It would break her heart to say good-bye to him, but she had no other choice. Whether she loved him or not didn’t matter.
Love.
Lord, she didn’t think she’d ever love again. She really didn’t think it was possible. Yet Burke had made her feel things long buried, not to mention new feelings that crept in and confused her even more.
She smiled and hugged herself. She so enjoyed making love with him. He was so very attentive and so gentle and so…
Her smile faded and her arms fell from around her. She couldn’t dwell on Burke, couldn’t even consider that she loved him. It would only make their parting more difficult.
“You forever try to run away from me.”
Storm startled and shook her head at Burke. “You should have warned me of your approach, and I don’t run from you. I seek solitude.”
“You run out of fear,” he argued.
“Fear of what?” she asked, and then thought it too late to retract her answer for she was sure of his response.
“Fear of my love, fear of being my wife.”
She threw her hands out in front of her. “This cannot be and I will not discuss it.”
“Why? Because it might make sense?” he asked and eased closer to her. “Because the very reason we enjoy making love is that we are in love?”
“There are more important matters to discuss,” she insisted, attempting to dissuade him.
“Nothing is more important than love,” he said adamantly. “Which means nothing is more important than you.”
“Your brother?”
“Would my brother put me before Alaina? I know he would not. His love for her would come first, and rightfully so.”
She held her hand in front of her to guard against him, or was she guarding against herself? Was she preventing her own feelings from surfacing?
“There is too much to presently consider. This must wait for another time,” she said.
“No! Why do you refuse to acknowledge what you feel?”
“You do not know what I feel,” she accused.
Burke stared speechless at her until finally he spoke. “How can you believe that, when every time we make love we feel each other’s need, each other’s love? It is there in our touch, in our kiss, and when we join. It cannot be denied, ignored, or dismissed. You will have to face it eventually. You love me, Storm, and you fight it. I, however, do not fight my love for you. I cherish it, embrace it, and welcome it. I love you, Storm, and there’s no changing it or denying it. I love you!”
“Don’t love me,” she shouted at him.
He laughed. “You can’t command my love.”
“It can never be,” she said, shaking her head.
“It is,” he said, reaching out and drawing her into his arms.
She didn’t have the strength or the will to fight him. For the moment, his arms seemed like the perfect place to be, for she knew they offered comfort and security, and she presently needed both.
She drifted gratefully into his embrace, and when he wrapped his strong arms around her, she near sighed with relief. She rested her head on his chest and listened to his steady heartbeat. It always reassured her, though she couldn’t say why. She only knew that the strong beat gave her strength and comfort.
She would allow herself this short reprieve before having to return as a leader. For now, she was simply a woman who cared deeply for a man. As far as love, she couldn’t consider that. She wouldn’t. It would only worsen matters.
It would only serve to break her heart—and his.
They remained in an embrace for several minutes until finally Storm realized that it could go on no more. The situation had to be faced, decisions finalized, and hopefully commands obeyed.
She eased out of his arms reluctantly and stepped away from him. “Tell me you will not go meet with the earl tomorrow.”
His hesitation warned her of his response and her body grew taut, prepared to battle.
“I must take the chance, even if it is a slim one, and meet with the earl.”
“And if I command you not to do this?” she asked with an ache in her heart, for she feared she knew the answer.
Burke shook his head. “You know I must do this. You know you would do the same in my place.”
“I’m not in your place. I lead this group, so the decisions are mine.”
“That’s right. The decisions are yours, which means you can respect my choice, even though you disagree, and allow me this.”
He had replied with respect to her position and asked the same of her. He could have simply told her he’d do what he wanted but he hadn’t. He left the decision to her as to whether this would cause a problem.
“I think you’re making a mistake, but—” She stared at him, concern for his safety welling up inside her and squeezing at her heart. “It is your mistake to make.”