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“But you thought I wasn’t interested because I never came to your bed tonight.”
“A little.”
Castle’s gaze narrowed, his long lashes staring at my lips. His thumb traced my bottom lip, which I kissed and captured his face in both my hands. My nose was touching his and his stubble was grazing my palms, shooting desire to my core. Feeling daring, I gave him a quick peck on his lips.
“You’re strong and smart. And beautiful.” He rasped, “Any husband who wouldn’t want you as their wife is fucking stupid, and I’m everything but that.” His fingers dug into my hair as he leaned in and captured my mouth in his. The kiss was soul-searing, and I parted my lips, letting his tongue do the exploration. His lips moved softly at first and then it was wild, but he had finesse. He was working his magic over me, and I felt spellbound.
Castle’s hands drifted towards my waist and then to my ass, and then back up. His fingers reached the hem of my cami top and touched my skin. He held me like I was precious. His hand cupped one breast, his eyes had turned a shade darker. He tweaked my nipple mercilessly while his lips continued to assault my mouth.
I gasped, partly mortified that I was so completely turned on, and partly just wanting to tell him to keep touching me.
“Castle…”
“This should put your doubts at rest,” He whispered, giving me that charming smile again. “I don’t think I can get any work done at this point, but I have a feeling that I scare you, and maybe it’s because of what you heard from Devin.”
“No, you don’t scare me,” I said and then blushed because he could read my mind.
“I don’t have a violent streak, and I didn’t lash out at them. I killed them for reasons that I will tell you when I’m comfortableenough to open up. I will never hurt you, and I’m not sure how I could prove that to you.” He said sincerely. “Let’s do something, Millicent. We’ll take it slow, okay?”
I nodded. “Okay.”
I climbed out of his lap. “Can I ask you something else?”
“Go ahead.”
“What is your best memory of us together?” I asked, “Before you remembered your past.”
“That would be when we took our walks, went out shopping, and when I took you out to dinners at restaurants. Any time spent with you has always been a delight. I don’t think I can choose.”
“I see.” I smiled and then turned to leave, but then I froze in place.
He’d gone back to looking through his workload. “Anything else I can do for you, Mrs. Montgomery?”
“You said you enjoyed taking me out to dinners at restaurants,” I said, my breaths coming out rapidly.
“Yes?”
“You never took me out to dinners, Castle. Devin never allowed it.” My voice broke into a whisper.
He stared at me, realizing his mistake. A slip-up.
“Millicent…”
“You don’t remember any of it, do you? You don’t remember me and you’ve been pretending. It was all a lie!”
THIRTY-EIGHT
Seconds tickedby as I waited for Castle to respond, to come up with an excuse and tell me I was wrong, but he didn’t. Whatever he’d been saying to me was a lie. He didn’t remember me; he didn’t remember the Millie that he loved.
“I don’t even know who you are anymore,” I said, on the verge of tears, before walking out of the room.
I couldn’t embarrass myself any further. He’d played me, and he’d done it well. He made me believe he knew me, and I’d been a fool to trust his words. I should have gone with my instincts, the instincts that told me the first time around that the old Castle was gone for good.
“Millicent, listen to me!” He was right behind me, hot on his heels.
I had stepped out when he grabbed me by my waist and pulled me back inside his study. He closed the door behind him, turned the lock, and blocked it with his enormous body so I couldn’t go out.
“Look at me,” he said.