"What's the matter, afraid he can't handle it?" Fabian glanced at him. He wasn't as restless as his friend. Leaning against the trunk of the tree, he folded his arms in front of him.

Demetrius shook his head. "It isn't that," he said, pulling his sword out of the dirt. "He's headstrong. Not to mention, overconfident." He swung the blade a few more times. "It's an unfavorable combination," he added.

"Does that remind you of anyone?" Fabian teased.

"I'll admit I was arrogant at times, but I could always smell defeat. I was never quite as impulsive." Demetrius smiled sheepishly. He hadn't forgotten the times Fabian had rescued him before he met his demise. "Nicholas, well, he thinks he's invincible." He grew serious. "And Ayden's too trusting. He isn't perceptive of debauchery as his brothers. Then there's Lucian." He paused and laughed with subservient pride. "How righteous he is. But at times, he's impetuous, yet blameless. Especially, when he believes it's unjust. He surprises you."

"They've matured since I last saw them," Fabian said with an affable chuckle. "They'll be all right, Demetrius."

The duke gave a feeble smile as he returned his steel to the scabbard. It was exhausting, being a sentry at his age, but he had to continue for the sake of his sons.

"You didn't give me a chance to offer an explanation," he said quietly. "I need to make something clear to you."

I looked at him, unable to speak.

"The other day, I meant to say that I won't marry you because I have to, but because I want to." He reached out and took me into his arms. "Lillian Pharaohs, will you marry me?" he asked softly.

"Are you trying to mock me?" I scowled at him. "You haven't humiliated me enough?"

"If the choice was mine, it would be the same." He looked into my eyes. "And say yes, because you love me, not because you have to. Let it be our decision."

I stared at him, confused. Was he proposing to me?

He didn't wait for a response. Pressing his lips against mine, he kissed me ardently. His kiss was sensual, and when he released me, I looked at him, finally understanding what he meant to say. Had I not argued with my mother and father for the same reason? Did I not tell them I wouldn't marry him out of obligation?

"Lily," he called softly to me.

The sound of his voice seized my soul, and I suddenly wanted him to love me.

""Do you play?" he asked.

She touched the keys and pressed lightly on them. "A little." Her fingers spread out naturally and she closed her eyes as the instrument echoed softly.

Demetrius recognized the composition and brought his arm around her so that his fingers rested above hers, gliding them along as she played. Then she suddenly paused and turned to look at him. How confused and lost she looked, but not anymore than he was. Their attraction grew stronger each time they encountered and no matter the dilemma making them take opposition, the animosity couldn't subdue the burning in their hearts.

He leaned forward to kiss her when she turned her head downward. Caressing her chin, he raised it so that their lips lightly touched. Then he slowly brought his mouth to hers, prolonging the intense throb in her heart. The softness of her lips lured him in and he pulled her closer. He kissed her softly at first and when he found her tongue, his kiss intensified. Jen wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him back harder. Then they withdrew and looked into each other's eyes without an understanding of where they were leading themselves."

""And what does love mean to you?"
Catherine thought a moment before answering.
"It is when you are standing beside him and your heart stops beating altogether. It is when the simplest word from his lips seizes your soul and you dare not breathe for fear that a simple breath will send him away, and for a brief moment he is able to make time stand still with his mere presence.""

After Catherine Forsythe, the daughter of a powerful marquis, is compelled to marry Lord Lucas "Luke" Anton, she decides to run away before the marriage can take place. It's not long before Luke captures her and makes her his wife. But Catherine is not so easily conquered and longs to experience true love. She soon embarks on a daring journey that lures her away from her husband and into the arms of a mysterious lover named Caleb.

Tensions rise as Caleb's true identity is revealed. Catherine now faces a new dilemma, as evidence of treason surfaces against her husband. Luke's life hangs in the balance when he is suspected of murdering Lord McKnight, a man who is investigating Luke's suspicious connections. Now that Luke needs her love more than ever, will Catherine be able to offer him her heart?

"Running back into the room, Mrs. Drake threw whatever else would fit into the trunk. Herlina stood in astonishment, unable to speak as she watched her mother lug it toward the stairs and push it down the steps. She heard it clinking until it landed at the bottom with a loud thump.

Following Mrs. Drake to her own room, Herlina watched as she did the same with another trunk. She wasn't thinking anymore. Taking hold of everything within her reach, she quickly packed them. Not worrying about the personal things, she left behind all her powders and perfumes. Grabbing the little trinkets sitting atop her night table, she tossed them in all at once, causing them to clank and one of them broke, but she didn't stop. She opened her jewelry boxes and dumped the contents into the trunk before slamming it shut. Then pulling it to the stairs, she gave it a good push and sent it flying down the steps like the first. Mr. Drake appeared and removed them just as quickly.

Mrs. Drake was halfway down the stairs when she turned back to Herlina, "Come," she said, and she held out her hand. "We've got to go now."

Not understanding what was happening, Herlina stood in tears. "What's happening?" she cried. "Why won't you tell me?""

