Page 37 of A Virgin for the Duke of Depravity (Ton’s Beasts #2)

Margaret turned back to face him, this time with her hands on her hips. She leaned toward him, stomping her right foot. The sound echoed through the cavernous library.

Leo could not believe the words she had said. He had been so careful to make it clear to her from the start that he could not love her. He did not want her to love him.

From the very beginning, when she stumbled into his book club, he made it clear to her that he was undeserving of love. He claimed her, but he tried to keep her at arm’s length so that this did not happen.

How had he failed?

He stood up and walked toward her slowly, giving her the chance to turn away from him. When he got close to her, she stared at him defiantly, daring him to respond.

“What did you just say?” he asked.

But she only looked at him. He knew for a fact what she had just said, even without having to hear it again.

Her silence was her answer.

“Repeat it,” he demanded, louder this time.

He knew he was yelling at her, but he could not stop himself. If she thought him beastly, perhaps it was for the best. She had confessed her love for him.

Maybe he could change her mind with his rude behavior.

“Oh, yes,” she said. “Didn’t you know? I’m in love with you, but you want nothing to do with me. And why is that, again?”

Leo did not say a single word. He did not move a muscle or let out the breath he had been holding this whole time.

His silence only pushed Margaret to continue, to build her case against him. She let out a breath that almost sounded like a choked laugh. One hand flew to her throat, as if she could hold in a ragged sob.

“You are too afraid that I am going to be like someone I have never met. But I am not your brother’s wife. I belong to you, as you told me countless times since I came here a week ago.”

“Margaret—”

She cut him off with a raised hand and a shake of the head. Leo knew instinctively that she needed to get this off her chest. He had the opportunity to share his pain, his past. It was only fair to allow her to do the same.

He took a step back from her and let her continue.

“Do you honestly think I would be able to hurt you, that I would be able to hurt those girls? All I ever want is to make you smile.”

“I know I haven’t made this easy—”Leo started.

He wanted to rebuff her argument. There was no question that she would never hurt the girls. Deep down, he knew that she would never hurt him either, but there was so much pain there.

Pain that she didn’t cause, he reminded himself.

She was winning him over, convincing him that he could be a different person.

“You think that I could ever belong to you without loving you first?” Margaret clapped her hands, as if letting him know that she had finished her speech. “This is a great way of thinking, husband.”

Leo felt the shock of her claim echo in his veins again.

When was the last time anyone wanted to spend time with him, apart from Aaron and Theresa? When was the last time someone went out of their way to make him smile?

Margaret loves me.

The words echoed in his mind deafeningly.

He knew he had to act quickly if he was going to persuade her. Before he could think too long and hard about the ripple effect this would have, he stepped between her and the door.

Margaret turned away from him, disgust written all over her face. He could not blame her for thinking that he was selfish. She had admitted to something honest and real, whereas he had hidden behind his past.

Leo took another step toward her, stepping in front of her, and he took her chin in his hand, pulling her gaze back to him. At the rough touch, Margaret finally paid him mind again. She lifted her face and pinned him with that penetrating gaze, the defiant look he loved so much.

“You do belong to me,” he whispered, leaning in as slowly as he could, giving her ample chance to step back from him. He held her lightly so as not to force the moment.

Tilting his head to the side, he brushed her nose with his own. A breath escaped her lips and landed on his. A small hitch in her breath was all the invitation he needed to press his lips to hers.

To his surprise and delight, Margaret did not push him back. He parted his lips and traced her bottom lip with his tongue, a sensual kiss that consumed all of his senses. She opened her mouth and met him in the middle.

She took his bottom lip between hers and nipped it, a rougher touch that mirrored his own. He brought his hands around the back of her head, cradling her and pulling her into him until they were as close as they could get.

Yet, merely kissing her like this was not enough.

She had confessed that she loved him, and all he offered was this kiss?

Leo kissed her until their breath came in unison. The longer his lips explored hers, the more ragged their breathing became. Slowly, he pulled back and pressed kisses to her cheeks to wipe away her tears. He moved to her jaw, her neck, down to her collarbone.

