“Stop, Amelia.”
Her eyes widened, and she ceased trying to pull away. Her name on his tongue had surprised her.
He released her arm. “I am not laughing at you.”
She crossed her arms beneath her chest, and it took all his strength not to follow the movement when the action served to push up her breasts.
“It sounded like a laugh to me.”
He smiled. She was adorable in her anger. How could she believe he thought her request ridiculous?
“I laughed because I’d imagined being with you many times, especially today when you stopped hiding from me. But I’d convinced myself it wasn’t possible.”
His admission served to ease some of her anger, but he didn’t think she believed him.
“Because you don’t think of me that way?”
He shook his head. “I just told you that I do think of you in that way… often.”
She took a deep breath, and this time he couldn’t stop himself from glancing down to the enhanced display of her charms before he dragged his gaze back up to her face.
“Does that mean you’ll…?”
When she took another deep breath, he couldn’t help but wonder if she was trying to kill him.
“What it means is that I would like nothing more than to satisfy your curiosity.” He almost groaned aloud at his horrible choice of words. “But we both know it isn’t possible. I’m your protector, and I won’t use you in such a manner.”
But he could marry her.
Chapter 20
His refusal threatenedher ability to breathe.
Lowenbrock had admitted he imagined being with her. It shouldn’t have surprised her, yet it did. From everything she’d read and witnessed with her own eyes, men were freer when it came to casual lovemaking. But Lowenbrock clearly wasn’t as taken with her as she’d hoped. She was a fool. The attraction she felt for him was one-sided and he was being polite to spare her feelings.
Her humiliation was complete. “I understand,” she said, trying to gather the shredded remains of her dignity.
She started to turn away, knowing he wouldn’t stop her from leaving a second time, but she was mistaken. He moved so quickly she was in his arms before she realized what was happening. Her body was scant inches away from his, and she could feel the heat of his body reaching out for her.
“Do you know how lovemaking works, Amelia?”
She could only nod, unable to form words. She’d been naive once, but one young woman who lived in the village had taken delight in shocking Amelia with her knowledge after she’d wed.
“Do you know what happens to a man’s body when he aches to make love to a woman?”
She’d been mistaken when she thought she’d already reached the depths of her humiliation. “I understand what you’re saying. You don’t think you can… perform.” Surely she would never be able to face his man again.
He tugged her against him, her entire body pressing against his.
“Can you feel that? Do you know what it means?”
Her mouth went dry as she took in his meaning. She’d noticed how muscular he was, but what she felt pressed into her lower belly was not muscle. It was his manhood. Which meant he did find her desirable. That he wanted to make love to her.
She wanted to say something witty and worldly, but all her bravado had been used up when she asked him to make love to her. So instead of replying with words, she nodded.
“Make no mistake, I would like nothing more than to take you upstairs right now and give youeverythingyou want.”
She licked her lips, and he let out a small groan, lowering his head so his face was scant inches from hers.