Suzanna Medeiros by Lady Hathaway's Indecent Proposal Page A
Authors: Lady Hathaway's Indecent Proposal
Ads: Link
he expected Miranda had long since returned home, no doubt thinking he had tired of her and was seeking other pursuits for the night. His pride had balked at the notion of showing any weakness, but now he regretted he hadn’t sent her a note telling her he would be late and asking her to wait for him. He didn’t want to analyze the part of him that feared she would have received the note and decided to go home anyway.
He didn’t realize his heart was racing until he found her in the bedroom. She had fallen asleep waiting for him, and as he took in her slender figure lying beneath the covers, it hit him like a fist to the gut that he still loved her. And they had only three more days until her monthly courses were due. After that, whether or not they had been successful, their affair would be over. It should have been over already, but neither of them had wanted to say the words that would end it, so they waited for nature to end it for them.
His need for her was a bone-deep ache. Refusing to acknowledge the unwelcome emotions going through him, he undressed and slid into bed bedside her. She woke when he drew her into his arms and the sleepy smile on her face made his heart turn over. Damn. It appeared he wasn’t going to remain unscathed when his relationship with Miranda ended—again.
* * *
He’d been insatiable, making love to her several times. The last time he’d been particularly forceful, and she sighed, remembering the things he had done. Her body ached, but she relished the sensation. Relished lying beside him now as he slept.
Andrew had always taken great pains to make sure she knew his interest in her was merely physical, so he must have been exhausted to allow himself to fall asleep. And she, desperate to know whatever modicum of closeness he chose to share, even if it was only physical, was content to accept their alliance for what it was. Now, watching him as he slept, she felt she’d been given a gift she’d never expected to receive.
His features were softer, making him look younger than his one and thirty years. In some ways, watching him sleep was more intimate than making love to him and her heart yearned for the closeness they had once shared.
She cursed herself for being a fool twice over. First for having denied her feelings for him all those years ago and allowing her parents to sway her into accepting Hathaway’s marriage proposal. But her second, and greater, mistake was the foolishness of her scheme to find a way to be close to him now.
She’d known almost from the start that their physical relationship was full of risks not just to her reputation, but also to her peace of mind. She’d never stopped loving Andrew, but at that moment she couldn’t hold back her regret as bitterness threatened to engulf her. A large part of her wished she had never started out to learn what it was like to make love to Andrew Osborne. Now, along with the memories she’d hoped to cling to during the coming years, she’d also have to live with the knowledge of what she could have had if she’d stood firm against her parents’ wishes. If she had, he would have asked her to marry him and they would still be together. She’d always known that to be true, but the full import of what she had lost had never been more clear to her.
Panic, remorse, regret… all swam within her and threatened to consume her. Stifling a sob, she rose from the bed and dressed with shaking hands. She allowed herself one more quick glance at the bed.
“Good-bye, Andrew,” she whispered before turning and escaping from the stifling confines of that unassuming house. She’d made her plans well and had no need to return to the Hathaway town house. She would simply disappear.
Chapter Seven
When Andrew woke the next morning and found himself alone in bed, disgust swept through him. Disgust that he had let down his guard and allowed himself to enjoy the comfort of holding Miranda as he fell asleep, for enjoy it he had.
He didn’t realize his heart was racing until he found her in the bedroom. She had fallen asleep waiting for him, and as he took in her slender figure lying beneath the covers, it hit him like a fist to the gut that he still loved her. And they had only three more days until her monthly courses were due. After that, whether or not they had been successful, their affair would be over. It should have been over already, but neither of them had wanted to say the words that would end it, so they waited for nature to end it for them.
His need for her was a bone-deep ache. Refusing to acknowledge the unwelcome emotions going through him, he undressed and slid into bed bedside her. She woke when he drew her into his arms and the sleepy smile on her face made his heart turn over. Damn. It appeared he wasn’t going to remain unscathed when his relationship with Miranda ended—again.
* * *
He’d been insatiable, making love to her several times. The last time he’d been particularly forceful, and she sighed, remembering the things he had done. Her body ached, but she relished the sensation. Relished lying beside him now as he slept.
Andrew had always taken great pains to make sure she knew his interest in her was merely physical, so he must have been exhausted to allow himself to fall asleep. And she, desperate to know whatever modicum of closeness he chose to share, even if it was only physical, was content to accept their alliance for what it was. Now, watching him as he slept, she felt she’d been given a gift she’d never expected to receive.
His features were softer, making him look younger than his one and thirty years. In some ways, watching him sleep was more intimate than making love to him and her heart yearned for the closeness they had once shared.
She cursed herself for being a fool twice over. First for having denied her feelings for him all those years ago and allowing her parents to sway her into accepting Hathaway’s marriage proposal. But her second, and greater, mistake was the foolishness of her scheme to find a way to be close to him now.
She’d known almost from the start that their physical relationship was full of risks not just to her reputation, but also to her peace of mind. She’d never stopped loving Andrew, but at that moment she couldn’t hold back her regret as bitterness threatened to engulf her. A large part of her wished she had never started out to learn what it was like to make love to Andrew Osborne. Now, along with the memories she’d hoped to cling to during the coming years, she’d also have to live with the knowledge of what she could have had if she’d stood firm against her parents’ wishes. If she had, he would have asked her to marry him and they would still be together. She’d always known that to be true, but the full import of what she had lost had never been more clear to her.
Panic, remorse, regret… all swam within her and threatened to consume her. Stifling a sob, she rose from the bed and dressed with shaking hands. She allowed herself one more quick glance at the bed.
“Good-bye, Andrew,” she whispered before turning and escaping from the stifling confines of that unassuming house. She’d made her plans well and had no need to return to the Hathaway town house. She would simply disappear.
Chapter Seven
When Andrew woke the next morning and found himself alone in bed, disgust swept through him. Disgust that he had let down his guard and allowed himself to enjoy the comfort of holding Miranda as he fell asleep, for enjoy it he had.
Similar Books
