One Night Of Consequences Collection. Annie West

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СКАЧАТЬ wistfully at the scenery of Spain flying past us. In any other circumstance I would have been in awe at the magnificent view. The farmland and soft hills of central Spain were turning to a drier landscape. Lovely thick bushes of pink and white oleander flowers separated the highway, a vivid, wild, unexpected beauty, much like Spain itself.

      Oleander. I shivered a little. So beautiful to the eyes. But so poisonous to the heart.

      Just like Alejandro, I thought. I wouldn’t let him in. Husband or not, I’d never let him close to me. In any way.

      We’d stopped only once since we left Madrid, to feed and change the baby, and to put gas in both cars. Alejandro offered to take a small detour and stop for lunch in Córdoba, to show me the famous cathedral that had once been a Great Mosque. But I’d refused. I didn’t want him doing me any favors. Though later I regretted it, because I heard a lot about the famous Mezquita.

      As the car flew south, turning on a new road, I blinked in the bright sun flooding the windows. After weeks of rain in San Miguel, and London’s drizzle and overcast skies, the Spanish sun had come as advertised, with a wide blue horizon that held not a single cloud. The arid landscape suddenly reminded me of Mexico. Which reminded me of the freedom and independence I’d had so briefly.

      And Edward.

      I’ll be back for you, Lena.

      “Stop it,” Alejandro growled.

      I nearly jumped in the smooth leather seat. “What?”

      “I can hear you. Thinking about him.”

      “You can hear me thinking?”

      “Stop,” he said quietly, giving me a hard sideways glance. “Or I will make you stop.”

      “Make me—” I snorted derisively, then I looked at him, remembering his last ruthless kiss in the cloakroom. And the one before it, which had been even more dangerous. I remembered how it had felt, surrendering to his embrace, how it had made my whole body tremble with need.

      “You’re such a jerk,” I muttered, folding my arms mutinously. “My thoughts are my own.”

      “Not if they are of a man like St. Cyr. Thoughts lead to actions.”

      “I told you, I don’t even like him anymore!”

      He snorted. “And that is supposed to inspire trust? You’ve made it plain you did not wish to marry me. Perhaps you’re wishing now you took the other choice.”

      I looked at him. “What other choice?”

      “A war between us,” he said grimly. He was staring forward at the road, his jaw tight. “St. Cyr would be eager to help you with that.”

      My arms unfolded. “No.” I frowned. “I don’t want war. I’d never deliberately hurt you, Alejandro. Not now.”

      “Really,” he said in clear disbelief.

      “Hurting you would hurt Miguel.” I looked out the window and said softly, “We both love him. I realized the truth last night, even before your marriage ultimatum—neither of us wants to be apart from him.” Blinking fast, I faced him. “You’re right. We’re married now. So let’s make the best of it.”

      “Do you mean it?” he said evenly. I nodded.

      “Let’s make sure Miguel has a wonderful childhood and a real home, where he’ll always feel safe and warm and loved.”

      His hands seemed to relax a little around the steering wheel. He looked at me. There was something strange in his eyes, something almost like—yearning—that made my heart twist.

      “If it’s really true you’d never deliberately hurt me...” He seemed to be speaking to himself. “I wish I could...”

      “What?”

      He shook his head, and his jaw went hard. “Nothing.”

      What had he been about to say? I looked down, blinking as my eyes burned. Telling myself I shouldn’t care. Willing myself not to care.

      My lie is about something else.

      What?

      I remembered the stark look in his eyes. Me. Only me.

      Stop it, I told my heart fiercely. Don’t get sucked in! Keep your distance!

      Silently, Alejandro stared forward at the road. For long minutes, the only sound was Miguel cooing to himself in the backseat, chortling triumphantly as he grasped a soft toy hanging from the top of his baby seat, and making it squeak. I smiled back at my son. He was the reason. The only reason.

      “I’m glad you feel that way. The truth is I don’t want to hurt you, either.” Alejandro tightened his hands on the steering wheel. He glanced at me out of the corner of his eye. “Our son is what matters. We’ll focus on him. I’ll never leave you or Miguel. Together we’ll make sure our son is always well cared for.”

      Our eyes locked, and an ache lifted to my throat. Turning away, I tried to block the emotion out with a laugh. “Miguel will be a duke someday. That’s crazy, isn’t it?”

      Alejandro turned his eyes back to the road.

      “Sí,” he said grimly. “Crazy.”

      I’d been trying to lighten the mood. But his voice sounded darker than ever. “Did I say something wrong?”

      “No. You are correct. Miguel will be Duque de Alzacar.” I frowned. But before I could figure out what lay behind the odd tension in his voice, he turned to me. “So you forgive me for forcing you to marry me against your will?”

      I exhaled.

      “It’s a very complicated question.”

      “No. It is not.”

      Something broke inside me. And words came pouring out.

      “You think I was silly and selfish to want to marry for love. But for the past ten years, that dream was all I’ve held on to.” I looked at my hands in my lap. “Ever since I was fourteen years old, I’ve felt so alone. So unwanted. But then, last year, when I met you...” I lifted agonized eyes to his. “All my dreams seemed to be coming true. It was as if...I’d gone back in time. To the world I once knew. The one filled with love. The world where I was good enough. Wanted. Even cherished.”

      Alejandro’s expression darkened. “Lena...”

      “Then you abandoned me,” I whispered. “You told me you didn’t love me, that you never would.” I looked at him. “But I still married you yesterday, Alejandro, knowing that. Knowing you’ve lied to me in the past and will lie in the future. I married you knowing that the loneliness I tried to leave behind me in London will now follow me for the rest of my life. Only now, instead of being a poor relation, I’m the gold digger who got pregnant to ensnare a rich duke. And everyone will say, weren’t you so good and noble to marry me? Wasn’t it an amazing sacrifice for you to make me your wife? How generous of you! How kind!”

      He glowered. СКАЧАТЬ