Page 44 of The Duke and the Hellion Bride

To that, she frowned. “Because... because we are married. We should know these things about one another. That is what a marriage is.”

“That is what most marriages are. I thought I made it perfectly clear that this is not most marriages.”

“Clear?” Diana looked at him with confusion and a touch of frustration. The shame she had felt was fading, replaced now with anger because this was an argument they’d had already. “Nothing about this is clear.Nothing. And to pretend otherwise is not only foolish but ignorant.”

“Careful, Diana. I do not appreciate being insulted in my own home.”

“Our home, you mean.” She stormed toward him, putting herself right in his face. “This is my home now, just as much as it is your own. We aremarried. I understand that you might not wish to tell me everything about your past, but you must understand that if this marriage is to progress, even a little, you must tell mesomething.”

“And who said I wish for it to progress?”

“You did!” she cried. “You did! The other day. Was that not the entire point? When you came to me, I thought that --” She bit her tongue, feeling herself getting a little too worked up. So much so that if she let herself keep going, things would be said that she could not take back. She took a deep breath and tried again. “I was not trying to trick you. I was certainly not trying to upset you. But Magnus...” She attempted to soften her expression and her tone. “Surely, you must understand where I am coming from? Why I am so desperate to find out anything about you? Anything at all. Like you, I do not know what I want from this marriage. But unlike you, I am at least willing to try and figure through what I do want. And I can’t do that if you insist on keeping me in the dark.”

Typically, Diana expected a firebrand response. Defensive. Aggressive. The usual, for Magnus and herself.

But his face softened. His head tilted as he looked at her with an expression she recognized; one that made her heart race and her chest flush. And then, a smile. “You really are pretty when you’re upset, you know?”

“Wh -- what?”

“I said --”

“I heard you.”

His smile grew and he reached for her hand, taking it. She tried to pull back, but he held on. “You are right, Diana. As remiss as I am to admit it, nothing you have accused me of right now is wrong.”

“It’s not...” She was suddenly very aware of her hand in his. How warm it was. How comforting. There was a strength in his grip, a sense of power that made her feel protected.

“And I want to do better. Like you, I do not know what this marriage is or what it might be. I do know, however, that if I do not at least try, it will die on the vine and that will be entirely my fault. I cannot promise that I will suddenly open my heart to you...” He chuckled and shook his head. “But I promise that if you are patient, well...” He shrugged.

She met his eyes, seeing in them that he was speaking the truth. Ironically, he was being honest with her in the exact way that she wanted. “That is all I ask.”

“And as to your little game just now...” He clicked his tongue and shook his head. “Very naughty.”

She grinned. “I thought that was what you liked about me?”

His eyes flicked over her in hunger. “I think you know what I like about you...”

A pulse ran up her arm from where he held her hand. They were standing less than a foot apart, so close that if she closed her eyes she could feel the warmth of his breath. He stood over her, nearly blocking out the sun, wrapping her in his presence in a way that made her feel trapped... but in a way that sheloved.

No need to say what was on his mind. No need to say what was suddenly on her own. He stepped in closer, his body now pressed against her, his spare hand taking her by the waist.

“The... the children...” She didn’t move to pull back because she did not want to.

“They are hiding, yes?” he breathed, his grip on her waist tightening.

“They are.”

“It is a shame they are such good hiders...” He leaned in, whispering into her ear; the hairs on her neck stood up as his breath traced her skin. “We may not find them for hours.”

“Hours?”

“Hours...”

He released her hand and cupped her under the chin. He moved her head, her lips, his own finding the side of her neck. He kissed her then and there, gently, nibbling as he then licked up her skin and moved to her lips. She took a sharp breath, catching it in her throat because suddenly her mouth became very busy.

Their fourth kiss. Their most passionate one yet. One that spoke of more than mere desire and want. One that felt personal in ways the others hadn’t because this one meant something. Attraction, yes. Arousal, of course. But also, an understanding that finally the two were on the same path.

Diana’s hands were on Magnus’ waist. His were on her face. He pressed his tongue between her lips, coaxing her mouth to open to him, letting him taste her, consume her. He pulled her in and held her close, breathing her in as she melted into him.

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