Page 94 of His Sinful Touch

“Sabrina, stop.” Alex grabbed her hands in his and pulled her to a halt. “Listen to me. None of that matters to me. You must know that. I’m a Moreland. I have never been conventional, and I never shall. I don’t care about your name or lineage, and I doubt very much you could make my family more scandalous than they already are.”

“But you said—”

“I said I don’t want to force you or maneuver you into marrying me because of what I said—or because of anything else. It’s not my choice—it’s yours. I don’t have a choice—I love you.”

She stood stock-still, gazing at him in surprise. “What?”

“I love you.” He looked at her quizzically. “Surely you must know that.”

“But you never said anything. You said I would be free to leave—and you didn’t even say you would be sorry to see me go!”

“I couldn’t take advantage of you, tie you to me when you were caught up in the emotion of the moment. Because you were grateful.”

“I’m not! I mean, well, of course I am grateful for all your help, but that isn’t why I love you!”

Alex’s heart seemed to roll at her words, and he had to fight for cool rationality. “You’re young—you have no experience with the world. You don’t know—”

“If you tell me I don’t know what I want, I shall scream.” Sabrina jerked her hands from his. “I don’t care if I won’t be twenty-one for another week. It doesn’t matter that I’ve lived a quiet life. I know perfectly well what I want. And what I want is you!” She crossed her arms and glared at him.

Alex began to laugh, then reached out and pulled her to him. “I think perhaps we are being extremely silly.”

Sabrina resisted for a moment, trying to keep up her glare, but she gave in and began to laugh, going into his arms. “You never told me.”

“You never told me,” he countered.

“How could I tell you my feelings when I didn’t know if you returned them?”

“Then let me make myself clear,” Alex said in a determined tone. “I love you. I loved you the moment I saw you. I have never felt with any woman what I feel for you. Without you I will never be whole again.”

“Oh, Alex.” Sabrina took his hands in hers, gazing up at him with eyes filled with love. “Don’t you see? We are already joined, you and I. When you were gone, you were still in here.” She laid her hand over her heart. “You will always be here. And I refuse to wait a few years just to suit appearances. You may be unwilling to push me, but I am not so delicate. Alexander Moreland, will you marry me?”

“Spoken like a true Moreland female.” Laughing, Alex picked up Sabrina and swung her around in a joyous circle. “Of course I will marry you.” He set her down and looked into her eyes. “I love you more than words can say...though I assure you I will say them all anyway.”

“And I love you.”

“Well, then...” His eyes gleamed devilishly. “I think it’s time we stopped talking. Don’t you?”

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