Chapter Twenty-One #2
Ashley felt tears spill over, running down her cheeks.
“I love you,” she whispered. “God help me, Raven, I love you so much it terrifies me. I never meant to fall in love with you—I thought this would just be a convenient arrangement. But somehow, you’ve become everything, and the thought of losing you—”
“Do you know how scared I was when I saw Carstairs take you? I understand loving anyone is a risk and I’d do it all again just to have a moment in time with you.”
Her smile opened his heart fully.
“You won’t lose me.” His thumbs wiped away her tears with infinite gentleness.
“Not over this. Not over anything, if I have any say in the matter.” He paused, and something vulnerable flickered in his eyes.
“I love you too, Ashley. I fought it for weeks, terrified of feeling this way again after Kitty. But what I feel for you—it’s different.
Deeper. You’re my equal. You see all of me, even the parts I tried to hide, and you love me anyway. ”
“Of course I do. How could I not?”
“That’s what I’m trying to tell you.” Raven pressed his forehead to hers.
“If you can love me despite my darker desires, despite my grief and my flaws, then I can certainly love you despite a confidence you’re keeping to protect others.
That’s what love is, isn’t it? Trusting each other even when we don’t know everything.
Believing the best of each other even when tested. ”
Ashley pulled back to look at him properly. “I love how accepting and calm you are about this. So reasonable. Most men would demand to know everything.”
“Most men haven’t spent three months denying themselves a wife they desperately wanted because they were too afraid to be vulnerable,” Raven said dryly.
“I’ve learned something these past weeks, Ashley.
Control is an illusion. The more I tried to maintain it, the more miserable I made us both.
Real strength isn’t about controlling everything around you—it’s about being strong enough to trust others.
To let them have their own agency, their own choices. ”
“And I choose you. I choose you to love, to be the father of my children and to build my life with. Our life…”
He smiled softly at her words. “Besides, I have a fairly good idea what this might be about, and if I’m right, it’s actually rather…impressive.”
Ashley’s eyes widened. “You do?”
“I do. But I won’t push you to confirm or deny my suspicions.
That would defeat the whole purpose of this conversation.
” His expression turned more serious. “I will say this, though—when the truth does come out, and it affects me or my business interests, I expect you to stand with me publicly. To be my duchess and my partner, even if it means facing some awkwardness or embarrassment. Can you promise me that?”
“Of course,” Ashley said immediately. “Always. I may have kept this confidence, but I’m yours, Raven. Completely. And I’ll stand by your side through whatever comes.”
“Then that’s all I need to know.” He kissed her softly, tenderly. “Now, shall we put this aside and focus on more pleasant things? Like the fact that my wife was saved from an evil villain and that she just declared her love for me and I want to demonstrate my feelings rather vigorously.”
Ashley felt herself blush. “I thought you’d never stop talking.”
“Well, I know I’d prefer to have other sounds coming out of that sensual mouth of yours.” His smile turned wicked. “Perhaps we could try some bindings and that new whip I acquired last week?”
“Raven!” But she was laughing now, the tension of the past few hours dissolving into warmth and affection.
“Too tired?” He was already reaching for the drawer where he kept such things. “I thought perhaps we could explore—”
“Not tired at all,” Ashley interrupted, surprising both of them with her boldness. “In fact, I think it’s exactly what we both need right now. To remember why we trust each other. Why we love each other despite our secrets and flaws.”
Raven’s eyes darkened with desire and something deeper—appreciation, perhaps, or gratitude for this remarkable woman who had somehow become his everything. “Have I mentioned that you’re perfect?”
“You have. Though I’m not sure perfectly behaved ladies suggest their husbands tie them up.”
“Good thing I married the lady who never behaves, then.” He pulled her close again, his lips finding hers in a kiss that promised pleasure and passion and something more enduring—trust, freely given and returned in full measure.
Later, much later, as they lay tangled together in the aftermath of passion, Ashley traced idle patterns on Raven’s chest. “Thank you,” she whispered.
“For what?”
“For understanding. For not pushing. For loving me enough to let me keep this confidence.” She pressed a kiss over his heart. “I don’t deserve you.”
“You deserve everything,” Raven murmured, already half-asleep. “And when your secret comes out, we’ll laugh about it together. I promise.”
Ashley smiled against his skin, hoping he was right. Hoping that when Raven discovered he’d been competing against his own wife and her friends, he would indeed find the humor in it. That his pride would weather the blow of being beaten at investments by a group of women.
But for now, in this moment, she chose to trust what they had built together. To believe that their love was strong enough to withstand whatever revelations lay ahead.
Because if Raven could share his deepest desires with her—could bind her with silk and trust her with his vulnerability—then surely their love could survive one small investment wager.
Surely.