Chapter 19

"If you take another step, you'll find yourself without a brain."

No sooner had the words left him than he felt grateful he'd carried his pistol.

The man charged at him, stopping short when he noticed the pistol. He made to run into the treeline, but the constables stepped out, brandishing their standard-issue rifles.

His accomplice's eyes darted around, trying to look for a gap to escape. Edward watched, creeping closer for any sudden moves, not surprised when he started towards the smallest member of their group.

It seemed Charles had the same idea as him and tackled him to the ground. The other constables tackled the other man, tying his hands behind his back.

Edward got off the man he'd been holding down once he'd been shackled and headed towards Arabella, who was awake now. Her eyes were wide with fear as she looked at the scene before her.

He could tell the moment she saw him because she burst into loud sobs, struggling against her restraints.

He rushed to her, holding her against him as she wept. His heart pounded in his chest as relief washed over him. She was all right. He'd saved her. She was in his arms again.

He held her till her sobs stopped and pulled back to see just how tired she was. He nodded to the constable who had cut her free and swooped her up in his arms.

She fell asleep immediately, her hands wrapped tightly around his neck as if she was afraid to let go. Edward kissed her hair, holding her tighter to his chest.

"I've got you now, love," he whispered. "I'll never let anyone hurt you ever again."

"You'll need to get a carriage to return home, and it won't be until we get into town," Charles stated, stepping up to them. "The road here is filled with potholes—that's why their wheel broke. It was such a stroke of good luck, wasn't it?"

A lump formed in Edward's throat, and he managed a nod. He was grateful for his brother's level-headedness and how he'd taken charge of Arabella's rescue when he'd been too emotional to think.

"I—"

"Don't thank me," Charles interrupted. "Come. The walk back to town is long."

They started down the path, but Edward remembered then the reason they had to make this journey.

"Where is Joana?" he asked finally, unable to hide the anger in his voice, looking around.

He spotted the constable pushing her onto the floor beside the blackguards as she screamed and hurled insults at him.

"She has been taken care of," Charles answered with a frown. "They'll be transported to the nearest prison to await trial."

Edward nodded, walking off.

"Edward, please!" he heard Joana yell behind him. "You should be with me not that whore! Edward!"

He ignored her words, holding his wife tighter. They decided not to sleep in the inn and resumed their journey back home immediately.

"I'll stay back to give a statement," Charles told him, patting his back. "Take care of her."

"I will." Edward nodded. "I thank you."

"You better leave now, so she can get some rest."

He took the path that led to the village, heading straight to the physician's home so the bruises on her wrists and feet could be treated.

He'd had to explain the whole ordeal to the man before he agreed to treat her, fearing it was a case of domestic violence.

Somehow, Arabella was able to sleep through the whole ordeal, for which Edward was grateful, although the silence gave him much to think about.

"The bruises aren't so serious, so she will heal quickly," the doctor told him.

Edward nodded his thanks to the man, making a mental note to send him a substantial payment once he returned home.

"Do take care of her," the doctor advised. "She's been through a terrible ordeal and would need you now more than ever."

"I will do my best."

Edward had to wake her to help her into the carriage, but once he sat down, he pulled her into his lap and held her.

"Are you all right?" he asked.

Arabella nodded, shuddering in his arms. "You saved me," she whispered.

"I did." He kissed her temple. "I'm sorry I didn't catch up to you earlier. Are you hurt?"

She shook her head, burying her face in his chest. "I just want to forget," she mumbled.

"You will," he promised. And he intended to keep that promise. "Sleep now, love."

She fell asleep in minutes, leaving him time to think, and he found that he'd been doing that more often since she'd come into his life.

He whispered a small prayer of thanks that she was safely back in his arms. When they walked through the gates of the castle, he roused her again.

"We're home, love," he whispered against her hair.

Arabella nodded. She protested as he carried her out of the carriage, but he only her tighter to his chest.

"I'm feeling strong enough to walk, Edward."

"You're not walking anywhere if I can help it," he insisted, his tone leaving no room for argument.

Then he carried her inside. He heard the gasps of the maids they passed, but he ignored them, taking her upstairs to her chambers.

"I'll send them to draw a hot bath for you and get the doctor," he told her as he gently lowered her onto her bed.

He moved to leave, but she held his hand and shook her head.

"You want me to stay?"

She nodded shyly.

Edward smiled, pulling back the bed covers for her to slide under. He took off his boots, before removing the pistol and knife from his belt and putting them aside. Then he slid under the covers with her, pulling her to his chest.

"I'm sorry I couldn't protect you," he murmured, stroking her hair. "I should have sensed something was wrong and come to look for you. I…"

"You saved me." She smiled up at him. "That is all that matters."

He kissed her hair again, breathing her in.

