Doomsday Brethren, Book 04: Entice Me at Twilight Read Online Free PDF Page A

you felt this way?”
    He hesitated, heaved a reluctant sigh. “Almost from the beginning. I-I wanted to give you plenty of time and space to truly know me, be certain I would never hurt you, before—”
    “You think learning that you kept your feelings from me for years doesn’t hurt?” Betrayal and panic overwhelmed her. Her one safe haven had become the very thing she feared most.
    What the devil was she supposed to do, now as a houseful of wedding guests awaited them?
    He inched forward, cupped her cheeks. Shoving against his chest, Felicia backed away. “Don’t. Just … don’t.”
    “You’re panicking, and there’s no need. This is
me
! You know everything about me, from my favorite songs to the sorts of socks I prefer.”
    Yes, she had known everything about Mason … except what was in his heart. The fact that he’d spring this on her now made her wonder how much he really understood her or respected the agreement they’d made.
    Most women would be thrilled with his sudden revelation, but it terrified Felicia. She didn’t need a psychologist to understand why an orphan would crave a family of her own. She’d wanted one, provided she didn’t have to risk her heart. Now? She clenched her fists, dread coiling in her heart.
    As she tried to grapple with a world gone topsy-turvy, Mason grabbed her and pressed a quick kiss to her lips, startling her all over again.
    She pulled away. “Don’t do this.”
    “I thought I could keep my feelings to myself, but …” With a solemn stare, he shook his head. “I want all of you, not just the parts you’re willing to share. I’m sorry I’m changing everything we agreed to, but with time, I know you’ll love me back.”
    “Mason, I don’t think I’m capable of reciprocating and I don’t want to hurt you.”
    “You
are
capable. In time, you’ll see I’m right.” His expression softened, imploring her—something his adversariesin court never saw. “The ceremony starts in a few minutes. Please be there with a smile. Everything will work out, I promise. At the stroke of midnight, we’ll start a new year and our new lives together.”
    He pressed a soft kiss to her cheek and left the room. Felicia watched him, anger and fear tangling inside her. For weeks now a voice had been niggling in the back of her head, asking her if marrying Mason was a mistake, and she’d been denying it. He was a wonderful man, would make the most attentive of fathers. They wanted the same things. How could they lose, right? They’d agreed that love wouldn’t enter into the equation. But now …
    What if she ended up hurting her best friend?
    Felicia swallowed. That was the last thing she wanted to happen. What the devil should she do to prevent it? Backing out now would pain him. But if she married him to spare him, would he wake up one day, after they’d had a child or two, and realize his love would always be unrequited? How much more would that hurt?
    Her first instinct was to break the engagement, but Mason was the first person with whom she shared any accomplishment or problem. The one who told her—before anyone else—of his triumphs and disappointments. Mason’s voice was the one she most looked forward to hearing each morning, and the one she needed to hear when nightmares of Deirdre plagued her. If she broke the engagement, and broke his heart, would he ever speak to her again? What would they do without each other?
    Her stomach seemed to drop to her toes. She either had to accept his feelings or call off the wedding—and she must decide quickly.
    Before she could puzzle it out, Mason spoke in the hallway outside her bedroom. “Hello, Mother.”
    “Mason!” the Dowager Duchess of Hurstgrove and Felicia’s future mother-in-law exclaimed, shocked. “Were you—” she sputtered. “Did you see Felicia before the ceremony?”
    “I did, and she looks lovely. Did you need something?”
    His voice made a hundred emotions collide inside Felicia.
    Resisting the