Page 79

The music finally ended, and he watched Juliet curtsy and walk away from the Earl, heading in a direction where few people were gathered.

“…and I think if we act fast, we can certainly?—”

“I beg your pardon, Lord Gainsbury,” Hector cut him off quickly. “I must attend to some pressing matters. I am happy to see that you are interested in doing business with me. Perhaps we can make arrangements to properly discuss the finer details at my residence?”

“Certainly, Your Grace. I shall eagerly await your invitation,” Lord Gainsbury grinned.

“Thank you. Enjoy the rest of your evening.” Hector shook his hand and quickly walked off in the direction in which he had seen Juliet go.

He felt uneasy with far too many difficult emotions swirling within him.

First, Juliet had barely acknowledged him on their way to the ball, and then she danced with someone else? Before all in attendance?

He found her surprisingly quickly, seated in a small, secluded alcove.

“What are you doing here?”

He watched as she stiffened at the sound of his voice, but she did not turn to face him.

“Please, Hector…go away. I wish to be alone.”

“Why?” he asked, walking closer.

She sighed and ignored him which only made him angrier.

“Why are you here alone, Juliet?”

“Because I want to be, Hector!” she snapped angrily. “Not everything is about you. I simply want to take some time to straighten out my thoughts, but I cannot have that, can I?”

“You can.”

“So, tell me then. Why areyouhere? Why did you follow me? If I am such a pain to dwell with, why do you insist on forcing yourself into whatever space I occupy?” Juliet huffed.

Hector did not yet have an answer for that. Not yet. He knew he wouldn’t find one until he was ready to reopen some old wounds.

“Why did you dance with Lord Somerton?”

Juliet glared intensely and pointed an accusing finger at him. “You left me all alone! You brought me here and then proceeded to leave me to my own devices. What was I supposed to do?”

Hector closed the distance between them, gripping her chin and tilting her head back, so she would have nowhere else to look but into his eyes.

“You cannot let another man touch you. No one is allowed to touch you but me. You are mine. And you would do well to remember that.”

Juliet smacked his hand away and pulled herself out of his reach.

“That is ironic, Hector, seeing you only want me when I fulfill some sort of role for your benefit. How will I ever be able to show my worth when this Ton is constantly talking about how scandalous I am? How much of a poor judgment on your part it was to marry me…a nobody from a condemned convent? You only wish to play games with me, and I have grown tired of it, Hector. I do not wish to live out my days as your toy.”

“That’s not true, Juliet,” Hector said, aghast. “None of it. I do not think of you as a source of amusement. That is not true at all.”

“Then what is the truth?”

“You…drive me to the brink of insanity each day. Every day in your presence is a day I am fighting myself to keep my hands off you because the truth is I want you to all to myself.”

This time, he tugged her closer, capturing her lips in a searing kiss.

He thought she might resist his advances, but she quickly put her arms around his neck and pulled him even closer to her, sighing into his mouth.

Hector’s hands found purchase on her waist, keeping her still as his mouth devoured her, their tongues mingling wetly as he felt himself stirring.