“No!” she burst out. “I'm not like that. You know I'm not like that.”

His only reply was a chuckle, and Victoria felt his laugh directly on her skin.

“Oh, my God,” she breathed, wrenching herself out of his grasp. “You thought…You thought…”

He crossed his arms and looked down at her, the very picture of urbane elegance. “What did I think, Victoria? You tell me.”

“You thought I wanted your money. That I was an adventuress.”

He made no movement except for an arching of his right brow.

“You…You…” Seven years of anger exploded within Victoria, and she launched herself at him, pummeling his chest with her fists. “How dare you think that? You monster! I hate you. I hate you.”

Robert raised his arms to fend off her unexpected attack, then neatly caught both her wrists in one hand. “It's a bit late to feign outrage, don't you think?”

“I never wanted your money,” she said hotly. “It never mattered to me.”

“Oh, come now, Victoria. Do you think I don't remember how you begged me to settle my differences with my father? You even said you wouldn't marry me unless I tried to mend the rift.”

“That was because—Oh, why am I even trying to explain myself to you?”

He moved his face very close to hers. “You are trying to explain yourself because you want to snare what you missed seven years ago. Me.”

“I am beginning to realize that you were never such a spectacular catch to begin with,” she ground out.

He laughed harshly. “Perhaps not. Which would explain your failure to show up for our elopement. But my money and title never lacked appeal.”

Victoria yanked her wrists from his grasp, surprised when he yielded so easily. She sat down on the bed, burying her face in her hands. The fragments of her life were beginning to fall into place. When she hadn't kept their assignation, he had assumed she had backed out of the marriage because his father had disinherited him. He had thought—Oh, God, how could he have thought that of her?

“You never knew me,” she whispered, as if only just realizing it. “You never really knew me.”

“I wanted to,” he said harshly. “Lord, how I wanted to. And God help me, I still do.”

There was no point in trying to explain the truth to him, she realized. The truth no longer mattered. He hadn't had any faith in her, and nothing could mend that breach. She wondered if he had ever trusted any woman.

“Contemplating your sins?” he drawled from across the room.

She lifted her head to face him, her eyes glinting oddly. “You're a cold man, Robert. And a lonely one, too, I'd wager.”

He stiffened. Her words cut to the quick, and they were startling in their accuracy. With blinding speed he moved to her side, his hands grasping at her shoulders. “I am what I am because of you.”

“No,” she said, shaking her head sadly. “You did this to yourself. If you had trusted me—”

“You never gave me a damn reason to,” he exploded.

She was trembling. “I gave you every reason,” she replied. “You just chose to ignore them.”

Disgusted, Robert pushed himself away from her. She was comporting herself like some kind of noble victim, and he didn't have patience with such hypocrisy. Especially when every fiber of his being was screaming with desire for her.

That was what appalled him the most. He was every bit as big a hypocrite. Wanting her so badly. Wanting Victoria, of all people, the one woman he should have had enough sense to avoid like the plague.

But he was learning that this need was something he just couldn't control. And hell, why should he have to? She wanted him every bit as much as he wanted her. It was right there in her eyes every time she looked at him. He said her name, his voice husky with promise and desire.

Victoria stood up and walked to the window. She leaned her face against the glass, not trusting herself to look at him. Somehow, the knowledge that he had never trusted her hurt more than when she thought he was only out to seduce her.

He said her name again, and this time she could tell he was very close. Close enough for her to feel his breath on her neck.

He turned her around so she was facing him. His eyes burned blue flame to the very depths of her soul, and Victoria was mesmerized.

“I'm going to kiss you now,” he said slowly, his words punctuated by ragged breathing. “I'm going to kiss you, and I'm not going to stop. Do you understand?”

She didn't move.

“Once my lips touch yours…”

His words sounded vaguely like a warning, but Victoria could not make herself heed it. She felt warm—hot, really, and yet she shivered. Her thoughts were racing at lightning speed, but her mind was somehow a total blank. Everything about her was in contradiction, and that was probably why she suddenly thought that kissing him might actually not be such a terrible idea.

A taste of yesterday—that was all she wanted. Just a taste of what might have been. What could have been. What should have been.

She swayed forward, and that was all the invitation he needed. He crushed her to him in a stunning embrace, his lips devouring hers. She could feel his arousal pressing against her, and it was utterly thrilling. He might be a rake and a philanderer, but she couldn't believe he had ever wanted a woman the way he wanted her this very minute.

Victoria felt like the most powerful woman on earth. It was a heady sensation, and she arched herself against him, shuddering as her breasts flattened against his chest.

“I need more.” He moaned, his hands grasping frantically at her backside. “I need it all.”