"I don't know what I would have done if I lost you," he admitted. "I was so scared that I wouldn't see you again. When I read that letter… I worried that I misread your affection, but I didn't believe that you would be so cowardly as to use a letter to convey your feelings, when you'd always used your words. You've made me feel so many emotions I never thought myself capable of feeling these past few days."

He sighed. "I have never felt fear so potent as I did tonight. I couldn't even stay still. My heart felt as if it was going to burst out of my chest. What have you done to me, Arabella?"

He hadn't been expecting an answer, but when she laughed softly, he frowned. Was confessing his feelings funny to her?

"I love you too, Edward." She pressed a kiss to his chest. "I love you."

Edward looked down at her and let out a laugh, pulling her closer to him. He didn't know what he'd done to deserve her, but he was grateful he'd married such a perfect woman.

"I love you too, Arabella."

Her eyes widened as a blush bloomed in her cheeks. He smiled, kissing her forehead and then tilting her face up to his. He planted a chaste kiss on her lips, nipping her bottom lip at the end.

Her eyes fluttered open when he pulled back, and he smiled at the sight of her desire. His hand slowly trailed up and down her back, his body becoming more aware of the beautiful woman wrapped around him.

"Arabella," he whispered.

He wanted her so badly now that he felt if he didn't have her, he could die. His hand cupped a buttock as her legs moved, brushing against his aroused member.

"Ara…"

"Oh, Edward," she moaned against his shoulder. "Love me."

He lifted her face to his, kissing her deeply, flipping her over so he was lying between her legs.

He moved his hips, aligning his straining member against her core, groaning when she moaned into his mouth. He moved again, swallowing her cries.

Her fingers dug into the hair at the nape of his neck and then his shoulders, not settling in one place.

He loved how responsive she was to his touch. It sent more blood to his already painfully hard member.

Her hands then trailed down his chest and stomach, and he nearly spilled when her fingers wrapped around him.

Edward caught her hands and pinned them above her head. "I won't last very long if you do that, love."

"Please," she moaned.

He pulled back from her, unfastening her nightgown and stays, then pulling them up and over her head so she was blissfully naked beneath him.

He drank in the sight of her beauty, highlighted by the golden glow of the candles around them, from her pink nipples to her toned stomach to the dark curls at the apex of her thighs. The red bruises on her wrists stood out harshly against her pale skin, reminding him of what he'd almost lost.

"You're so beautiful," he breathed, stilling her hands as she tried to wrap them around herself. "You never have to cover yourself around me, love."

She struggled to meet his eyes and tried to close her legs, but he wouldn't let her.

He was used to brazen women who flaunted their bodies and knew how to put on their charms to seduce men, but her sheer innocence aroused him more than his former lovers' skills ever had.

"You're so beautiful," he told again, leaning down to kiss her.

She accepted his kisses eagerly, moaning into his mouth as she impatient writhed beneath him.

He pulled back and took off the rest of his clothes, before leaning over her, empowered by the way her eyes drank him in.

"Now we will be one," he whispered, hooking his arms beneath her legs and wrapping them around his waist.

As he lined himself with her core, he felt her stiffen beneath him.

He kissed her deeply and slowly, communicating how he felt with his lips and tongue.

"Do you trust me?" he asked.

She nodded, her eyes hooded.

"Tell me what you want," he told her, teasing her again.

"You," she whispered. "I want you."

He groaned, nipping her bottom lip. His hand trailed down to her folds, and he bit back a groan at how blissfully wet she was. He slid a finger inside her to stretch her then two, stoking her as she writhed beneath him. Her moans beat the music of any coordinated musical troupe he'd ever heard.

She was boundless in her desire, her hips bucking against his hand. When she reached ecstasy, he enjoyed the way her walls clenched around his fingers, her cries loud as her nails dug into his shoulders.

He waited till she came down from her high to notch his member at her entrance, pushing ever so gently. She stiffened again, but when he kissed her, she relaxed.

He wanted to shield her from the pain, so he moved inch by slow inch until he was fully seated inside her, not moving till she'd adjusted to his girth.

He slid out of her and then slowly thrust back into her, groaning at how tight and perfect she felt.

Arabella bit her lip, her eyes squeezed shut, and he couldn't help but laugh. She looked so adorable.

"Open your eyes, wife," he cooed. "Let me see your desire."

"I can't," she cried.

"You can, love." He smiled. "There's no need to hide from me."

She opened her eyes slowly, tentatively, meeting his eyes, and at that moment, Edward started thrusting into her. He tried to move slowly and steadily, but as his desire peaked, his thrusts became harder, faster, and less coordinated.

"Edward!" she cried.

"Arabella." He groaned in her hair. "I love you."

"Please."

"I got you, love."

His thrusts got even faster, and when he climaxed inside her, she climaxed with him, their breaths coming fast.

He rode out their orgasms, before collapsing beside her and pulling her to his chest, panting.

He felt the moment she fell asleep, and he smiled, letting himself drift off.