Love Beyond the Mask by Adelaide Sinclair

Chapter 1318

"Why wait until then?" Ludwik frowned, clearly not understanding.

Whitney lowered her gaze, her long lashes hiding her emotions like a curtain. But when she finally looked up at him, the truth shone through. "If we get married, you'll think everything's settled. But if we're not, at least you'll still have something tying you back here. You won't be so reckless, risking your life out there in Eurovoria. You'd come back for me, to make things right."

Her words hung heavy in the air.

Ludwik was silent for a long time.

Just as Whitney started to feel the quiet was suffocating, she felt his arms wrap around her waist. Ludwik scooped her up with a force that made her heart skip. His eyes went dark and intense, wolfish almost, as he pressed her down onto the bed.

He gripped her waist, bracing himself over her, eyes softening as he smiled, "So that's it. You're worried about me. Whitney, you don't NOT want to marry me. You want it too much."

"Don't be ridiculous. I-mmph..."

He was already kissing her, claiming her lips with a hunger that stole her breath. His hand slid down, fingers finding the belt of her bathrobe, slowly pulling it loose as his dark eyes glinted with mischief.

"My sweet girl, worried about losing me. Not ready to be a widow, huh? Well, how about we take this baby for a test drive before sealing the deal? See if I'm all healed up yet?"

His lips trailed down her neck, leaving a path of heat.

hands clutching at the pillows, trying to push him away and only managing to pull him closer. Her hair tangled around his neck, damp and wild.

"Ludwik..." she breathed.

"In a few days, you'll have to start calling me 'husband.' Maybe practice it now? If

and protest lost

Two weeks later.

Ben was two months

Emperor City, making headlines

every table

stunning theme of the

which Mr. Lippert himself had

heart of winter, was

dawn, Whitney stood in the bride's suite at the estate, getting

bustling around-except for pregnant

of younger Lippert cousins all put on matching dresses, ready to

had Whitney up at 4 a.m., working for two hours to create a look that was classic and

perfect complement

diamond gown