"I missed you," he rasped thickly when she didn't answer. "I missed you more than I ever missed anything before. Did you?" he repeated softly, causing her to blink and to lick her lips.
Belle had no idea what to reply. She did not want to admit that she had somehow missed his presence, as that would be going against her self-discipline and strict self-warning to never give in to his temptations. Thus, to be safe rather than sorry, she kept her mouth shut and only stared at him. She wasn't going to admit that to him nor to herself.
Admitting to missing his presence would be yet another step toward drowning in his temptation. She had built a strong resolve around her heart and was determined not to break it—or let her treacherous body betray her by falling into something she was never meant to feel.
