Embrace the Night

Page 89



"I think you will. In time, my way of life will begin to feel like a prison, and when that time comes, I shall let you go."

She frowned at him, not understanding. "What do you mean?"

"I like to keep to myself. I don't care for large groups of people, for parties. I like to dine alone." He covered her hand with his. "Forgive me, Sara, I didn't mean to hurt you. I enjoyed this meal with you very much, but the truth remains that I prefer to dine alone. My life is set a certain way, and I find it difficult to change, even for you."

"I'm not asking you to change anything," she said petulantly.
"But you are. Don't you see?"

"No." She stood up and turned her back to him. "I think you're tired of me already, that you're just trying to find a polite way to tell me good-bye without hurting my feelings."

She whirled around to face him, and she looked so young, so vulnerable, he ached inside. Tears shimmered in the depths of her eyes and sparkled on her lashes.

"Is that it? Are you tired of me so soon?"

Rising, he closed the distance between them and took her hands in his. "No, cara, I'm not tired of you. Should we spend a thousand years together, I would never tire of you. Believe that." He lifted her hands to his lips and kissed first one and then the other. "Perhaps I should go."

"No!" She bit down on her lip, and he could see she was trying to gather her composure, her dignity. "I mean, I'd like for you to stay."

"If you wish."

"I don't mean to be a burden to you."

"That you could never be. Come now, dry your eyes."
Obediently, she wiped away her tears.

"What can I do to make you smile again?" he asked indulgently. "Shall I buy you a pretty new frock? A bauble of some kind? Your own opera house? Tell me, cara, what would you like?"

"For you to love me."

"I do love you, Sara," he replied fervently. "I love everything about you." "Show me?"

With a wordless cry, he swept her into his arms and lowered her to the floor. And there, on the colorful Persian rug in front of the hearth, he made love to her in such a way that she would never doubt his feelings for her again.