Page 85 of A Duchess to Reclaim

“I am angry, Amelia, because of the danger you put yourself in!” He boomed, slamming his fist on the table.

Amelia instantly bristled against his tone and sneered right back at him.

“How was I supposed to know Roland was going to be there? That he was the one that had started it all?” She demanded to know.

“If you would have stayed here as you were supposed to you wouldn’t have had to find that at all!” He replied. “Christ, Amelia, do you have any idea how terrified I was to see you cornered in that hall like that? Did you not see the look in his eyes? He was going to-”

Dominic cut himself off, his nostrils flaring as he slammed his lips shut and rubbed his hands together

“If I had not been there,” he said eventually, his tone low and trembling, “He would have hurt you in irreparable ways, Amelia, and I would haveneverforgiven myself for that.”

Love poured through Amelia as she heard the utter fear in her husband’s voice.Love.She loved this man, she realized. And whether he could admit or not, it was obvious he loved her too.

“But you were there, Dominic,” she replied, “And you destroyed our threat. You only have half the facts, though, and I am sorry to tell you that your theory is wrong. I was in danger no matter where I was.”

Dominic’s frown deepened.

“You need to tell me everything.Now,”he demanded.

Amelia drew in a steadying breath, and spoke.

“These last two weeks or so, I have had this strange feeling that the girls and I were being watched. At first I thought it was because I kept hoping to see you come around a random corner and back into our lives, but the day Theo asked me to accompany her to theDevil’s Masquerade, I actually saw someone. I knew it wasn’t you, and it scared me greatly. I thought it was our father and I immediately sent the guards out to investigate.”

“Roland washere?” Dominic snarled.

Amelia nodded.

“The guards didn’t find anyone, but after what happened, I know it was him. Roland might have decided to strike at theDevil’s Masqueradebut he was waiting foranyopportune moment. Whether I had went with Theo or not, he would have made a move. And I know you are mad at me for going. I am mad at myself! But if I hadn’t gone, he would have attacked at a time where you were nowhere near.”

Tears brimmed in her eyes as she remembered the utter fear and desperation she’d felt the night before. Roland, she realized, had never been a good man, but he had changed over the years into someone far worse than who she’d been engaged to. The look in his eyes had told her everything- he was willing to do whatever he needed to bend her to his will.

“I remembered what you taught me,” she rasped, her throat feeling tight. “About getting one good punch in. It wasn’t enough to stop him, but I hit him good.”

Dominic’s hard gaze softened almost instantly, and in a second he was out his chair, coming toward with his kerchief. He pulled her out of her seat and gently dabbed the cloth under her eyes.

“I saw,” he replied, a ghost of smile on his lips. “Even with the disadvantage of your stance it was still amightyhit.”

A laugh broke through Amelia’s sobs as she felt her body sink into his arms.

“I wassoproud of you,” he whispered, peppering her hair with kisses.

Amelia felt her heart throb with a mixture of pain and relief, and her fingers clenched around his vest.

“Please do not leave again,” she whispered. “I know I said I could handle it, but I have been miserable. I missed you. I missed you so much. We can argue every day if you want. You can growl and demand and I will hiss and fight back until we are miserable. But please don’t go.”

Amelia gasped as Dominic suddenly gripped her face and forced her eyes up to his. She saw nothing but affection pour from those bright silver orbs.

“I am not going anywhere,” he replied, his tone absolute. “And if I do, you will be right by my side. I am not letting anything happen to you ever again, Amelia.”

She felt her eyes begin to water again.

“Truly?” She whispered.

“I have tried to push away these feelings for you,” he replied, stroking her cheek, “I have tried to go back to the way I was, but you have changed me. Not in the way I always feared a woman would. But for the better.”

He leaned down and placed a gentle kiss on her lips, so sweet another sob ripped from her throat.

“I love you, Amelia,” he whispered against her lips. “When you make me feel pleasure and when you have me wanting to rip my own damn hair out. I love you.”

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