Page 58 of My Beastly Duke

Isolde’s face filled with disbelief as she sucked in a sharp breath.

“Did you hear that? We have his blessing!” Adam’s voice was filled with disbelief as he kissed her again.

Pulling away, Isolde looked him in the eyes. “I can’t believe this is happening. I have dreamed of marrying you for so long, but I never thought for a second that it would come true.” Tears of joy now filled her eyes as she leaned her head against his and shut her eyes.

Lifting his hand to her cheek, Adam spoke softly. “I think we need a moment alone, what do you say?”

Nodding with a laugh of disbelief, Isolde allowed herself to be dragged from the structure.

Marina had almost forgotten about her own troubles as she suddenly recalled why she was there. “I am happy for Adam.I think that Isolde will be good for him,” she spoke softly, not wanting to meet his gaze.

“I am glad, I never suspected a thing, but I can see that he truly loves her.” Aaron smiled at her, making her heart ache with the same confusing questions.

A brief moment of silence passed between them before she stood. “Well, I had better go and see how Prudence is doing. She had her heart set on Adam falling in love with her when she made her debut.”

“Marina please wait, there is something that I need to say to you.” Aaron stood along with her, reaching for her hand.

Pulling back, Marina withdrew her hand. “Aaron, please, I do not wish to do this. Things are well enough as they are.”

“They are not,” he said more forcefully and came around the table.

“Yes, they are!” The well of emotions that had been building in her chest finally exploded.

“Not before you listen to what I have to say.” Coming forward and taking her face in his hands, Aaron gently forced her to look at him. “I love you, Marina. I know that I hurt you, but I am trying to make you see that I was wrong.”

Her eyes widened in shock as she looked at him.

He looked to the side in anger at first before meeting her gaze once again. “I was wrong, as hard as it is for me to say, I was wrong, and I love you. I have loved you with every fiber of my being since that day in the chapel. You have consumed my thoughts day and night, and I can no longer ignore it.”

“But you…” her voice was broken and frail when she felt herself being overcome by emotions.

“No, no buts. I refuse to let you leave until you hear what I have to say. If you do not love me in return, I will let you go, but I am given to believe that you do love me, no matter how little I deserve that love.”

“Aaron I…” Her words trailed off when he shook his head.

“There is more that I must say. Not only do I love you, but I want to spend the rest of my life proving that to you. I built this little menagerie with my bare hands, hoping that you would see just how much I want to build our lives together. I want our children to grow up knowing that they were made out of love. This menagerie may just be a small one, but I will build you thousands more if that is what you want.”

Hot tears flowed down her cheeks as all the pain and resentment she had been feeling, slowed from her body. “Oh, Aaron..." Her words were silenced by a searing kiss as he dipped his head, devouring her mouth like a man starved.

The kiss lasted for what felt like a lifetime until they drew apart for a breath.

“Will you forgive me?” He whispered while looking into her eyes.

“How could I not when you built me a menagerie with your own hands?” She felt so overcome by emotions that she could barely breathe.

He loves me.

Pulling her back into his arms, Aaron kissed her again before pulling back. “I think everyone else is otherwise occupied right now. Can we please go upstairs and take off that ridiculous black dress? Or do you feel as if there are still things that you need to mourn?” He searched her eyes for an answer.

“I would like that very much.” She smiled for the first time in weeks and allowed herself to be led from the menagerie where she was certain that love would bloom forever.

Epoilogue

Marina allowed herself to be guided into her chambers, feeling the heat of his kisses on the back of her neck. “Aaron, don’t you think that we should wait until the others have left?” She asked him breathlessly and shut her eyes, leaning the back of her head on his shoulder.

Growling in response, he brought his hands up to her chest, cupping her breasts firmly before pulling her back against his chest. “Adam can show them out, I said that I would help you out of this ridiculous dress, and that is exactly what I intend to do.”

A wave of pleasure ran down her spine when he kicked the door shut behind them and squeezed her breasts. Everything else in the world seemed to fade away as his tongue caressed the nape of her neck.