thing he now knew about his birth was bound to come out, especially with a blackmailer poised to spread the secret like a fire through Society. When that happened, his entire world would fall apartâ¦and Anneâs, as well.
But if he kept her in the dark, if she had no idea of what he knew, then she could easily claim her innocence in the matter and be believed. When she was seen as a victim, not a conspirator, Society would pity her for her bad luck in a husband.
Of course they would separate. He would grant her a home of her own in London and they would move on as if the marriage had never occurred. Once that was done, Anne had enough friends and a powerful enough family that she might be able to weather the storm and even find acceptance again one day.It would be a long road, but one that could lead to a better life for her.
But only if he did not allow her to become a partner in his scandal. Rhys would be destroyed one way or another by the time this situation was resolved, but if he could protect Anne even in the smallest way, he would.
She reached up and with one trembling hand cupped his cheek. He stared down at her, wanting her with a power so strong that it was almost frightening, especially when coupled with the fact that he had just decided they couldnât be together.
âPlease say something, Rhys,â she whispered. âPlease.â
He swallowed hard. What he was about to do would be seen by her as cruelty, but he meant it as kindness. This was the only way, even if it would be difficult.
âI-I donât want you, Anne. I donât want to be married to you.â
She blinked, those green-blue eyes widening with shock and dilating with hurt. She stared at him for a long moment, utterly silent as her face crumpled. He hated himself for doing it, for crushing her in such a way, but it was for the best, it was the right thing to do, it wasâ¦
Before he could finish the thought, Anne yanked her hand back and slapped him.
âHow dare you?â she said, her voice nothing more than a low whisper. âHow dare you speak to me like that?â
He nodded as the sting in his cheek faded. He deserved her anger, and perhaps now she would go. Except, God, how he didnât want that. He had never seen her eyes so alive, so sparkling. He had never seen her skin so flushed. He wanted to breathe that in, fill himself with it and with her.
âAnneââ he said, hoping to regain some purchase on the situation.
Instead of answering, she lifted her hand and swung a second time, but this time he caught her wrist and tugged her against him to keep her from striking him. She tried to free herself with an admirable struggle, but he held fast, keeping her wiggling body firmly against his bare chest.
When she realized it was hopeless, she stopped fighting. In that moment, with her in his arms, with her face upturned, her breath coming shortâ¦he didnât care about all the reasons he had for her to go. He just wanted one taste.
He didnât realize he was moving in to kiss her until their mouths met. And it wasnât a chaste, shy, welcoming kiss, either. No, it immediately explodedinto an openmouthed, panting, warring kiss. His arms came around her body, her hands clenching against his skin as she lifted up on her tiptoes to get closer.
Her body was so damned soft in his arms. Before when he made love to her, when he claimed her as his bride, he had tried to focus on other things when he touched her, to disconnect some part of his mind and prevent his emotions and desires from raging out of control.
But nowâ¦now he was incapable of such a thing. He was too raw for control, and so he felt every inch of his wife and reveled in every arch of her back and sigh from her lips.
He delved deeper, fisting her hair in his fingers and tilting her head back so he could angle his mouth more firmly over hers. He sucked her tongue, he tasted her breath, he crushed her against him,
But if he kept her in the dark, if she had no idea of what he knew, then she could easily claim her innocence in the matter and be believed. When she was seen as a victim, not a conspirator, Society would pity her for her bad luck in a husband.
Of course they would separate. He would grant her a home of her own in London and they would move on as if the marriage had never occurred. Once that was done, Anne had enough friends and a powerful enough family that she might be able to weather the storm and even find acceptance again one day.It would be a long road, but one that could lead to a better life for her.
But only if he did not allow her to become a partner in his scandal. Rhys would be destroyed one way or another by the time this situation was resolved, but if he could protect Anne even in the smallest way, he would.
She reached up and with one trembling hand cupped his cheek. He stared down at her, wanting her with a power so strong that it was almost frightening, especially when coupled with the fact that he had just decided they couldnât be together.
âPlease say something, Rhys,â she whispered. âPlease.â
He swallowed hard. What he was about to do would be seen by her as cruelty, but he meant it as kindness. This was the only way, even if it would be difficult.
âI-I donât want you, Anne. I donât want to be married to you.â
She blinked, those green-blue eyes widening with shock and dilating with hurt. She stared at him for a long moment, utterly silent as her face crumpled. He hated himself for doing it, for crushing her in such a way, but it was for the best, it was the right thing to do, it wasâ¦
Before he could finish the thought, Anne yanked her hand back and slapped him.
âHow dare you?â she said, her voice nothing more than a low whisper. âHow dare you speak to me like that?â
He nodded as the sting in his cheek faded. He deserved her anger, and perhaps now she would go. Except, God, how he didnât want that. He had never seen her eyes so alive, so sparkling. He had never seen her skin so flushed. He wanted to breathe that in, fill himself with it and with her.
âAnneââ he said, hoping to regain some purchase on the situation.
Instead of answering, she lifted her hand and swung a second time, but this time he caught her wrist and tugged her against him to keep her from striking him. She tried to free herself with an admirable struggle, but he held fast, keeping her wiggling body firmly against his bare chest.
When she realized it was hopeless, she stopped fighting. In that moment, with her in his arms, with her face upturned, her breath coming shortâ¦he didnât care about all the reasons he had for her to go. He just wanted one taste.
He didnât realize he was moving in to kiss her until their mouths met. And it wasnât a chaste, shy, welcoming kiss, either. No, it immediately explodedinto an openmouthed, panting, warring kiss. His arms came around her body, her hands clenching against his skin as she lifted up on her tiptoes to get closer.
Her body was so damned soft in his arms. Before when he made love to her, when he claimed her as his bride, he had tried to focus on other things when he touched her, to disconnect some part of his mind and prevent his emotions and desires from raging out of control.
But nowâ¦now he was incapable of such a thing. He was too raw for control, and so he felt every inch of his wife and reveled in every arch of her back and sigh from her lips.
He delved deeper, fisting her hair in his fingers and tilting her head back so he could angle his mouth more firmly over hers. He sucked her tongue, he tasted her breath, he crushed her against him,
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