When Keanne turned to leave, long fingers wrapped around her wrist from behind, and she saw Jason’s eyes drifting open. “Jason?”
Alcohol did not make his voice slur. Rather, it only made his voice naked, and her heart hurt as he half-pleaded, “Don’t go.”
It shattered her to see such a proud man broken once again, and Keanne flew back to his side, falling to her knees next to Jason’s vast bed. She brought his hand to her badly trembling lips, which were preventing her from speaking.
He repeated more fiercely, “Don’t go.”
She closed her eyes. “No, I won’t.” Of course she would not. She never would – for as long as Jason wanted her with him.
“Stay.” This time, he sounded frantic.
“I will.” But the anxiety darkening Jason’s gaze did not lessen. At a loss as to what to do, Keanne let her instincts guide her. She rose on her knees and leaned close to press a kiss on his forehead. “I won’t ever leave, Jason,” she whispered. “So please rest.”
Gradually, Jason calmed down. And when she started to stroke his hair, murmuring to him in French, his eyes slowly drooped.
He slept, and she slept too.
It was morning when she woke, but it was her aching back that brought Keanne out of her slumber rather than the warm rays of sunlight crawling into the room from the edges of the balcony’s curtain-covered doors.
Rubbing her eyes, the first thing she saw was Jason’s peacefully sleeping face. Without a frown or even a seductive smile on his lips, he looked much younger and peaceful, a sun god that had yet to rise.
Shakily, Keanne reached out to stroke one beautifully carved cheek, the skin silky soft over the hard panes of his cheekbones. She expected him to stir at her touch, but he did not and for some reason her heart sped up at that.
She had the strangest and strongest urge to trace his lips, but she couldn’t draw up enough courage to do it. So instead, Keanne indulged in a sillier urge, one that was as strong as the other but just as dangerous – perhaps even more so.
She whispered, “I love you.”
Jason’s eyes shot open.
Keanne ceased to breathe, unable to fathom how her world had changed in that one second she had succumbed to her weakness.
His piercing blue eyes arrested Keanne in place, its vivid shade marred with not a single ounce of inebriation. And his voice, when he spoke, was distinctly clear and terrifyingly expressionless.
“What did you just say?”
Chapter Two
Without thinking, Keanne pressed her hands against Jason’s eyes, willing it to close and stay closed. Maybe he was still half-drunk, half-unconscious, and she could pass this off as a dream. “Sleep.”
He pushed her hand away. “Marie Keanne,” he growled.
Merde!
She was in for it now. Jason only used her complete name when she was in trouble – big trouble.
Keanne did the next best thing. Or at least she tried to, twisting to run away, but Jason being Jason – he had her in his grip in a second and pulled her back. She fell on top of the bed and as Keanne scrambled to a sitting position, so did Jason, pushing himself up without letting her go.
The sleep-tousled hair, blazing blue eyes, and naked chest were a terrible combination for her lungs, which felt like they were about to explode for some reason.
I love you.
Merde, merde, merde.
How could she have let those stupid words slip past her lips?
“Look at me, ma petite.” His voice was gentle.
Oh no, she would not. Keanne shook her head.
Jason said again, in a harder voice, “Look at me.”
It was the sun god talking, and the sun god she couldn’t help but obey because she owed him everything. Reluctantly, Keanne twisted her head to face Jason. His beautiful face was still expressionless, but his gaze was ruthless and it made her wince.
“What did you say?”
“Well,” she stalled.
“Did I hear you say you love me?”
He spoke it dispassionately, but because she knew Jason inside and out, she knew it meant that he felt strongly – too strongly about the words.
“Answer me.”
She jumped at the harshness of his tone. Trying for a breezy tone, she said, “I said I like you---”
“Last time, ma petite. Did you say you love me?”
Again, it was the sun god who spoke, and again she could not lie. One just did not lie to the sun because it would be like inviting a curse of endlessly dark days.
Swallowing, Keanne whispered, “Yes.”
A look of shock fell over Jason’s face as he said hoarsely, “You fucking did?”
Merde! He hadn’t been sure? She should have just lied to the sun, dammit. Clearing her throat, Keanne began, “Actually---”