She was shivering and he reached out to drag a cover over her nakedness, then paused, noticing the small but tell-tale smudge of colour on the bed behind her.
Angelo’s heart shrank.
He should have followed his instincts there and then and got right away from her. But when she’d looked at him with those big eyes, wide and pleading, he hadn’t been able to turn away.
Because you didn’t really want to leave.
Because being with Ally felt essential to him.
‘Ally? Talk to me.’
He heard a muffled sniff and brushed her hair back from her face. Relief filled him when he saw she wasn’t crying, but that didn’t ameliorate his guilt.
‘Are you hurting? What can I do?’
Finally she turned her head to look at him. ‘No. I’m okay.’
‘You don’t look it.’
He was used to lovers who sighed and snuggled and talked about next time. By contrast Ally looked strained and pale, but who could blame her?
A gurgle of laughter surprised him and her mouth tilted up into a tiny smile. ‘Thanks for the compliment. Just what a woman wants to hear.’
‘You’re shivering. Of course I’m concerned.’ His mouth firmed. ‘I hurt you. I can’t tell you how sorry I am. If I’d known—’
‘You didn’t know. Neither of us did.’
Angelo shook his head. ‘I should have realised. I can’t believe I didn’t work it out before.’
Yet, as he said it, he marvelled at how much this woman looked like his ex-wife. The bone structure, the shape of her mouth and nose, even her gestures. And those memorable eyes. How rare was that colour? He’d never seen the like anywhere else.
They could have been twins. Except Alexa had said she was an only child. That was one of the reasons he’d been so sure of Ally’s identity.
Sure, but wrong.
‘I must be very like her.’
Ally might have read his mind. Her expression as unreadable, yet Angelo heard a wealth of emotion behind her words. Silently he nodded. What could he say?
Angelo stroked Ally’s hair off her face, filled with tenderness and regret for the hurt he’d caused. But not for the actual deed. He still couldn’t regret that.
‘Did I hurt you very much? How are you now?’
He’d never been with a virgin.
She shrugged. ‘It only hurt a little.’ Her gaze avoided his, making him wonder. ‘I’m okay now.’
Angelo wished he could believe her. ‘If I’d known I would have been more careful.’ What was he thinking? ‘If I’d known I would never have touched you.’
At least hehopedhe’d have been strong enough to keep his distance. But he’d never before been so devoured by passion. It made him uneasy, doubting his willpower. No other woman had ever threatened his control in this way.
‘Don’t!’
In a flurry of movement, Ally pushed his hand away and scrabbled further up the bed, reaching for the bed covering in a bid to conceal herself.
Angelo rose enough for her to pull the cover up then sat again, eyeing her warily. He shouldn’t be surprised at her impulse for modesty, yet it felt like she was shutting him out.
Who could blame her?