“Why?” she demanded, facing him once more. “Why should I live with such illusions? Isn’t it better to accept the reality of the choices before me? As far as I can see, I have two options: submitting to a loveless marriage or remaining a free woman of means at the expense of my reputation. I won’t bother asking what choice you would make if you were in the same position.” Lottie stopped and inhaled slowly, wrestling to maintain some control over her sharp tongue. “I know it won’t be the life I have known, but I welcome the challenge. Even the fear. All of it. And I would destroy my reputation a thousand times over again if it meant feeling the way I have these last few days…”

It would have been so easy to say weeks instead, but she let the words hang there in the darkness between them. Alec slowly leaned toward her until she could feel wisps of warm breath on her neck. Until his heat wrapped around her as tightly as his embrace. Lottie fought back against the urge to press against him. To feel his strength and weight surrounding her once again. But not now. Not yet.

She turned toward him until their faces were mere inches apart. His features were still hidden in the shadows, but she could feel his heavy gaze upon her. “Because it has been my choice,” she continued. “Can you understand that?”

Alec let out a long sigh, but before he could answer, the boat came to a rocking halt and the driver announced their arrival. “Quickly now,” he said, immediately moving toward the exit. As the boatman handed Lottie onto the dock, he gave Lottie a friendly wink. Alec then exchanged a few secretive words with him before joining her. She did not regret speaking so plainly to him, but there was still so much that remained unsaid, and she sensed that Alec would reveal the full truth only if necessary. Only if it was a matter of life or death.

Chapter Sixteen

Chapter Sixteen

It was well after midnight, and the streets were eerily quiet as Alec led her back to his home. They walked side by side, but at no point during the short walk did he move to touch her. What little intimacy they had uncovered minutes ago had vanished now that they weren’t inside the cabin’s comforting darkness. Instead, his sharp eyes were consumed with scanning their surroundings, while his countenance projected a formidable prowess that would ward off all but the most determined of troublemakers.