AllFreeNovel
Share Us
This kind of fear he had not felt for anyone else before. It made him mad, a feeling that was so sudden and overpowering that he couldn’t control it. Part of him was angry that Marina somehow had this control over him when he always wished to be in complete control of himself. The other part was furious that she had disobeyed his orders – for she had risked her own life.
“James –” she began slowly, her voice quiet, but he cut her off.
“I asked you not to go out,” his voice boomed around the room. She rolled her eyes and looked away, down at her lap.
“I am not a prisoner.”
“You aren’t! That’s right.” He marched across the room. “You ever heard the saying an Englishman’s home is his castle? It could not be truer here. In this house, it’s your castle, and you are safe here. It’s our fortress. No one can get in these walls, not when I have so many members of staff watching us. What do you do? You march beyond the safety of these walls.”
“Caroline’s house is just a few roads away. I thought I could travel there fine.” She didn’t meet his gaze though she spoke with strength. “I am not a dog to be ordered around either.” This time, she lifted her gaze to meet his own.
Frustrated, he turned away, feeling a growl escaping his lips.
“I am not ordering you around like a dog, Marina. I am trying to protect you. Can’ t you see that!” He knew it was mad to be angry at her. He should have really been angry at the assailant, but what could he do in this moment? The assailant had escaped. Marina was the closest one to him, and it became all too easy to be angry at her too.
“Yes, and no.” She stood to her feet, lowering her hand from her neck. There was strength in how she slowly took command of the room, despite her small height compared to his own, jerking her chin higher. “The wish to keep me safe? Yes, that is admirable. Saying this house is a castle to keep me within it?” She turned, gesturing outwardly with her arms to the room. “That is not.”
“If you can be attacked so easily, what message does that send to my enemies? Anyone angry at the gambling hall will know they can threaten us by getting to you. It shows my protection of you is flawed.”
“Is that all that matters? The gambling hall?” she scoffed.
“Marina, please!” He marched toward her, determined to continue this argument, but when he got so close to her, the bruises on her neck choked him. They grew in focus, not just blue but purple. He could practically see the outline of the man’s fingers upon her neck.
“What?” she asked, looking as irritated as he had felt moments ago. He lifted a hand to her neck and reached out, his fingers gentle upon her skin. Her eyes fluttered closed, and she leaned into that touch as if taking comfort in it.
“That man did this to you?” James whispered, moving closer to her. “I’ll kill him for this, I swear it.”
“Don’t, James.”
“No man should touch you like this. No man should hurt you.” He moved toward her, pressing his lips to her temple, kissing her with keenness then pressing his lips down her cheeks, reaching toward her lips.
“James…” she whispered, but he silenced her, pressing his lips to hers, needing to be that close to her. Her reaction was sudden, for her hands reached for his shoulders and she clung to him, almost desperately, with her fingers curling into the frock coat he hadn’t yet taken off in all of his haste.
When they parted it was rapid, and he lifted her head higher, the better to see the bruises on her throat.
“Look what he has done to you,” James seethed, his whisper escaping him in a hiss.
“The doctor says I’ll be fine. The bruises will disappear in a few days.” Her words were a comfort but not enough. He couldn’t stop running his fingers over her skin, wishing he could get rid of those bruises.
“Does it hurt?”
“A little.”
“That man… that devil…”
“James?” she tried to catch his attention.
“What?” he barked, distracted. She moved suddenly, raising herself on her toes and finding his lips with a kiss. He pressed himself back toward her, only too glad to continue that heat, when she abruptly parted, leaning back from him.
“Don’t leave me tonight,” she whispered.
“I won’t.”
“No, James. I mean more than that.” She held his gaze, not blinking for one second. “I mean I do not want you to just sleep beside me tonight.”
CHAPTER16
Marina held her breath as she waited for James’ answer, uncertain what it would be. After all, he was angry with her, wasn’t he? He had marched into this room, practically barking in his fury, yet he had kissed her so willingly with passion that was unequalled.
