'I ran into him at the condo. I left immediately. I didn't want to have anything to do with him. But he caught up to me.' Deborah's voice was barely audible over the hum of the engine.

'I ran back to the apartment. He followed me, forced his way inside, and then he...then he pinned me down on the sofa.' Her voice cracked.

Tears flowed down her cheeks and dripped onto the leather seat.

'I didn't want to. I told him no. But he was too strong. I couldn't...Austyn, do you think I'm dirty?'

There was a steely edge to his voice when he spoke. 'I'll make him pay for what he did to you.'

Deborah looked up.

'Rape is a felony. I'll make sure he gets the maximum sentence.

But that would mean a court case and public exposure.

Austyn could get a gag order, but there was no guarantee that Deborah's name wouldn't be leaked to the media.

Plus, she would have to show up for the trial.

She would be made the subject of gossip.

Austyn laid out everything for her.

He would have liked to see Liam locked up, and he had the means to make that happen.

She's Not Pressing Charges

But it was Deborah's choice whether she wanted to go through all that.

She listened in a daze.

Then she shook her head vehemently. 'No.'

'I'll make sure this stays out of the news. I'll ask for a closed-door trial. No one will know you're involved.

'No, it's not that.'

She clasped her hands together. 'I just don't want to have anything more to do with him. I never planned on meeting him when I came back. And I don't...I've taken a shower. There's no evidence even if I want to press charges. Austyn pursed his lips.

She touched the bruises on her arms. 'He's the second son of the McCarthy family. It will be the McCarthy brothers going up against each other. It's going to tum into a media circus.' 'I'm not going to let that happen, Austyn said in a firm voice.

'I know you can do that.' She gave him a wan smile. 'But even if the public won't know, your father will. I don't want him to know I'm back in Stamford. If he finds out I'm with you...' Spin to Claim Your Surprise Reward!

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They Can't Go Back; It's Over

Deborah grabbed Austyn's hand.

'Let's just forget about this. It's a nightmare, but it'll pass. I don't want to be forced to relive it, which is bound to happen if there's a trial."

She begged him with her eyes. 'Please, Austyn, I just want to stay with you. I don't want anyone to know I'm back'

Especially not Henry McCarthy.

Austyn looked blankly inscrutable.

Deborah held her breath.

After a long while, he nodded. 'Okay. It's your right to decide. If you say drop it, I'll drop it.'

Deborah threw herself into his arms. 'Austyn, thank you.'

His hands came to rest on her shoulders and went no further.

After a pause, he gently pushed her back. 'I just hope you've thought it through.'

'I have.'

Deborah left the warmth of his embrace reluctantly.

Austyn clearly cared about her.

He came running when she called.

He was furious when he learned what happened, yet he didn't pressure her into pressing charges.

But he kept her at arm's length.

His actions showed concern, but his body language was aloof.

Deborah had sensed this from day one of their reunion.

It didn't surprise her.

Austyn had always been like this.

He was the perfect gentleman back when they were dating.

Which meant he kept his hands to himself and never initiated amorous contact.

On the rare occasions they went out to dinner, he sat across from her instead of next to her.

His posture was ramrod straight, his face serious like he was attending a pre-mission briefing. Onlookers would have pegged them as a superior with his subordinate, not a couple. They'd been dating for over a year, but Austyn never went beyond first base.

The first time they ever got intimate was on her twentieth birthday.

She downed a bottle of red wine to give her courage.

Then she plied him with alcohol, enough to lower his inhibitions but not so much that he couldn't get it up.

She threw herself at him, said she loved him and practically dragged him into the bedroom.

Deborah was convinced that they'd never have slept together if she hadn't made the first move.

It was one of the reasons that drove her into Liam's arms.

Austyn was in his early twenties, an age that was supposed to be a man's sexual prime.

How could he not have any desire for her?

She was young, not bad-looking, with a figure that could turn a couple of heads on the street.

Why wouldn't Austyn want her?

Deborah lowered her eyes.

Austyn was sitting inches apart from her.

She could smell his cologne.

But he was acting in the sarne way as he did seven years ago-respectful, distant, disinterested.

She wondered about his wife.

Did Austyn have an interest in Kira Hewitt?

Or was it a sexless marriage?

Deborah couldn't control those thoughts.

She pictured Austyn in bed, not with his wife, but with her.

He'd left the army years ago but kept the same erect posture-chin up, chest out, shoulders back, stomach in

His resting face looked as solemn as ever, but also dependable.

They Can't By Back It's

He'd traded the crisp military uniform for a navy-blue Corneliani suit, but his pants still retained the knife-edge crease.

