Chapter 15

G iving herself the once over in the mirror, Marina made sure that everything was in place. From her neatly pinned hair to the folds of her satin dress that fell to the floor. So much was riding on the dinner she had planned, especially after her sister's behavior.

Shaking her head, Marina could not help but smile as she thought of the tea. She had been furious at the time, but it now brought a smile to her lips. Springing a dinner on Aaron did not seem like the best plan, but it seemed like a far better one than having her sister over again.

"Your guests have arrived, Your Grace." Isolde popped her head around the corner and smiled.

"Thank you, Isolde, I shall be right down." Marina took a deep breath and turned to the mirror giving herself a final once over.

It is now or never.

She turned around and headed straight for Aaron's study, knocking on the door before pushing it open.

Looking up in surprise, Aaron let go of the piece of parchment that he had been reading on his desk. "You look… Beautiful." The question in his eyes was almost palpable.

"Thank you, Your Grace. Flattery will get you everywhere." She held her head high, knowing that she had done her best to look good for him.

"Any special occasion?" He laced his fingers together and rested his elbows on his desk.

Taking a deep breath, she offered him a smile that she hoped would soften the blow. "Now, I do not want you to get angry with me. I know the tea with my sister and mother did not go very well, but I was hoping you would give this just one more shot and come down to dinner with me and my friends. I promise you that the ladies will make a much better impression. No fish eggs in sight." She ended on a hopeful note.

Aaron stared at her for a moment, making her slightly nervous as she waited for his response. "Why do you keep arranging these things?" He asked her honestly.

"Because, Your Grace, I want you to get to know the people in my life. I was hoping that you would see that not everyone will view you as a monster."

His eyes filled with a strange look that she could not quite place her finger on.

"Please, just this one dinner, if it does not go well, then I promise you that I will never arrange anything of the sort ever again." She hoped that her honesty would breach his walls.

Taking a moment to chew on the inside of his cheeks, Aaron nodded. "Just a few of your friends?"

"Just three of my closest friends. Two of them are married and one is still unwed, but she is the quietest of them all." Marina waited a few moments before drawing her bottom lip between her teeth. "Please, I know you do not fully understand why, but it means so much to me. Just this one dinner. Have I ever asked you for anything else since I have been here?"

Aaron's expression seemed pained, but he nodded again. "Very well, one dinner would not hurt."

Marina felt like running to his side and throwing her arms around his neck, but she held back and smiled. "Thank you, Your Grace. Our guests are already here, but we shall wait for you before we start." She beamed at him before turning and leaving the room.

Finally, things are starting to look up.

Her heart felt lighter than a feather as she giddily made her way down the stairs, looking forward to the evening that lay ahead.

"Perhaps we should go and see where he is?" Penelope suggested with an encouraging smile while glancing at their husbands at the other end of the room.

Rhysand, the Duke of Huxton, stood silently by with his arms crossed over his chest while Eleanor's husband, the Duke of Larsen, proceeded to complain about a recent boxing match that he had attended. Both seemed utterly bored with the situation when Rhysand stifled a yawn.

Looking around the table at her friends who had all done their best to arrive on time in their finest dresses, Marina shook her head. "No, I think we had better start the first course. The duke promised he would be here, let us not allow the food to go to waste.

Cordelia exchanged a concerned look with Eleanor before shifting forward in her seat. "I guess it would not hurt to start the first course; the duke can always join right in when he arrives."

The heaviness of her heart betrayed her smile as Marina gestured for the butler to begin serving the first course.

He promised me.

Marina found herself glancing at the doorway through the first course. She barely added anything to the conversation throughout the rest of dinner, and she merely nodded at the others when they attempted to converse with her.

"I think it is time for sherry." Marina stood at the end of the dessert and forced a smile.

Her friends all enhanced worried glances before Penelope came forward. "Marina, darling, I think we had better go. You are distracted enough, and we both know that you will not be able to rest until you have settled matters with the duke." She placed her hand on Marina's arm and gave her an encouraging squeeze.

