Page 64 of Innocent Intentions

And now?

I fear I’m at risk of falling for her.

It’s not about her silence. It hasn’t been for a long time.

I’m not sure it ever truly was.

It’s not even about her body, as much of a temptation as it is.

It’s her.

Margot.

All of her.

I need her to be mine. In every way a woman can belong to a man.

Margot will be Mrs. Matthias Montclair.

Chapter 25

Matthias

We’re enjoying a pleasant dinner, until Margot suddenly jerks upright in her chair.

I freeze.

“What’s wrong?” My voice betrays my panic. My heart slams against my ribs. My chair scrapes against the floor as I shoot to my feet.

I’m on her in seconds, hands gripping her arms, checking for injuries.

“Are you hurt?” My hands skim her body, searching for blood, bruises, anything.

She swats me away. Then to my complete horror, she starts giggling.

Giggling.

The giggles turn into full-blown laughter. She’s clutching her stomach, shaking.

Is she going into hysterics?

What the fuck is happening?

“Sweetheart,” I say carefully, trying to keep the desperation out of my voice. “Tell me what’s wrong.”

She wipes a tear from her cheek, still laughing.A fucking tear.

“I’m so sorry, Matty,” she gasps between giggles. “I didn’t mean to scare you.”

My entire body deflates. “Sweet girl, you just took years off of my life.” And gave me a minor heart attack. I should call Dr. Richard, the Syndicate doctor, and have an EKG done.

She giggles again.

Now that I’m not in a state of all-consuming panic, I can appreciate the sound. Her laughter is angelic. Addicting. I’ll never get enough.

Then she says something that stops my heart for the second time tonight.

“I’m sorry, babe.”

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