He was handsome at twenty, and irresistible at thirty.

If Liam hadn't tricked her, she would never have betrayed a man like Austyn.

Emotions welled up inside her chest.

Deborah could hold back no longer.

'Austyn!' She hugged him again.

A voice in her mind was egging her on.

She leaned in, her lips seeking his.

Austyn turned his face away.

Deborah's kiss landed on his left cheek.Text content © .

'What are you doing?' he asked.

His monotone jolted her back to reality.

'...'

Austyn pushed her hand away. 'Why did you do that?'

His penetrating gaze had an X-ray effect.

Deborah froze.

It was as if he could see through to her innermost, darkest thoughts.

She reached for his hand but he moved it away.

'You still can't forgive me, can you?' she sobbed.

His rejection cut her to the quick.

'What happened between me and Liam seven years ago...I can explain. Will you please give me a chance to explain?"

His face remained as expressionless as ever.

'And then what? So what if you explain?'

Deborah looked up at him in a daze. 'I...I want us to go back to the way it was.'

The inside of the Hummer fell into a sudden, suffocating silence.

Somewhere outside, a car honked.

'I told you,' Austyn said slowly, 'that I'm married."

The implication of his words was clear.

He was married; it was impossible for them to go back to the way it was.

'Besides,' he continued, as if one death sentence was not enough, 'even if I was still single, we can't go back. It's over between us a long time ago. It was over the moment you chose to be with Liam.' His voice was firm, unsentimental.

Deborah refused to believe he could be that cruel.

She gazed into his eyes.

Her raised voice reverberated inside the narrow confines of the car. 'What if I told you it wasn't my choice? I didn't want to be with Liam. I never wanted him. I wanted you! I still do. Will you believe me?'

He looked at her levelly. 'Are you telling me he forced himself on you every time you two had sex?'

Deborah's lips quivered.

She wanted to lie and say yes, but she knew Austyn could see through that in a heartbeat.

It hadn't been like that.

She slept with Liam willingly.

She carried on the affair of her own volition.

It was one of the happiest years of her life.

Liam showered her with attention and sweet words and made her feel like a real woman.

But then Austyn found out about them and broke off the engagement.

Deborah, conscience-stricken, wanted to end things with Liam.

She talked to him, but Liam refused to let her go.

The conversation ended with Liam tearing off her clothes.

He'd also torn off his mask.

We Can Be Friends, But Nothing More

Liam told Deborah that he was just using her to get to Austyn, that he would sleep with her as long as Austyn still had feelings for her.

She grew to be afraid of the man, of his savage side.

When he said he would hurt her if she dared leave him, she believed him.

He only stopped tormenting her when Austyn left Cedarwood Mansion and returned to the army base.

Regret ate away at her.

Deborah was trapped.

She wanted to run to Austyn for help but was ashamed to do so.

She spent sleepless nights weeping over her foolish decision.

Why had she ever thought Liam was the better choice?

Deborah raised her hand and slapped herself hard across the face.

'What are you doing?' Austyn grabbed her wrist as she was about to do it again.

She was sobbing and wheezing. 'I should've done this seven years ago. I was wrong to betray you, wrong to get involved with Liam. You were right to break up with

1. me. Austyn, I made a mistake, but I can change! I don't deserve your forgiveness, but at least allow me to still be a part of your life, please!'

She grasped his hand and moved it towards her face. 'I can take whatever punishment you give. Here, slap me. I deserve it. Just don't turn your back on me!'

Austyn drew back his hand.

He pressed his lips together and clenched his jaw.

'Please, Austyn! You can hate me, scold me, slap me, even kill me. Just don't turn away from me! Don't treat me like a stranger! I can't take it!'

Deborah clung to his arm, weeping.

'I don't care if you're married. I just want to stay with you. I don't care if others call me a mistress. I don't care if you go home to your wife every night, as long as you spare me just a modicum of your affection. I'm not asking for much, Austyn. Please, will you give me at least that?'

Austyn moved to pull back his arm, but she refused to let go.

'It's such an easy thing for you to do, Austyn. I'll stay in the apartment. I'll stay away from your wife. I'll be good. Please, just come and see me once in a while. An hour a day, or a week, I don't mind!'

Her tears drenched the cotton fabric of his shirt sleeve.

Austyn pried her fingers, one by one, off his arm.

He was dry-eyed and unmoved.

'You know I can't tolerate betrayal, but what happened was a long time ago. This thing between you and Liam-I forgive you.'

Deborah's eyes lit up. 'Austyn! I-'

'But as for your proposal to be with me, I'm sorry, I can't agree to that.'

The joyful smile froze on her face.