“Leo—”

“No, I think it is my turn to speak,” Leo said, pulling back from her reluctantly. “You have been honest with me, and it is time I returned the favor.”

Margaret waited with bated breath, hoping that her husband would finally open up to her. If he did not love her yet, she could live with that. They had known each other for such a short time.

Though she knew how she felt, he had a past they would have to overcome.

But she wanted to know that there was potential for a future where they could happily raise the girls together. A future where she could be happy and rest assured that her place was here at Devishire Mansion.

“I owe you a big apology,” Leo started, pinching the bridge of his nose as if it pained him to say the words aloud. “When you agreed to marry me, you knew I was a Beast, but you did not know how that happened. I should have been honest up front.”

Her heart sank, thinking that he was about to reiterate that he could not love her despite her love confession.

She took a deep breath and looked him in the eye. If he told her he did not love her, she would face it bravely.

“After everything that happened with my brother, how his love for his wife clouded his judgment, and how his wife’s betrayal ruined his life…

I was afraid that the same would happen to us.

That you would steal my heart and make me lose my sanity the first time you had a chance.

That I wouldn’t be able to tell what’s real and what’s not because of you.

That you would take away my power. That you would hurt the girls if you decided to betray my trust… ”

“I would never—”

“I know that,” he said, brushing his fingertips over her cheeks. “I was afraid, despite everything I have been through and all I have seen in the war. I came home a brave hero, but I have been living in fear.”

Margaret looked at him, startled by his confession. She did not think it possible for Leo to express anything other than confidence.

“I was afraid because I have never felt feelings this deep.”

Hesitantly, she took a step toward him so that she could wrap her arms around his neck and pull him closer to her. Margaret sensed that he might need support, that this was not easy for him to say.

“I am so sorry, Margaret,” he whispered into her neck. “You are my wife, but you deserve so much better than a coward. And that is exactly what I have been—cowardly in the face of love.”

She ran a hand through his hair, cradling his head against her neck.

“If you give me another chance, I will prove to you that I am worthy of your affections. Dear wife, I do love you, and I want you to belong to me in every sense of the word.”

He pulled back from her to look her in the eye.

Sensing that he was seeking her permission for what came next, she nodded. Of course, she wanted him. She wanted all of him.

That simple act was all he needed.

Leo’s lips were on hers in an instant. This was not the tender kiss he had given her just a few moments ago. This kiss was the hungriest she had ever experienced. His teeth crashed into her bottom lip, trying to get as close to her as he possibly could.

They shared one breath, and Margaret let out a surprised laugh as she returned his kiss. She had not thought he would be so open with her, though she had held out hope. She laughed with relief and pure joy.

Leo did not break their kiss as he walked her back to the settee. She felt the cushion at the back of her knees and sank down. He came to sit beside her, his hands tangling in her red hair as he undid her braids with his eyes closed.

She reached up to remove the pins, setting the curls loose for him to run his hands through.

“Dress. Off.”

She smiled at the memory of the last time he said those words to her, the way he had unraveled her. But this time, she did not stand up to take off her dress. Leo pulled back from their kiss when she did not obey.

“You will have to help me out of my gown, dear husband.”

She shifted on the settee and turned so that he could undo the buttons along the back of her gown. His fingers moved swiftly, but it felt far too slow. Inch by inch, her skin was exposed to the warm air of the library.

Blood rushed through her veins in anticipation of what was to come. As the button at the base of her spine was undone, she wasted no time pushing the fabric roughly down her shoulders and over her breasts, leaving it bunched around her hips.

But Leo paused at the sight of the scars that crisscrossed her back. He traced them with his fingertips, then his lips.

“You will never have to worry about this again,” he promised.

She turned to face him again and brought her lips to his so that they could pick up where they had left off. Nuns were the last thing she wanted to think about at that moment.

Leo tore his lips from hers and pressed them to the base of her throat. His hands cupped her breasts, each one filling his palm.