Remorse (Rhodes #0.5) by Rina Kent

“You’re misunderstanding, Eva.” His low voice coaxes, even if his impatience is showing through the clenching of his jaw.

“What? What am I misunderstanding, Arthur? Your engagement with Rose? Or acting all jealous and possessive when you already have a fiancée?”

“I don’t have a fiancée.” He enunciates every word as if spelling it out for me.

“Save it! I heard —”

I’m cut off when Arthur takes my hand and drags me behind him. I try to wiggle free, but his clutch is like steel.

“Let me go.” I cry through the tears. “Just leave me alone.”

He stops, turns around and crashes his lips against mine. His kiss is passionate and filled with longing and possessiveness. I’m crying and kissing him back and hating myself for wanting this moment to last just a little longer.

When he breaks away, he rasps, “Never, Eva.”

“I’m going back to New York.” I sob, my vision becoming blurry.

“No, you aren’t.”

“Didn’t you say you will let me go if I decide to?”

“I lied.”

He drags me behind him again, and I don’t have the energy to resist him anymore. I’m exhausted and heartbroken and a mess. I just want to crawl into a corner and cry.

“There.” Arthur points up at the patio of Rose’s room where she’s kissing — no, making out with — Alexander. They’re all over each other, I think they’re about to strip and go at it on the balcony.

“He’s her fiancé, not me.” Arthur stands in front of me, and I’m thankful that he blocks the view.

“But Mrs Taylor and Mrs Fishnet…”

“Those old hags have dated gossip.” Arthur smiles, and a wave of relief overwhelms me. Arthur isn’t engaged to Rose. Oh, Goodness.

“It’s true that our fathers talked about my engagement with Rose, but both of us never agreed. It’s only…”

My breath hitches. “Only what?”

“Rose asked me to pretend to agree because she wanted to get a reaction out of my ignorant brother.” Arthur laughs, the sound does strange things to me. “He got her pregnant, so I assume it worked.”

“Oh.”

His fingers reach for me and he wipes my tears with the pad of his thumbs, eyes imploring mine with an arched eyebrow. “Apparently, Rose’s plan had the same effect on you as it had on Alexander?”

“It didn’t.” I sniffle. When Arthur keeps rising an eyebrow, I sigh. “It did. I can’t imagine you married to another woman.”

“I love it when you’re possessive of me.” His lips brush over mine. “It makes my possessiveness of you seem fair.”

I nudge his side. “They don’t even compare, you brute.”

He smiles like he doesn’t feel the least bit guilty about it. I’m sure he doesn’t. Arthur is the type of man who goes after what he wants without remorse.

“Besides.” His fingers glide down my cheeks, and I lean into his touch. “The only woman I want to marry is standing right in front of me. She still hasn’t given me an answer to the question I asked three years ago.”

Tears moisten my eyes again. “Oh, Arthur…”

“I love you, Eva.” The words flow from his mouth like the most sacred thing he’s ever said. Arthur’s shoulders hunch as if not sure of himself. The vulnerability in his eyes — that he never showed to anyone but me — makes me want to hug him. “I’m emotionally defective. Even my own mother doesn’t think I’m capable of feeling any affection and curses herself for bringing me to this world. I thought the same. I didn’t know love was something I’m allowed to feel, but when I was enraged, or were pulled by the darkness, and you touched me, all the chaos faded away. That’s when I knew I would do anything to protect you and be with you. I’m well aware you deserve a lot better than me, but if you’ll have me, I promise to try being a man worthy of you.”

“You already are.” I’m choking on happy tears as he speaks, my heart almost leaping to the ground. “Ask me that question again.”

“I thought you forgot everything I said.”

“Never.”

“Never?”

“Not even close, Arthur. Now, go on, ask me.”

He smiles and reaches into his jacket the retrieves the ring I ran away from three years ago. Has he been keeping it on him this entire time? Happiness and giddiness and excitement whirl through me.

Uncertainty cloaks his features. “Eva James, will you marry me?”

“Yes!” I throw myself in his arms and seal my lips to his. “A thousand yes, Arthur!”

He hugs me close and showers my neck with kisses.

“It’s Aaron,” I say between kisses.

“What?” He stares into my eyes.

“We agreed to name our son Aaron. I didn’t forget a word you said.” I kiss him again, long and deep. “I love you, Arthur. I never stopped loving you.”

I don’t know what the future has in store for us, but as long as I have Arthur with me, I’m not scared of anything.





If you liked this, then you will certainly love their son’s Aaron story. Click here for Ruin.