Page 25 of Bound to the Heartless Duke (Regency Beasts #4)

When had he grown into this man devoid of self control?Magnus’s eyes flicked to the window, watching the storm outside. At that moment, there was only one person he wanted to see.

The storm outside had died down, but the one in Lily’s chest raged still.

She sat at the window in her chamber, watching the wind blow through the trees and ruffle the leaves. For a moment, she envied them.

They must feel very much at peace.

Her thoughts wouldn’t give her that luxury. They kept bouncing around in her head, chasing and dredging up memories of the past few days.

From the moment she signed the marriage contract to her argument with her brother.

Marriage to Magnus.

The words sounded strange in her head, and yet they had sunk deep into her like a stone in water, heavy and final.

She didn’t know what Magnus was thinking, how he had come up with such an idea, and how he could agree to do something so irrevocable just for the sake of protecting her.

And that was what confused her the most. Because each time she saw him, she would catch a flicker of something fierce, protective, even possessive, in his eyes.

And then it would vanish, burrowing deep under the mask he always wore when emotions got too close to the surface.

A soft knock sounded at the door, interrupting her thoughts.

She turned around. “Come in.”

The door opened, and she wasn’t surprised to find Summer there.

Her maid looked hesitant, her eyes scanning the room like she expected something to have changed, simply because Lily’s life had.

“My Lady His grace requests your presence in the blue room.,” she announced.

Lily stood up immediately.

Magnus seldom requested a meeting. He either popped out of the blue or… well, threw some stones at her window to get her attention.

Quickly, she smoothed the front of her gown with fingers that felt too restless to belong to her. “Tell him I’ll be there shortly.”

She didn’t wait for Summer’s response before turning to her mirror.

A moment passed, then another, as she wondered what exactly to expect from a man like Magnus. He had kept his distance since they had signed the marriage contract in such cold civility and now he was seeking her presence?

The blue salon was quiet when she entered, the lamps emitting a low light.

She saw him immediately.

Magnus was standing by the hearth, staring into the flames like he could command them to speak.

She stopped in the doorway, and although her footsteps were audible, he didn’t turn around.

“You sent Nathan running,” she said softly.

He didn’t answer right away.

“Wasn’t difficult. The boy crumbles under pressure,” he murmured, his voice low.

She stepped closer, tilting her head. “He challenged you to a duel.”

She had no idea how Summer knew that, but she was grateful for the information, nonetheless.

Magnus turned to look at her, the ghost of a smile crossing his face. “Yes. I was deeply wounded by the idea.”

She managed a small smile. “You could’ve said yes. Ended the Medlin name once and for all.”

Magnus sobered up. “I have no interest in ending your name, Lily.”

Although their tones were light, she didn’t miss the emotion in his last words. She felt it, deep in her heart.

“Why did you do it then?” she asked after a beat, trying to regain her composure.

“Bailey is a vulture,” Magnus continued. “And your brother, God help him, isn’t clever enough to know the difference between a contract and a cage. I stepped in because I had to.”

“You didn’t have to marry me,” Lily said quietly.

His eyes searched hers. “Didn’t I?”

Her lips parted slightly, but no words came out.

What could she say?

Magnus took a step closer, butshe remained standing in the doorway, needing it solid presence to keep her wits about her..

“Don’t mistake me,” he said, taking another slow, deliberate step. “This is not charity, and it’s not a sacrifice. I am not a good man Lily and I need you to remember that.”

“You’re not,” she said softly. “But you are something else entirely.”

She stepped away from the door, shrinking the space between them.

The corner of his mouth twitched. “And what’s that?”

She didn’t answer.

They stood close now, close enough that she only had to extend her hand to touch him. The firelight cast shadows along his jawline, collar, and lashes.

Damn, he was an absolutely beautiful man. She hated that she noticed things like that. Worse, she hated that her heart had developed a language it spoke only when he was near.

She looked away, suddenly feeling overwhelmed. “This isn’t going to be easy.”

“No,” he agreed. “But it will be real.”

Lily’s eyebrows drew together. “Real?”

His gaze didn’t waver from her face. Not even once. “I’m not a man of half-measures, Lily. If I give you my name, I won’t be giving you a ghost with it. You’ll have a husband. A partner. Someone who will keep you safe… and seen.”

A rush of heat spread from her belly to her limbs at his words that were rife with meaning. He couldn’t possibly mean those words, could he? It was too easy to believe him ssince he had done naught but protect her since but there was one more thing she wanted to ask.

What about being loved?

But she held back and instead asked, “Just that?”

Magnus nodded once.

Without thinking, without considering the consequences, Lily raised her hand and rested it lightly on his chest.

It was a gentle touch, yet it was enough to make him freeze. It was enough to undo him.

He stared at her hand and then at her face, as though daring her to pull away. However, she did not.

Instead, she stepped closer until their breaths mingled, until the fire in the grate disappeared behind his frame.

“I don’t know if I will be satisfied with just that,” she whispered.

She was trying to be honest without fully saying what she wanted to.

And then, not wanting to give in to temptation, she stepped back.

However, the moment she did, he took her wrist and pulled her back to him. And crushed his lips against hers.

It was not as soft as her honesty. It was full of everything they had yet to say, everything he couldn’t promise at that moment yet she understood.

He kissed her like she was fire. Like he’d burn gladly just to keep her near. When they broke apart, he pressed his forehead against hers.

For a moment, neither of them said anything.

Lily was still trying to understand why he had just kissed her after declaring that he would never offer such things as a husband but she said nothing, not wanting the moment to end but it seemed the duke didn’t share her sentiment because he pulled back.

“It’s getting late, My Lady. You should go back to your chamber. ”