Predatory Marriage

hest, but he only pressed further, stroking his tongue into her mouth.
His tongue slid over her teeth, caressing her palate so skillfully that it felt as if he had kissed her a hundred times before.
It kindled a strange warmth in her lower belly.

The moment she couldn’t bear it anymore and thought about biting his tongue, he pulled away as if he had heard her thoughts.
Panting, Leah stared up at him.

The sound of the rain echoed through the courtyard.
Bare tree branches swayed, and mist had appeared.
Her heart was beating so frantically.
She felt no revulsion at this man’s touch, so why was this happening to her with Blain?

The man’s gaze went to her red, swollen cheek, her rain-soaked body, and the wedding ring on her finger.

“…You,” he said slowly.
“You must have thought it would be better to die than suffer like this.”

She wanted to argue those words, but she couldn’t.
The sound of rain filled the silence as she waited for his words.

“But like that day, when you feared my death…” Every word was filled with sorrow, and this man who looked sturdier than anything in the world somehow looked simultaneously frail.
“It’s the same for me.
Ever since I lost you, do you know what I’ve been thinking about?”

His golden eyes momentarily filled with rage, but quickly that murderous intent vanished.
His lips moved, and then he closed his mouth again.
Instead, he just ran his hand slowly through her rain-soaked hair.

Leah was not usually swayed by compassion, but she was trying to understand this man.
There was pain deep in her heart, and the urge to comfort him, even though she was not the person he was looking for.

“I think you’ve made a mistake,” she said, more gently than usual.
“I’m engaged to someone I’ve loved for a long time.
We’ll be married soon.”

She couldn’t be sure, but it sounded like this man had lost his wife.
She could not imagine the pain of such a separation, but she had sympathy for those feelings.
She decided to forgive him.