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Thoughts of Alexandra tormented him. He’d used every bit of strength he possessed to send her away this morning, and it had weakened him even more. He would always love her. No one else would satisfy him now. So he had resigned himself to bachelorhood. Hell, who needed an heir, anyway? He was only a second son.
But a child…born of Alexandra’s womb… He’d dreamed of holding his son or daughter as he gazed at his beautiful wife…
Alexandra was everything to him. But he had to be strong and leave her be. He could no longer protect her. She was too impulsive, too strong-willed. She would always want to be doing something contrary to her best interests. What kind of life would that be for him, constantly keeping her out of trouble?
He couldn’t help smiling to himself. It would be an amazing life. A challenging life. A life of surprises.
The life he wanted.
But if he couldn’t trust her, no future existed for them. He could live with the fact that she wasn’t a soft-willed woman who acquiesced to all of her husband’s demands. That was the kind of woman his mother had been, and she had been a good wife to his father. But his father had never loved her. Instead, he had fallen for Alexandra’s mother. Iris was beautiful, tall, and regal like Alexandra. She no doubt possessed some of her daughter’s fire—what hadn’t been burned out by her first husband—and that is what had drawn his father to her. She was a woman of strength and character who had sacrificed everything to protect her daughters.
His father could not have done better for himself.
Evan finally understood. It was Alexandra’s fire that drew him. Her passion. Her strength. She was nothing like Evan’s mother.
If only she hadn’t violated his trust. He would have to learn to live without her. But how could he live when half of his heart—his soul—was missing?
* * *
Ally had sunk down in the chair as much as the bindings would allow. Dear Lord, the heat! The muskiness of her own body odor wafted to her nose. It hadn’t become unpleasant yet, but it was well on its way. Her hair felt like it was plastered to her scalp.
Her heart hammered as heavy footsteps clomped up the stairs. Osborne walked in.
“Good evening, my lady. I trust you have not been too uncomfortable.”
Ally strained against her gag. How dare he come in here so nonchalantly after kidnapping her and tying her up.
“And now, I must decide what to do with you. The night crew will be in before long, so I need to get rid of you before then.” He tapped his foot, rubbing his chin. “What to do?”
Ally’s stomach threatened to empty. She willed it back. Getting sick through the gag would not be pleasant.
Osborne strode forward, his eyes glazed over. He stroked her cheek, his bony fingers clammy against her skin. She winced.
“Do not shy away from my touch, my lady.”
Ally let out a scream, muffled through the gag.
“You are a beauty.” He leaned toward her and slithered his tongue up her cheek.
Ally nearly vomited. Her skin tightened against the gooey disgustingness of his saliva. This man oozed creepiness. He was a vile creature, and he would not violate her.
“Leave me alone!” The words did not make it past her gag.
“Such lovely lips.” Osborne traced them with his index finger. “If I remove this gag, will you kiss me?”
Ally violently shook her head.
“Oh, I think you will.” He ripped the gag from her and clamped his mouth onto hers.
The dreaded invisible worms crawled over her skin. She wanted to vomit. She pressed her lips shut, even as his tongue tried to force its way in. She would not allow it.
He withdrew. “So you want to make this rough, do you? I can’t say that will be unpleasant for me.” He chuckled and leered at her.
She cringed.
“I’ll have to get you out of that chair as your legs are no use to me now. I want them spread apart. I want to see the treasures you hide between them.”
Ally gagged and spat in his face. “You will not touch me!”
