Chapter Three #2
Evan drew a deep breath. “If he should try anything untoward, you can come to me and I shall see to the matter.”
Marina laughed in his face. “Like I could trust you to do anything you say. But please, continue on with your lack of jealousy.”
“Marina,” he ground out. “I’m serious.”
“I don’t know how many more ways I can tell you that Jude will never dally with any of us. Nor would I be interested if he attempted to. Are you quite content now?”
He didn’t believe she actually wished for him to respond, so he remained quiet.
Once the dance ended, he escorted her back to her friends. Hudson engaged him in conversation, but Evan only nodded and laughed where it seemed appropriate. He watched Marina out of the corner of his eye, annoyed by their conversation.
The more he was around her, the more he knew she would fight him at every turn. A marriage to her would have been much the same. It was for the best that things had ended between them.
Yet, he couldn’t help but remember the image of her face that last time he pleasured her, as it had etched itself into his memories and flashed in his thoughts more often than he cared to admit. He was the one who introduced the vexing woman to such things, yet she retained the hold over him.
Perhaps he should consider one of the willing widows.
He might forget about their time together if he took a woman to bed, replacing the image in his head with someone else.
The notion just increased his seething, and he didn’t care to think more about the reaction.
He wasn’t a monk before he met her, but he couldn’t seem to allow himself to replace her either.
Marina ruined him, and he didn’t even wish to be in her presence to do anything about it.
He’d have to figure out the solution to his conundrum, because he wasn’t going the rest of his life without the touch of a woman.
All of a sudden, the room became suffocatingly hot, and he longed for a breath of fresh air. He excused himself from the group and started toward the terrace, seeking solitude to gather his thoughts.
A hand clasped his, and he knew who it was from the feel of the small gloved hand in his before he turned his head to see Marina next to him.
“Follow me,” she commanded, her tone was urgent. “Now.”
She released him and started toward a long corridor, entering one of the empty rooms. What further torture could she bestow on him this evening? He should just pull away from her and seek the fresh air he so desperately needed in order to think.
Curiosity got the better of him and he followed her. Checking that no one was watching him, he entered the room behind her, then closed and locked the door. The last thing they needed was for someone to find them alone together.
Because his reasons for walking away from her were still there.
He must continue to keep the scandal surrounding his father’s death secret while resolving the long-term financial issues he faced.
And she deserved better than all of it. Even if she was the most difficult and trying woman that he had ever met.
“What are you doing?” he asked.
She narrowed her eyes at him. “Were you about to meet Diana on the terrace?”
“What? Why would I meet Diana?” He stared. The woman had lost it. Or she was jealous for some reason, which would be far more entertaining.
“I saw you heading toward the terrace. She didn’t ask you to join her?”
He shook his head and crossed his arms while Marina paced the room.
“She must have changed her mind,” Marina mumbled, speaking more to herself than him. “But I saw her go out there.”
She tapped her finger against her lips, and he told himself to quit looking at her lips. “Why don’t you tell me what you are talking about?” he asked.
She sighed and faced him. “Diana thought to see if you might attempt a kiss.”
“Really? Interesting, indeed. Well, she is a lovely woman. Friendly and kind, too.” He smirked at her. “Perhaps I should take a stroll on the terrace. Seems I would receive a far warmer welcome.”
Marina huffed and folded her arms across the front of her body, which only lifted and pushed her breasts together. He gazed at them for longer than he should have, but thankfully for him, her continued pacing let his attention go unnoticed.
“Anyone with eyes can see she has taken notice of the new Earl of Powis,” Marina said, rolling her eyes.
“Oh? So you don’t actually believe she might have an interest in me, yet you lured me into this dark room in the middle of the ball where anyone might find us? Perhaps you brought me here for another reason.”
With a sudden halt, she ceased her pacing and gave him a deathly stare. “Well, she is stubborn, and she wants to ensure she marries this season. I tried to dissuade her from the ridiculous plan to begin with. I’m already quite aware that the two of you wouldn’t suit.”
“And why is that?” he asked. “Because you want me for yourself?”
He couldn’t believe her. She had the audacity to accuse him of jealousy over Jude, when she was the one luring him away to keep him from her friend. She put them both in a precarious situation if they should be caught.
Marina faced him now. “What on earth have I done that would give any indication I want you?”
“I just know.”
“You know nothing,” she said, waving him off.
He took a few steps toward her. If she thought he was going to let this pass without calling her on it, she was mistaken.
“Admit it,” he said. “You couldn’t stand the thought of my lips touching another’s.” He licked his bottom lip for good measure, noting that her eyes lingered when he did. “Especially if I were to deepen the kiss and use my tongue.”
She scowled at him. “You think too highly of yourself. You’re the one who can’t handle me speaking to another man.”
He folded his arms and widened his stance, fury building within him. He wouldn’t let her throw this back on him.
“Perhaps you think too highly of yourself,” he said. “I only wished to help you avoid making an error.”
“Like the one I made last summer?” She spat the words, and they hung between them.
Starting toward the door, she broke the silence. “I have to get out of here. I can’t be found with you.”
The ‘you’ came out even more hateful than he would have expected from her, and he cringed.
Marina bolted from the room and left Evan standing alone in the dark. He had to admit that, as much as it irritated him to do so, she’d won that round.