Free Awakening Amelia by Kate Pearce Page A

he really here? He wore a dark brown coat, new buckskin breeches and a black waistcoat. His boots looked new, too. “How nice to see you.”
    She’d wanted him to come back so badly, and now that he was here, she wished he hadn’t come. She was ashamed of her inconvenient lust for a man who needed nothing more than her calm acceptance and support. The last thing she needed was to try to explain why he could no longer stay under her roof.
    Not even her roof. Matthew hadn’t thought to alter his will and had left everything to his favorite aunt.
    Removing his hat, Marco set it down on the table and bowed to her.
    “You look very well, Mrs. Smith.”
    “Thank you.” She gestured at his clothing. “You look like a different man.”
    His disarming smile swept across his face. “Actually, I believe I am the man I was.”
    “They recognized you?” She clasped her hands to her bosom. “You have discovered your identity?”
    “Some of it.” He cleared his throat. “May I sit down?”
    “Of course. Would you like some tea?”
    “No, thank you. I don’t wish to put you to any bother, I just wanted to explain.”
    “That’s very kind of you.” She sat opposite him at the table and smiled encouragingly.
    “My name isn’t actually Marco, but Marcus. I was a major in the Forty-eighth Foot.”
    “Which makes perfect sense.” She nodded. “Did you find your family?”
    “I believe I know who they are. I intend to visit them fairly shortly. They aren’t currently in London.”
    She reached across the table to take his hand. “I am so very pleased for you.”
    He brought her fingers to his lips and kissed them. “You saved my life, Mrs. Smith. You gave me a future. How can I ever repay you for that?”
    The tears she’d managed to stifle earlier rose again and she had to blink hard. “You owe me nothing. I did what any Christian woman would do.”
    He kept hold of her hand. “I’ve read my Bible, Mrs. Smith, and we both know that there aren’t many good Samaritans in this world. How can I repay you?”
    A thousand words crowded her mouth, and she fought them all back. She would not ask him to help her financially. She would not.
    “Take me to bed.” She blurted the words out before she even realized her intent.
    He went still, his blue gaze inscrutable.
    “I cannot do that and walk away from you again. And I cannot stay.”
    “When are you leaving?”
    “In the morning.” He hesitated. “I just wanted to see you and tell you that I have rediscovered myself.”
    “You said that you couldn’t have me when you didn’t know who you were or when you had nothing to offer me. What about now?” Amelia stood and walked around the table to stand in front of him. She let her shawl drop to the floor, leaving her clad in only her nightgown. His gaze fell to the shape of her body outlined by the fire behind her. He swallowed hard and looked up at her.
    “I can’t stay, Amelia.”
    “I know.” She bent her head and kissed him gently on the mouth. “I don’t want you to stay. I just want this night with you.”
    If everything was to end, didn’t she deserve one selfish memory to take into her new life with her? Matthew would never begrudge her that. Marcus muttered a curse, and she kissed him again, opening his mouth with hers until he kissed her back, his hand coming to rest on the nape of her neck, holding her close.
    “Are you quite certain?” he whispered against her lips. “Because I want you very badly, but, God, I don’t want to hurt you.”
    “You will be giving me a gift.” She smiled into his concerned eyes. “And I will treasure it for always.”
    He kissed her with all the ferocity of a starving man. She responded with the same need as he drew her between his knees, wrapping one hand firmly around her hips.
    “Take me to bed,” she murmured between kisses. This time she meant every word.
    “If you wish.” He stood, his hands still tangled in her hair, their mouths fused together, and