“I can do it.”
Caroline arched a brow at him while she started unbuttoning his shirt. “I am sure you are capable, but I thought you might enjoy this more.” She pulled the ends out from his breeches and started to push the soggy material off his shoulders, but he laid hold to both hands.
“What are you attempting to do?”
“I thought it obvious. I am undressing you.” Caroline smiled at him, although the wide expanse of his bare, hard chest was making it difficult to focus on his face. “But you will have to release my hands.”
He didn’t budge, but his eyes turned obsidian. “Why?”
Caroline returned his look. Perhaps she wasn’t that great at seduction, but the unspoken question that had hovered between them over these past weeks needed to be answered. She had to know if he truly wanted her or if he was only upholding his part of what started as a charade but had turned into something more, at least for her. She took a deep breath, deciding there was no point in being coy.
“I want you to make love to me.”
Stephan’s eyes widened. “There is nothing I would like more than to make love to you, Caroline, but I will not take advantage of you.”
She blinked. The first part of that statement was what she wanted to hear. The second part was not. “I do not think it is called ‘taking advantage’ when the woman throws herself at a man.”
“I appreciate the offer.” A little of his rigid resolve softened as he allowed his gaze to wander over her partially-open shirt and down to her legs before returning to her face. “You have no idea how very much I would like to follow through, but you are not yourself right now.”
“Who else would I be?”
“I meant you have been through a harrowing experience. You almost drowned.” Stephan smiled. “You are not thinking straight. You are exhausted from your efforts to save yourself.”
“You were the one to save me.”
Stephan nodded. “And it is natural to feel infinite gratitude to such a person. Remember those boys I pulled out of the water? They thought I was some kind of blasted hero.”
“You were,” Caroline replied. “Everyone thought so. Even the vigilant mamas gave their daughters permission to flirt with you.”
“My point exactly.” Stephan grimaced. “I had been totally unacceptable before that incident. Saving those lads did not change who I was, but Society reacted to it. That is what you are doing, Caroline. Simply reacting or…” He hesitated and dropped her hands. “…perhaps you are offering me your body as some kind of payment. Either way, you will regret this tomorrow when your thinking clears.”
“I will not regret it.” Caroline frowned as a thought struck her and she stepped back. “But what is perfectly clear is that you are saying ‘no’. I do recognize rejection when I hear it.”
“I am not rejecting you.”
“No? It certainly sounds like it.”
“Rejection is a harsh word. I meant—”
“I understand what you meant, regardless of what word you use. It does not matter.” Caroline lifted her chin and hoped it didn’t quiver. “But if you will excuse me, I would like a blanket to wrap up in.” With all the dignity she could muster, clad only in a shirt—hisshirt, no less—Caroline turned toward the bow of the boat.
Stephan grabbed her arm and spun her around. “Itmatters,” he growled, “and I do not want you wrapped in some damned blanket. I want you naked.”
Caroline stood still, trying to ignore the thrill that shot through her at his words. “You have a rather strange way of making that intention clear.”
Stephan shook his head. “Just because Iwantto strip that shirt off you right now, does not mean Ishoulddo it.”
Caroline felt a little of stiffness in her posture ease. Stephan’s tone had softened and the blatant desire on his face as his gaze traveled over her once more belied his words. She managed a small smile. “I thought rakes were supposed to be good at seduction. Playing difficult to get is supposed to be a woman’s ploy.”
“I am not playing at anything.” His eyes darkened to ebony. “If I were to take you, you would be mine. I would let no other man have you.”
Caroline’s blood heated at his words and then chilled.George. “There is something you should know.”
Stephan lifted a brow. “Like what?”
“I…” She swallowed hard. “I am no virgin.”
“I suspected that.” Stephan shrugged. “I am not, either.”
