needing me even though you have been with Max for two days and nights?”
“I do not,” she protested. The lack of conviction in her voice had a blush climbing her face.
“Liar,” he said gently.
She blinked at him, confused. She could not move as Marcellus walked over to her and raised her chin. He caressed her lips with his thumb, and she shuddered. She desperately tried to hold on to her anger and ignore the craving.
“Forgive me. I did not seek to betray Maxwell. Never that, Emmeline. Nor did I seek to deceive you. I tried to tell you several times that Maxwell was alive, that I would have felt his death through our bond. I tried in so many ways to communicate that, but you were disbelieving.”
She shook her head, her vision blurred by tears. “A part of me died, Marcellus. You knew I suffered, and you never tried to make me understand. What bond? How could you feel that he was alive?”
He dipped his head and claimed her lips in a scorching kiss. It communicated hunger and his regret to her. She sank into him, wanting to forgive him but knowing that it would take longer than he expected. She moaned into his mouth as she kissed him wildly.
Hearing the parlor door open, she jerked from his arms. Emily spun to see Maxwell closing the door softly. Horror burned through her. She scampered away from Marcellus, her heart slamming painfully against her chest. She clasped her cheeks, hoping to cool them as her mind frantically searched for words. What could she say?
The smooth blankness on Marcellus’s face did not help. No one said anything, waiting for her to break the painful silence that enveloped them.
“Emily, it’s all right, my darling.” Maxwell reached for her, and she jerked from him. How could he understand? He had found her in his br
other’s arms.
“Don’t.” She rushed past him, needing to escape their twin gazes that waited for her to understand something she could not process. She fled from them, wrenched the door open, and rushed to her room. She closed the door and wilted against it.
“I fear she doesn’t love me,” Marcellus said, raking his hands through his hair. He tried not to give in to the sense of despair that ate at him, for he loved Emmeline unreservedly.
“That is not true,” Max replied, walking farther into the parlor.
Marcellus chuckled mockingly. “What the hell did you think you just witnessed, Max? She withdrew from me the moment you came in. I know it is selfish of me to press her so soon, but I could feel every desire that you did, the love that you feel for her, the love that I share for her. Now, all I know is despair that she would never feel the same way for me.”
Marcellus watched as his brother stalked to the mantel and poured them two glasses of bourbon. He braced himself against his reeling emotions and took the drink. He sank into the sofa beside Max, staring into the fireplace that crackled so merrily, mocking his somber thoughts.
“I know you felt everything I felt these past two days. She held the nightmares at bay, and I held joy in my arms. This is a woman we both love, and we would both die for. I know she loves you, Brother. She is just afraid to accept it,” Max said.