Page 20 of His Collateral Wife

It breaks my heart to hear him say this, but it's also when I hear this that I realize...

What's true yesterday and today doesn't have to stay true.

And that's when I hear myself say, "I'm just not used to having...rules."

Tomorrow can still change.

His forehead creases. "Explain."

All I have to figure out is how to make myself useful.

"This marriage...and me...as a wife..."

His expression turns grim again, and I feel sick to my stomach.

Oh no.

Have I already pushed things too far without even meaning to?

Have my words made him realize that our marriage means I'm to be a permanent part of his life, and he's starting to think he's made a mistake?

"You are neither my captive nor my slave, Eden. There are no rules---"

"But don't I have things to do as your wife?" I interrupt helplessly. "Surely, there are things you expect me to do..."

And maybe, if I do them well enough---

"I can't believe you're asking me what I think you're asking."

"Yes, I really am."

He won't mind keeping me as his wife even after finding out I'm not who he thinks he is.

"In case I haven't made it clear to you," he says heavily, "you are under no obligation---"

"I know." And the fact that he has no expectations of me at all is what worries me the most. "But I'm asking this because I want...to." My voice trails off in uncertainty with the way he suddenly stiffens at my words. Did I say something wrong again?

"If you are only saying that because you think it's what I want to hear---"

"I swear it's the truth. It has nothing to do with being obliged. I want---mmph."

My whole world stops spinning as my husband suddenly cups my face and covers my mouth with his.

Is this...really...happening?

He pulls me even closer as his kiss deepens, and I have my answer the moment his tongue strokes gently against mine.

Oh...wow.

Something hot and beautiful and so, so wonderfully precious comes into life inside of me, and I can no longer think.

Oh.

Oh.

Ooooooooh.

Time also seems to stand still as my emotions overflow, and with every second that passes, it gets harder and harder to remember who he was or who I was.

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