Page 34 of Always a Princess

She is a miracle. In more ways than one.

His body roared to life, blood filling areas that had seemed dead for years. If he wasn’t careful, tonight would take a turn for which he did not think she was ready.

As much as he loathed to do it, he slowed the pace of their passion.

“Thea,” he whispered, “I will not dishonor you. I cannot. It is not who I am.”

She pulled back instantly. “Oh my goodness. What am I doing?”

She tried to scramble out of his lap, but he held her close.

“Please. Don’t go. We must simply … slow down.”

She was red-cheeked, and he could feel the heat of her embarrassment as she dipped her head, avoiding his eyes.

“Please, look at me, Thea.”

“I am so sorry. This is … humiliating.”

He released one of his arms from behind her waist and used it to lift her chin. When her brown gaze finally met his, he spoke. “Never. Never think that. You came alive with my kiss. What could be more gratifying to a man than a woman whose passions run as strong as his own? It is I who must stop, lest I take you further than you planned this evening.”

She was delightfully disheveled, and with her cheeks full of color, she was even more beautiful. It took everything within him not to kiss her again and take her before the fireplace.

“I’m supposed to be respectable,” she said, shaking her head.

“Stop with the self-recrimination. And what you’re supposed to be is simply mine.”

She breathed out a sigh. Her head dropped forward until her forehead rested against his.

His heart panged with the sweetness of the moment. She was the most captivating woman he had ever encountered. And the depths of her response was his most mesmerizing discovery yet. One he loathed to stop exploring.

“What am I going to do?” she asked.

And even though the question was probably more rhetorical, he replied, “Just say yes, Thea. That is all you have to do. I will take care of the rest.”

She lifted her gaze to his. “You have no idea how badly I want to say yes right now.”

“Then why don’t you?”

“How can I abandon them?”

Her sense of honor and duty was not lacking, and rather than lament it, he chose to treasure it.

“I will wait. Not patiently. But because I know you want the same thing I want.”

“More than I’ve ever wanted anything in my life. I just … I can’t be selfish.”

“This will happen, Thea. We will be.”

“I believe you,” she replied. “And I want that too. I don’t want to wait.” She looked away and paused. “But I do have to tell you something first that could change your mind about me.”

“There is only one thing you could tell me that would matter.”

Her dark gaze rested on his once more. “I was married before. I am not a virgin.”

“Was married?” Alexander needed to confirm. “As in no longer?”

She nodded. “I am a widow.”