A Wicked Wager (Avenging Lords 2)

“I know how conniving my father can be when he wants something,” she said, staring at the asparagus spears on her plate. “Based on his actions so far, I cannot help but think this amounts to more than a few malicious comments written in a note.”

Devlin fell silent for a moment. He sipped his wine though his dark eyes remained trained on her over the rim of his glass.

“And correct me if I’m wrong,” he began, “but I suspect your solemn mood stems from more than our failure to find the letters.”

Juliet daren’t look at him. She was not one who sought pity and had tried to pretend that learning of his motive for marriage hadn’t changed things somehow.

“Juliet.” Devlin’s rich voice caressed her.

“Yes?”

“Look at me.”

“Must I?”

“Unless you want me to straddle your lap at the dining table.”

She glanced at the footmen who held their stone-like expressions.

“I would consider that unwise unless you want to break the chair legs. I doubt either of us wishes to end up in a heap on the floor.”

“It did not seem to bother you last night.”

The comment brought the memories of their passionate encounter flooding back. Her body reacted instantly, sending pulses to the intimate place that craved his touch. When she found the courage to look at him, her stomach flipped.

“Nothing would have bothered me last night,” she said.

“Then perhaps we should retire to the music room and converse in there.” Devlin swallowed another mouthful of wine, and his lips curled into a sinful grin. “I will have the truth from you even if I have to tease it from your mouth.”

Juliet’s heart fluttered up to her throat. While her body relished the prospect, her mind focused on the two words that rendered her helpless—the truth.

“I’m not a naive chit at her come-out ball, but, foolishly, I imagined you’d experienced the same sense of connection when you suggested marriage. I am simply trying to come to terms with the fact that I appear to be somewhat gullible.”

Devlin leant back in the chair, a smile touching his lips. One jerk of the head and both footmen left the room.

“Would you have had me lie to you this morning?”

“Of course not.”

“Did you not marry me because I offered a means of escape?”

Juliet blinked. “Well, yes. But that was not the only reason.”

Devlin raised a curious brow. “And what other reason possessed you to shackle yourself to a stranger?”

The stark reality of the situation hit her. Since the day he’d pushed the magical band onto her finger, nothing but romantic notions filled her head. He was her protector, her saviour, the only one ever to unlock these sweet sensations that plagued her mind and body. She trusted him, cared for him.

“You made me feel safe, comfortable. I liked that we were different in so many ways. It sounds silly and perhaps a little conceited, but I had the overwhelming sense that you needed me, that we needed each other.” She stopped to take a breath. “And that is why I married you, Mr Drake.”

The smile slipped from his face only to be replaced with the same heated look she’d witnessed when in the throes of passion. Fire flashed in those dark eyes. “Besides needing to address the situation with Ambrose, I married you for exactly the same reasons.”

Her heart swelled in her chest. “I was hurt earlier, that is all.”

“I know. And I will make sure I never hurt you again.”

“Then there are no more secrets between us?”

“None.”