"You didn't give me a chance to offer an explanation," he said quietly. "I need to make something clear to you."

I looked at him, unable to speak.

"The other day, I meant to say that I won't marry you because I have to, but because I want to." He reached out and took me into his arms. "Lillian Pharaohs, will you marry me?" he asked softly.

"Are you trying to mock me?" I scowled at him. "You haven't humiliated me enough?"

"If the choice was mine, it would be the same." He looked into my eyes. "And say yes, because you love me, not because you have to. Let it be our decision."

I stared at him, confused. Was he proposing to me?

He didn't wait for a response. Pressing his lips against mine, he kissed me ardently. His kiss was sensual, and when he released me, I looked at him, finally understanding what he meant to say. Had I not argued with my mother and father for the same reason? Did I not tell them I wouldn't marry him out of obligation?

"Lily," he called softly to me.

The sound of his voice seized my soul, and I suddenly wanted him to love me.

""Do you play?" he asked.

She touched the keys and pressed lightly on them. "A little." Her fingers spread out naturally and she closed her eyes as the instrument echoed softly.

Demetrius recognized the composition and brought his arm around her so that his fingers rested above hers, gliding them along as she played. Then she suddenly paused and turned to look at him. How confused and lost she looked, but not anymore than he was. Their attraction grew stronger each time they encountered and no matter the dilemma making them take opposition, the animosity couldn't subdue the burning in their hearts.

He leaned forward to kiss her when she turned her head downward. Caressing her chin, he raised it so that their lips lightly touched. Then he slowly brought his mouth to hers, prolonging the intense throb in her heart. The softness of her lips lured him in and he pulled her closer. He kissed her softly at first and when he found her tongue, his kiss intensified. Jen wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him back harder. Then they withdrew and looked into each other's eyes without an understanding of where they were leading themselves."

"What's the matter, afraid he can't handle it?" Fabian glanced at him. He wasn't as restless as his friend. Leaning against the trunk of the tree, he folded his arms in front of him.

Demetrius shook his head. "It isn't that," he said, pulling his sword out of the dirt. "He's headstrong. Not to mention, overconfident." He swung the blade a few more times. "It's an unfavorable combination," he added.

"Does that remind you of anyone?" Fabian teased.

"I'll admit I was arrogant at times, but I could always smell defeat. I was never quite as impulsive." Demetrius smiled sheepishly. He hadn't forgotten the times Fabian had rescued him before he met his demise. "Nicholas, well, he thinks he's invincible." He grew serious. "And Ayden's too trusting. He isn't perceptive of debauchery as his brothers. Then there's Lucian." He paused and laughed with subservient pride. "How righteous he is. But at times, he's impetuous, yet blameless. Especially, when he believes it's unjust. He surprises you."

"They've matured since I last saw them," Fabian said with an affable chuckle. "They'll be all right, Demetrius."

The duke gave a feeble smile as he returned his steel to the scabbard. It was exhausting, being a sentry at his age, but he had to continue for the sake of his sons.

"Running back into the room, Mrs. Drake threw whatever else would fit into the trunk. Herlina stood in astonishment, unable to speak as she watched her mother lug it toward the stairs and push it down the steps. She heard it clinking until it landed at the bottom with a loud thump.

Following Mrs. Drake to her own room, Herlina watched as she did the same with another trunk. She wasn't thinking anymore. Taking hold of everything within her reach, she quickly packed them. Not worrying about the personal things, she left behind all her powders and perfumes. Grabbing the little trinkets sitting atop her night table, she tossed them in all at once, causing them to clank and one of them broke, but she didn't stop. She opened her jewelry boxes and dumped the contents into the trunk before slamming it shut. Then pulling it to the stairs, she gave it a good push and sent it flying down the steps like the first. Mr. Drake appeared and removed them just as quickly.

Mrs. Drake was halfway down the stairs when she turned back to Herlina, "Come," she said, and she held out her hand. "We've got to go now."

Not understanding what was happening, Herlina stood in tears. "What's happening?" she cried. "Why won't you tell me?""

""And what does love mean to you?"
Catherine thought a moment before answering.
"It is when you are standing beside him and your heart stops beating altogether. It is when the simplest word from his lips seizes your soul and you dare not breathe for fear that a simple breath will send him away, and for a brief moment he is able to make time stand still with his mere presence.""

After Catherine Forsythe, the daughter of a powerful marquis, is compelled to marry Lord Lucas "Luke" Anton, she decides to run away before the marriage can take place. It's not long before Luke captures her and makes her his wife. But Catherine is not so easily conquered and longs to experience true love. She soon embarks on a daring journey that lures her away from her husband and into the arms of a mysterious lover named Caleb.

Tensions rise as Caleb's true identity is revealed. Catherine now faces a new dilemma, as evidence of treason surfaces against her husband. Luke's life hangs in the balance when he is suspected of murdering Lord McKnight, a man who is investigating Luke's suspicious connections. Now that Luke needs her love more than ever, will Catherine be able to offer him her heart?