Looking around the table at the worried faces, she suddenly realized that she had been a terrible hostess. "I am so sorry for not paying more attention to you ladies this evening. You all made such an effort to come, and I have done nothing but ignore you."

The men both seemed to realize that something was happening when they stopped their discussion and looked at the women.

"Marina, we understand. Marriage is never easy. These things tend to happen from time to time." Eleanor stood and offered her another reassuring smile before glancing at her husband.

Cordelia stood next and joined in. "I may not be married yet, but I do understand that things are not always as simple as they may seem. We should go home, and you should go and talk to your husband."

The kindness and understanding that her friends were showing almost made her cry as she took a deep breath. "Thank you, ladies, I am not sure what I would do without you. All three of you are one in a million."

"Perhaps you should revisit the lessons that your governess gave you, your counting seems to be just a little bit off." Penelope winked at her, eliciting a few laughs from the others.

Seeing the ladies to their carriages along with their husbands, Marina waited for them all to leave before looking up at the house.

The window to the study flickered with the burning light of a candle.

"Right," she muttered to herself and marched back into the house, stomping up the stairs like a thunderous cloud. She barely even opened the door before rushing right in.

Aaron once again looked up, more startled this time than he had been earlier in the evening.

"Do you hate me? Is that what it is? Do you resent agreeing to make me your wife? Please explain the situation to me, because I have honestly been back and for in my mind and I am tired of trying." Hot tears stung the back of her eyes.

"Marina, I…" He began as he stood.

"You what? Please tell me, Your Grace. You made me a promise that you would show up to a dinner with all of my friends, and instead of introducing them to my husband, I had to sit through a dinner alone!" A single tear fell down her cheek now as she lost control.

Aaron stood rooted to the spot, seemingly silent as he watched her.

"Would you like us to have this marriage annulled? If that is the case, tell me now so that I may put myself out of this misery. I am tired of trying, Aaron, so tired!" She balled her fists at her side and glared at him, wishing that she had gone to bed instead.

"Don't you ever dare suggest that again!" He raised his voice, making her tremble slightly as she stood her ground.

"Then what would you have me do? You certainly do not want me as your wife. What purpose am I serving here if not to give you an heir?"

His eyes grew darker as his face became more serious. "Kneel," he commanded her.

"I beg your pardon?" She took a step back from him, wondering what he meant.

"You want to be my wife, do you not? Is that not why you are in here screaming at me? Now do as you are told, and kneel." He pointed to the ground in front of his feet with a serious look in his eyes.

Feeling her legs shaking, Marina did as she was told and dropped to her hands and knees, suddenly aroused by his commanding tone.

"Now, crawl to me, wife." His voice was deep and harsh, sending a shiver of pleasure down her spine.

Placing one hand in front of the other like a cat, she began to crawl to him, keeping her gaze fixed on his.

Dropping to his haunches, Aaron cupped her chin and looked into her eyes. "You are never to speak to me in that manner ever again, do I make myself clear, Kitten?" He brought his lips closer to hers.

Marina nodded, her lips parting slightly.

"I want you to say it. I want to hear you submit before I make you purr for me." He brushed his lips against hers.

"Yes, Your Grace." She breathed against his lips.

Relenting to the kiss with full force, Aaron searched the depths of her mouth with his tongue. He wanted more of her as his arousal pushed against his breeches. Scooping her up in his arms, he carried her to his desk and used one arm to sweep the clutter to the floor.

Marina gasped in surprise, keeping her gaze fixed on his as he placed her on the desk. Her heart skipped a beat when he took a step back and removed his shirt, discarding it the side before stepping from his breeches.

The fullness of his erection that came into view, made Marina bite on her lips as she raised her eyes.

"Do you like what you see, Kitten?" He advanced on her without waiting for a reply.

The wave of pleasure that washed through her body when he reached behind her back and undid her dress almost sent her over the edge. She wanted him to touch her, to finally make her his wife and show her how it felt.

"All in good time," Aaron whispered in her ear, gripping the shoulder of her dress as he slipped it down her arm.

