“Very well.” He stiffened even as she did. “But we both know certain things can’t be forgotten.”

“Mistakes can,” she countered. “I’m here as an agent of the ISS to protect you and your family, to stop Deboque’s plans to ruin Cordina and avoid the repercussions in Europe. Whatever has to be done to assure that, I’ll do, but I will not let you humiliate me again.” The tears started again, blinding her. “Oh, damn you, can’t you leave me alone? Wasn’t last night enough retribution for you?”

That snapped the very tenuous control he had on his own temper. He grabbed her arm, closing his fingers over the firm muscle. “Is that all it meant to you? Retribution? Can you stand here now and tell me you felt nothing, feel nothing? How accomplished a liar are you?”

“It doesn’t matter what I felt. You wanted to punish me, and you did.”

“I wanted to love you, and I did.”

“Stop.” That hurt, more than she was able to stand. She pushed him away only to be caught closer. The movement sent wisteria blossoms raining. “Do you think I couldn’t see how much you hated me? You looked at me and made me feel vile. For ten years I’ve been proud of what I do, and you took even that away from me.”

“And what of you?” He kept his voice low, but the anger was just as potent. “Can you tell me you didn’t know I was in love with you?” She started to shake her head in denial, but he tightened his fingers. “You knew I was in love with a woman who didn’t even exist. A quiet, shy and honest woman to whom I only wanted to show tenderness and patience. For the first time in my life there was a woman I could give my heart and my trust to, and she was nothing but a mirage.”

“I don’t believe you.” But she wanted to and her heart began to race. “You were restless, even bored. I entertained you.”

“I loved you.” He lifted his hand and held her face very still, very close. She saw his eyes as she had the night before, tawny with passion. “You’ll have to live with that.”

“Bennett—”

“And when I came to your room last night, I found another woman, one who had lied and used me.” He dragged the hand up, raking through her hair so that pins scattered. “One who looked like a witch,” he murmured as her hair fell heavily over his hands. “And I wanted her just as badly, but without those tender, those sweet feelings. God help me, I still want her.”