His gaze drilled into hers. “Did you go hungry?”
Why wouldn’t he let it go? “What’s the point of this line of questioning?”
“Answer me.”
She sighed. “Only at first, until I got a job.”
“How many days did you go without food?”
“I don’t know. I didn’t count.”
“That many, huh?”
Her failure to take care of herself in the beginning was private, not something she wanted him to know. He already had enough weapons to use against her. “I hardly remember it now.”
“Were you cold?”
“Sometimes.”
“When?”
She blew out another breath. “Joss.”
“Answer me, Cle. I want to know.”
“Why?”
“Because I do.”
“You’re impossible.” It was like reasoning with a hardheaded donkey. “When I went ashore after jumping from the yacht, it was almost dark. I was wet, so naturally I was cold. When I arrived in South Africa, it was winter. I was cold then, but I managed to buy a warm jacket before leaving with the truck driver.”
Turmoil reflected in his eyes as he processed the information.
“Why are you asking these questions?” She searched his face. “Do you think what happened to me was your fault? It wasn’t. I told you, I was going to run regardless.”
“Did anyone hurt you?”
“The choice to jump was mine. I knew the risks. I made the decision and accepted the consequences.”
He worked his jaw sideways. “You put yourself in danger.”
“More danger than what I was in with you?”
He gripped her chin. “I told you I wasn’t going to hurt you.”
“Just kill me?”
“No.”
“Put yourself in my shoes. If you were me, would you have believed that?”
He grabbed her to him so fast she stumbled. Steadying her with his hands on her waist, he said, “You should’ve believed it, because it’s the only truth you can trust.”
“Trust?” she bit out. “You’re asking me to trust you after—”
He brought his mouth down to hers, silencing her with a violent kiss. She gasped in shock, for a moment too taken by surprise to fight back. She managed a protesting sound when he pressed her up against the wall. Framing her face between his palms, he kissed her like the savage man he was. There was no gentleness or practiced skill in his manner. The kiss was raw and uninhibited, just like Joss at his core. It was nothing like the kisses she’d memorized, the kisses she’s spied on from behind trees. For her, he didn’t hold back. For her, he was just Joss, and it scared her more than Joss the dangerous bounty hunter, because that Joss was like an incinerating fire. Too big for life. He’d turn everything in his path to ashes.
Even as her mind fought for reason, her body surrendered. Her lips parted for his tongue. She let him spread her legs and hitch up her dress to step between her thighs. Dipping his knees, he grinded his erection against her core. She turned wet, her body giving away her secrets. When a moan escaped her lips, he kissed her harder and slipped a knee between her legs, urging her to ride his thigh. It was tempting, but she’d already lost too many battles. The thought made her go slack in his hold.
He tore his lips from hers, staring down at her with a fire blazing in his eyes. “What’s wrong?”
“We didn’t come here for this.”
“No.” The word carried regret. He dragged a thumb over her bottom lip. “We didn’t.”
There was too much regret between them. She averted her gaze as she wiggled down her dress.
“You’d better look around,” he said, stepping away from her. “We can’t stay long.”
Coldness washed over her when he turned and walked outside. She stared at the door through which he’d vanished. Breathing came both easier and harder, easier because she couldn’t think when he stood too close, and harder because of the truth he refused to acknowledge. The only truth she could trust wasn’t that he wouldn’t kill her. It was that she was doomed to run for the rest of her life.
She’d find a way soon, as soon as she’d seen Erwan. She needed to make sure for herself he was fine.
Pushing away from the wall, she took a deep breath to steady herself before going through the house. Without Erwan, there wasn’t a reason to linger. There was nothing she wanted to take. After making sure that everything was in order, she went to the back yard to check on the rabbits, guinea pigs, hedgehogs, and cats. How she missed them. The animals were healthy and looked happy, but one was missing.
“Where’s Tripod?” she asked Snow, stroking his back.
As if on cue, a bark sounded from the beach. The three-legged mongrel came running with flapping ears.
Relieved, she held out her arms. “Come here, you.”
Tripod jumped, yelping and licking her face.
“They’re happy to see you,” Joss said.
She looked up. He was standing by the doghouse, his shoulder braced against the side, watching her with an intent look on his face.
She hugged Tripod and stroked his wiry hair. “They’re well looked after.”
“I asked the vet for weekly updates.” He pointed inside the doghouse. “Had webcams installed. That way I could watch them from afar and make sure they were all right.”
She blinked. “You kept your promise.”
He stiffened. “Of course.”
“I thought you said you didn’t promise.”
“You know what I meant when I said that.” He straightened. “We have to go.”
Already? She cradled Tripod against her chest. “Can we come back tomorrow?”
“Yes,” he said, offering her a hand to pull her to her feet. “I promise.”
Chapter 33
The bedroom at the castle was tidy, all traces of the flowers and candles gone. The fireplaces had been swept, and new fires were already burning.
“When did all of this happen?” Clelia asked.
“The same company that takes care of your cottage is managing the castle.”
“A cleaning company that provides clothes?” She flicked through the new dresses in the armoire.
“It’s more like a house managing service.” Taking her hand, he brushed his thumb over her wedding band. “You may want to take over the arrangements, seeing that you’re the lady of the