She could not help but moan when he kissed her neck, dragging his lips over her shoulder. She had not even noticed that he had been working the laces of her corset until her breasts sprang free. Gasping in surprise, she leaned back on her hands as Aaron took her breasts into his mouth. First one, before devouring the other.

The hot sensations that his tongue was creating on her breast had her gasping for breath as he moved his hand up her thigh.

"Aaron, I cannot wait any longer," she mumbled under his hot kisses.

Cold air kissed her nipple as he drew away, parting her knees before positioning himself between her thighs. He entered her slowly, allowing her folds to adjust to the size of him. Yet any pain was quickly replaced by pleasure when he began to move back and forth.

The steady rhythm of his thighs pressing against hers, drove Marina wild as she began to enjoy the sensation more and more. She felt filled to the very brim as he thrust his thick cock in and out.

"Aaron," she whispered his name desperately as she gripped his shoulders, feeling herself being pulled closer to the edge.

Grunting with pleasure, Aaron placed his hands on her hips, pulling her closer as he picked up the pace.

Their bodies melded together, creating a brand-new sensation of ecstasy as she began to cry out for more.

"You take me so well, sweetheart," Aaron called out, thrusting violently between her thighs as he dipped his head and kissed her lips, sucking on her tongue.

Marina could not hold off any longer as she felt her climax building. Leaning back on the desk, she placed her elbows behind her for support and whimpered, allowing Aaron to take her to the edge.

One final thrust had her crying out in pleasure as stars suddenly burst behind her eyelids. Her body shook and trembled with every breath when Aaron cried out, collapsing on top of her with a final grunt.

The warmth that filled her core was utterly indescribable as Marina lay on the desk, panting for breath with Aaron on top of her.

"How did that feel?" Aaron reached up and traced a pattern over her breast as he nestled his face in her cleavage.

"I… I do not know how to describe it. I feel fuller somehow." She opened her eyes, blinking a few times as she realized that her legs were still trembling.

"That is how it is supposed to feel." He turned his head once again and kissed the side of her breast.

The unexpected sensation sent yet another shiver of pleasure through her body. "Will I be pregnant now?" She asked him almost sheepishly, worrying that he would send her away if she was. She could not explain it, but something had changed between them over the past month. She could not bear the thought of being away from him for too long.

Chuckling under his breath, Aaron pushed himself up and smiled down at her. "You might be, but it usually takes a few more tries. The only way to be certain is to do this more often."

Her heart suddenly lifted when she noted the sparkle in his eyes. "Well, I think we had better practice at least once a day then. Don't you agree?"

He shook his head and helped her to sit up, placing his forehead against hers in a tender and unexpected moment. "Marina, I am sorry that I broke my promise. Things are not always easy for me."

"I know. Let us not dwell on that any longer." She pushed her head against his, reveling in the moment they shared. The world suddenly seemed like a different place to her, making her wonder if anything could shatter her newfound happiness.

"I would very much like to take you to my bed now, Your Grace. That is, if you are willing to spend the night with me?"

His offer caught her off guard and she drew back slightly. "I would love to spend the night in your chambers, Your Grace. Perhaps we will be able to practice again before morning?"

Aaron drew back and looked at her his eyes darkening with lust again. "Be careful what you wish for, Kitten. It might just come true." He pressed his lips against hers, drawing her into his arms with a passionate kiss.

It did not take long for Aaron to scoop her up in his arms, carrying her down the hall and to his chambers.

Is that what it is going to be like from here on out?

Marina's heart was singing when he carried her into his chambers and kicked the door shut behind his back. He lay her on the bed before crawling to her side and drawing her naked body against his.

Her hands moved to his back, gently drawing a pattern over his scars. The thickness of the matted flesh beneath the tips of her fingers quivered slightly as she moved back and forth.

He seemed to be enjoying the attention, yet Marina could not help but wonder if something else would not tear them apart. After all, most scars were rarely ever just skin deep.

Why am I feeling like this?

She looked up at his sleeping face when he began to snore. Everything inside of her screamed in agony when she wondered if he loved her.

Do I care if he loves me?