Chapter 82

“And stop goading me," he told her softly, giving her a little shake when she opened her mouth to deny his accusations, his fierce, "Oh yes, you are, and you know you are, damn you," suspending the words before they were uttered. His whole face changed, the rage she could see clearly delineated in the look he gave her frightening her into silence.

"What is it that makes you resent me so much?" he asked. “Haven't I done enough to make it up to you?”

She lowered her lashes instinctively, but his fingers caught her chin, their pressure hard and determined as he forced it upwards until he could look into her eyes. It was impossible to breathe, her whole body was caught in the grip of a tension so encompassing that she couldn't move.

He was watching her, waiting for her to make a slip. Forcing herself to relax, she searched feverishly for the right flippant response, but she could think of none at the moment.

“I don't resent you, Cedric,” she said instead, and