Page 49 of Keeper of Secrets

The events of the night before flooded her thoughts, the good and the bad.The way Adam had nearly hurt her, but also the way Ryker had rushed to her rescue.Aches aside, she snuggled deeper into him.

Which caused him to give a low moan.

Her breath caught, the sound reminding her of another event that had happened the night before.The way she’d touched him.

Her body warmed at the memory.But Ryker didn’t tighten his grip on her, instead, he rolled away.

She turned over too, and that’s when she saw them, at least a dozen walnut-sized bruises peppering his back in clusters.She gasped, covering her mouth with her hand.

He looked back, partially turning, and that’s when she saw more on his side.

He’d taken a beating defending her.

She rolled too, gently pressing to his side, as she wrapped her arms about him.“Oh Ryker.Look at you.”Her hand gently swiped down his side so as not to cause him more pain.

“It’s nothing.I’m used to it.I’ve had a lifetime of this sort of treatment.”

“Used to it?Lifetime?”

He grimaced.“I box.”

She shook her head.“Boxing is not a beating like that.My father boxed in his younger days.He never came home with bruises like this.”

Ryker let out a long breath of air.“I’m still used to it, so try not to worry.”

“I am more worried about your words.”

He reached up to cup her cheek.“My father wasn’t in my life very much.But about once a year, he’d come to check on his heir.And when he did, he believed the rod would cure me of all the ills I’d accumulated over the year.”

He grimaced.“Come to think of it.He’d always visit between the holidays and before the season began and parliament opened.No wonder I hate this time of year.”

Chloe squeezed him tighter, understanding forming a lump in her throat.“That’s why you don’t want to have children.”

He looked at her, surprise making his eyes wide.“You remembered that?”

“He ignored you, made your mother miserable, and on the rare occasion he came, it was far worse than just miserable.”

It all made sense.

Ryker looked away.“Don’t feel sorry for me now.”

“Why not?”Her chest tightened as he shrugged away.

“Because, Chloe, I am the reason you were in danger.I…” He sat up, his feet hanging off the edge of the bed, his elbows on his knees.“I accused you of being in league with that man.I…” His lips tightened over his teeth.“I ought to let you go find a man who might make you truly happy.A man without a dark past like mine.”

He couldn’t be serious.After all this time of insisting they wed, now he wished to end their engagement?Had the man lost his senses?

* * *

Chloe raisedup on her knees, her hands coming to her hips.“You want to let me go now?”

It had been a thought.He’d brought her nothing but trouble.“Well… I…”

She pointed a finger at his chest.“Everyone at White’s last night was aware of your interest.You didn’t bother hiding it.”

That was true, though she was his charge.Surely, they’d understand his job was to protect her.

“We’ve been completely intimate.”

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