Chloe clucked her tongue as she fastened my gown. "Hold still, Miss, you'll look a fright if these buttons aren't done up right."
I wrinkled my nose. "Perhaps I should look a fright. Then the captain might change his mind about marrying me and I'll be sent home."
"You obviously haven't gotten to know Captain Smythe very well, miss," Chloe teased.
And Lieutenant Trent, my treacherous thoughts added.
By the time I entered the drawing room, both men were waiting. They were far too handsome formygood.
Leighton rose immediately, that bright scarred face smiling and softening me in places Ididn'twant to be softened. Unsurprisingly, Magnus made no move other than an arched brow at my entrance.
So I made them wait.
Only a smidge.
"You look lovely, Lisa. You'll have the entire town buzzing about the beauty I had shipped in from the Transvaal. I'm sure some of the older matrons were starting to think I was fibbing when I spoke of my intended. It's about high time everyone gets to meet my bride-to-be properly."
I blinked at him, then deadpanned, "Will these older matrons know about ourarrangement?"
Leighton chuckled, squeezing my hand. "Love, it's good to see you have some of your spark back. I was getting rather worried that the fiery woman in your letters had disappeared over the last few days."
Magnus brushed past me on his way to the door, close enough to ruffle my skirts and send my heart skittering. "Not our filly, Leigh. Nothing will keep her down long," he murmured. His eyes lingered just long enough to make my knees wobble. "But before we go, there is a small matter of proving to you, whom you belong to."
Heat pooled in my belly, traitorous and infuriating. So I tossed up my chin and said sweetly. "I think,Magnus, it's about time you realize I don'tbelongto anyone. As much as you might dream of it, I'm not a horse from your stables."
He smiled that devil's smile, sharp as a blade. "That's what you think."
Leighton crossed to the small drawer near the sideboard, withdrawing something dark and silken from within. When he returned, the object unfurled in his hand. A narrow ribbon of midnight satin with a small golden charm at its center.
My breath caught at the simplistic beauty of it.
"A gift," he said, voice low, warm. "For my bride."
"I'm not your bride," I whispered, though my cheeks heated as he stepped behind me.
"Notyet," he murmured by my ear, brushing my hair aside. "You'll be my wife soon, love. And this will be the first signof that ownership. Soon you'll have my ring on your finger. Showing the world who you belong to."
The cool silk kissed the column of my throat as his fingers fastened it, lingering deliberately. I felt caged and claimed all at once. His lips grazed the shell of my ear. "Every breath you take in town, Lisa, you'll feel it. It will be a reminder foryou."
I meant to retort, some sharp quip ready on my tongue, but my words died as Mangus knelt suddenly before me. The sheer boldness of it stole my air.
"What... what are you doing?" My voice pitched high, uncertain, my hands clutching at my skirts.
He only smirked, one hand closing firmly around my ankle. "You wear Leigh's collar, and soon will have his wedding band on your finger. I'm okay with that, but you'll havemymark on you, something that is just for us. One day soon I'll mark your delicious milky skin permanently. But today... today I'll just make sure to giveyouthe reminder so you'll feel me with every move you make.”
Before I could protest further, he was beneath my skirts, hidden from view, the scandal of it making me dizzy. Leighton steadied me, his palm warm on my waist. "Breathe, love," he coaxed softly. "If you say no, he'll step away. Nothing between us will ever happen without your consent."
"This doesn't feel very consensual," I whispered, still breathless.
"Oh no, love. There's nothing wrong with a bit of pushing, especially when it's needed. But you say the word and Magnus will get up and leave you be."
What did I want? Truly?
The answer was shockingly easy to come to.
I rested my head back against Leighton's shoulder and surrendered.
And then I felt the tug. The shock of cool air against heated skin. Magnus peeled my drawers down my legs, but he didn't stop there. His mouth pressed against the soft flesh of my thigh, hot and claiming, teeth grazing just enough to make me jolt.
