“This sounds familiar already,” I mutter.
“While her power was great, her reach was small. She wanted to know that she controlled all of the power players in the world, so she arranged powerful marriages for all of her children. She sent them out into the world, and they had children who went on to make powerful alliances and so on and so on and now those descendants are in powerful government positions, royal families, and influential billionaires all over the world.”
“Jeez. How many kids did she have?” I ask.
“Eighteen.”
“I’m not having that many kids,” I say without thinking.
Rhys places a kiss on my temple and replies, “Of course not. I would never risk your safety like that.Also, we’re not blood thirsty dictators hell bent on global power and control.”
“There is that…” I mumble to myself making him chuckle. I frown at the warm feeling making him laugh bursts through my chest.
“Now where was I?” he thinks to himself. “Oh yes, the old cow and her eighteen insane children…”
“They were insane?”
“Aye, and so are most of their offspring,” he says with a sigh. “The queen sent off her ridiculous number of psychotic children in the name of making powerful connections around the world and they did. They united their powers in an attempt to overthrow governments and political strongholds.”
“Did it work?” I ask.
“In some cases, yes, but in most no,” he says. “That didn’t stop them. They appeal to those who want the power.”
“Like the earl?”
“Aye,” he answers. “Like the earl and his daughter, Saoirse. She wasn’t lying when she said that she’s my age. We would have been the more appropriate match back then, but the earl wanted the power and connections being the father of the Queen would garner him while he was young enough to enjoy it. So he ordered my mother’s murder and then blackmailed my father into taking his daughter as his new bride.”
“No,” I gasp.
“Aye. When my father was no longer of use tothem, they started poisoning him,” he says. “He knew he was dying when he told me to choose a bride.”
“Hmm.” I feel myself bristle at the mention that I was essentially chosen from a catalog of suitable wives and not the love match I had thought we were.
“Do no’ pull away from me now, hen,” he warns as his grip on my ass tightens. “I’ve told you I was told to choose a wife and quickly, I also told you that I would never lie to you again, and I have no’. So, I was no’ lying when I said with one look at your picture, I knew that I had to meet you. And once you literally fell into my arms, I knew that you were mine.”
“Rhys—” I start but he keeps going.
“I took you and made you mine in ways that couldn’t be undone and took the choice away from you because I knew you would chicken out and run if given the opportunity. And I’m no’ sorry that I did either because at the end of the day, you belong with me. You’re here, naked and in my arms, in my bed and mine in all the ways that matter, so quit your arguing because they’re all the ways that matter to you too.”
“Well. I don’t know what to say to that.”
“I do. Just tell me you love me and all will be well,” he says, placing another kiss on my temple.
“I do love you,” I reply gently.
“Aye,” he says, his voice rumbling as he rolls into me and turns us over, deftly sliding between my thighs, which naturally fall open for him as he covers my body with his. “You do.”
“Wh-what are you doing?” I gasp at his bold move even though he is my husband.
“Now’s the fun part,” he says with a grin and a flash of his neat, white teeth.
“I thought we were having a history lesson?” I ask, rushing the words out as I feel his hard length pressed against my thigh.
“That’s enough history for now,” he replies as he presses his hand between us and cups me before slipping two fingers inside me and curling them to hit just right. He leans down, pressing his lips to my breast, kissing and nipping as he goes.
“Rhys.” I gasp at the intrusion that turns into an immediate rush of lust, teetering on pleasure. I arch my back and clutch the forearm attached to the hand at one of my most vulnerable places.
“That’s it, hen. I want to watch you come on my hand and then my cock,” he says before pressing his thumb to my clit. The added pressure along with his fingers stroking inside me, have me hurtling toward an unexpected climax. He pulls my nipple deep into his mouth and the stinging bite of his ministrations only adds to the pleasure he’s stoking with his hands.