“I can’t help myself.” His eyes took on a sharp glint. “Especially when you say my name.”
“That is not an answer that...”that a woman who also can’t help herself wants to hear...
“What answer were you hoping for,Selena. . .?”
Argh.I give up. She pressed the back of her palm against her forehead. “This conversation is making my head spin.”
“My head has been spinning for a while now,” Warrick responded in a low voice, and Selena had to will her body not to shudder. “I feel this sudden, absurdly strange attraction between us. I am uncertain what to do about it since you refuse to wed me.”
Dear God, Warrick confessed to feeling an attraction toward her. Her pulse leaped. Dear God, dear God, dear God. “I am not ready for marriage, so stow your attraction.”
“That might not be an option.”
“Marriage or stowing your attraction?”
A brow shot upward. “Do you think it’s something I can put back in a box? In my experience, ignoring a problem doesn’t make it go away. It only makes it grow bigger.”
He was right. And before she could think any better of it, she asked, “Then what do you suppose we do if we can’t ignore it?”
“Cut it off completely. That is the only way.”
Her brows furrowed. “How do you mean?” Surely not what it sounded like...
“We cut ties, Selena. At least temporary ties. You don’t wish to marry me, and I can’t make heads or tails about how I’m feeling. This is the best course of action.”
Ah. Exactly what it sounded like. “I see.”
His gaze narrowed. “You do not intend to make it easy for me to put distance between us, do you?”
“I’m not sure. So many things have happened these past few days, I am also a bit unnerved. When I said you should change the focus away from your curse, I didn’t mean it should be on me instead.” Familiar feelings of conflict rose within her, and the heat within her cooled.
He ran his finger along the spine of the book, an almost lazy action. “You’re the only other direction worth looking at.”
And then the heat started up again. “This is a rather bold style of flirting, my lord.”
“My lord?” Both his eyebrows shot up. “This must be the first time you’ve ever addressed me in such a formal fashion.”
“Is this not what you want?” Selena asked. “There are more ways than one to put distance between two people.”
He nodded thoughtfully. “Noted.”
“What exactly do you note?” Selena asked curiously.
“That distance can be achieved in many ways. My lady.”
“My lord, I must admit, this particular distance is quite novel. I might just lose my head again if we keep this up.”
He chuckled. “It takes a brave woman to admit that she loses control in the presence of a handsome man.”
She snorted. “What handsome man? This conversation has taken a turn.”
“Since it has taken a turn, why not lean into it?”
She snatched the book from him, that finger trailing up and down the spine of the book wholly distracting. “Are you punishing me for a stealing your duel?”
He titled his head a fraction, studying her with unsettling thoroughness. “I’m not the punishing sort.” He leaned back into the sofa. “However, I am curious. Do you wish to be ruined?”
She arched a brow at that. “Are you referring to my many reckless acts?” A shrug. “I never intentionally set out to ruin myself, so no. I do not wish it.”
