“Marriages without love fail and you don’t have love to give. Remember that you are a practical man.”
Robert wanted to tell her that he already had feelings for her. That the time they had spent together had resulted in consequences for him, but he did not dare. He did not know if it was for fear of losing his image as a cold man with women or because he did not want her to take advantage of that.
“I’m right, aren’t I?”
“We can get along and see what happens.”
“If that’s what you want false husband. Anyway, I can’t do anything against your wishes.”
“You are not a prisoner.” Robert caressed her face. “You are my wife.”
“I’ll do what I can, but please do not ask me for intimacy because I will never forgive you for betraying me. I will be your wife and your ornament, but nothing more.”
“You know that is not true. You and I can be separated by what we want, Sonia. We may not agree. We may not stand each other, but in bed the story is different.”
“Don’t you dare say that.” Robert’s words hurt her because they were true.
Robert laughed. “I prefer to see you outraged and not sad.”
“Just leave, please.”
He took her hand. “Just try Sonia. Try to live with me as my wife and you will not regret it. I may not be the best man but there are worse than me. I can assure you.”
“You know? I think now of everything that happened and everything fits. When Edward saw us together one night and simply turned a blind eye and entered his study. I thought his way of behaving was very strange. I even thought he would challenge you to a duel. That he would make a scandal that night, but he only locked himself in with you and after a while, the marriage was arranged.” Sonia looked at him and laughed with bitterness. “Everything was planned.”
Robert looked down. “Yes, it’s true. We had already talked.”
“You told them about what I proposed to you that afternoon?”
Robert looked at her distressed. “I had to do it, sweetheart. It was the only way that if we were discovered there would not be a misfortune, and I knew that in the end, someone would discover us. I wanted to make sure they did not treat you badly, and that they knew I was going to marry you. That I would love you and treat you so well that you would not want to leave my side.”
“How could you?” Sonia was crying and then, it was she who left, leaving him worried.
The days passed but as much as Robert wanted her to be happy at home Sonia only spoke to him for what was necessary and the rest of the time she stayed in her room. Or went for long walks with Charlotte. Who she didn’t speak to either. Robert did not like to see her like that. There was nothing left of the cheerful and reckless woman. Now she had a sad smile and if she said something she would only say that she agreed and nothing more. That day they were both at home, it was pouring rain and Sonia could not take her usual walk and he couldn’t go out to monitor some of his land’s affairs. Robert knew that she was in the library reading and wanted to see her, try to resolve things but he didn’t know how she would receive him.
He went to the library and found her reading near the fire.
“It is a perfect afternoon to read,” Robert said casually.
Sonia raised her head and nodded. “If you need to use the library, I can go to my room.” Sonia started to stand up but Robert sat on the same sofa where she was.
“That’s not what I want.”
“Then?”
“I just want to be with you for a while. We have not talked for a while.”
She looked at him strangely. “We talk every day.”
“Just about the household expenses.”
“It’s because there’s no us.”
“I see you always alone, sad, and you barely say a word. I do not want to see you that way.” Robert placed a hand on the back of her neck and caressed her.
“Please, Robert.” Sonia tried to move away, but he did not leave.
He buried his face in her hair. “You do not know how much I need you, darling.”
She turned her face because she knew he was going to kiss her. He took her lips causing familiar feelings in her and she knew that it could end her anger and she didn’t want that. She wanted to be tough with him, all she had left was her indifference.
“Robert, don’t do this. There are too many things that separate us at this time.”
“Don’t you want this as much as I do?” Robert lifted her skirt and his hands touched the soft skin of her legs. As he kissed her, he quickly reached the triangle between her thighs and began to insert a finger.
“Please no.”
Robert could not hear her pleas. He needed to feel her, caress her, and see her face climax. His flesh was already hardened by excitement and he devoted himself to provoking her and making her feel more and more need. Sonia writhed but with less and less effort while she felt him caress her sex and his kisses burning her neck.
His fingers were full of moisture and he smiled. “You are ready for me.”
Sonia did not answer, just looked at him with need and a feverish gleam in her eyes. Robert opened her legs, and she did not object. His eyes never left hers. Robert ran his fingers through the wetness of her folds and lowered his head. At first, she looked at him as if he were crazy, but he did not let her think about it much because he fully extended her legs and approached to inhale the scent of her sex
