Page 179 of Her Beast

“I didn’t use the wordnag.”

“No, but I am. Now, what is it?”

“I don’t have much to offer, so it would make me feel useful if you would allow me to do things. To help.”

Malcolm frowned. “What do you mean you don’t have much to offer?”

“You don’t need money,” she snorted, “not that I have any. I’m pretty enough, but there are thousands of pretty women in the city. I’m not talented or especially clever or—”

“Stop.”

His harsh bark made her startle.

“It’s the truth, Malcolm.”

“You make me want to get up in the morning. You make me believe I can have things I’d given up on: love, a wife, children, a family. Do you think that isuseless? I was initially attracted to your beauty, but it did not take me long to realize that is the least impressive part of you, Julia. Don’t ever say you have nothing to offer; you areeverythingto me.”

A tear slid down her cheek and he wiped it away with his thumb and then pulled her down on top of him, wrapping his arms around her and holding her tightly while she snuggled into him, as if she could burrow right into his chest.

“You make me so happy, Malcolm. I just worry I won’t be enough for you.”

He stroked her silky hair. “I worry about the same thing, too, sweetheart.” He pressed kisses against her head, inhaling the intoxicating scent of woman. “You make my life worth living, Julia. I love you so much it hurts.”

She cuddled harder and gave a suspiciously damp sniff. “I’ve waited so long to hear that.”

“I’ll tell you every day, darling.”

“I love you too, Malcolm.” The last word was strangely distorted.

“Is that—did you justyawnJulia? While I am declaring my undying love for you?” he teased.

“I’m so sorry. I don’t know what is wrong with—” Another yawn drifted up. “Why do I always get so tired when I’m with you? No, wait,” she said, “I know—five orgasms will do that to a person.”

Malcolm laughed. “Just rest, love.”

“You’ll be here when I wake up?” she asked sleepily. “You won’t just go without saying anything?”

Malcolm tightened his hold on her. “I’ll be here when you wake up tomorrow, and every morning after, darling.”

Epilogue

Three months later

“Happy birthday, darling,” Malcolm said, giving his wife a large velvet box.

Julia opened the box, her blue eyes going wide. “Oh, Malcolm, how lovely,” she said, lightly tracing her fingers over a diamond necklace that had cost more than all the other jewelry he’d bought added together.

He cocked his head and put a finger beneath her chin, tilting her face up. “Why do you look less than pleased.”

“Oh, no! I love it! I do. It is exquisite and beautiful and—”

“—and it was not what you were hoping for,” he finished.

“Well, I must admit I’d thought—” she broke off and flushed, biting her lower lip.

After three months of marriage her blushes were rarer, but they still appeared when he forced her to articulate some of her thoughts—especially the wicked ones.

Like whatever she had in her head just then.

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