Betrothed |h.s|

five

Jane

"Promise me-" He pants out, holding my body close to his.

"Anything." It comes out more as a moan as I'm barely able to focus while he's between my legs. I pull him closer, closing his curls into my fist.

He fills me so perfectly, pleasing me with every thrust. "Promise me I'll see you again." He grunts as I tug on his hair.

"I promise-" His lips meet mine in a forceful kiss, cutting me off impatiently.

Our last day together. By this time tomorrow I will be back in London, so far away from my love with no idea if we will ever be reunited. I just hope that I will be able to keep my promise to him. He's the one my heart beats for, my true love and husband.

The last three days, we have been spending as much time together as we possibly can. Most of our time has been spent in the bedroom of our cottage being together in only a way husband and wife would. I never knew such pleasure existed and I surely cannot imagine another man being the one to touch me in the way that Harry does.

He rocks into me faster, a feeling of desperation taking over as we approach our ends. His lips trail off mine and down my neck and chest, kissing the tops of my breasts. My hand pulls on his curls rougher as my hips meet his every thrust.

Curses fly from his lips as we reach our pinnacles at the same time, my back arching with breathless moans and gasps. His thrusts slowly come to a halt before he finally falls against me, resting against my chest. Catching our breath, I caress his cheek. A tired smile takes over my lips as I look down upon the man I love.

We both know our time is running short. That this was our last chance to be joined as one before we must part ways. I've already taken a risk by coming to spend these midnight hours with him. I must be back before the sun rises, but the thought of leaving him only breaks my heart more. If I were more selfish I would run away with him. I would put my love for him first and never look back.

But I am not selfish. I have too many people depending on me, too many people who care for me too much. My parents would be devastated to wake up in the morning only to find their eldest daughter missing, never to be heard from again. They would worry and I am not quite certain that father's nerves could handle the stress.

Not to mention the Duke. As much as I dread our impending marriage, from all I've heard he's supposed to be a kind, honest man. He was forced into this arrangement just as much as I was, considering a young boy cannot make the decision of who to wed. Now there are finances, properties and more, all dependent on this union. I'm sure he'd rather have the option to marry for love, but as an eldest brother and heir to the family title, his parents had to make the choice for him that would secure a life of prosperity.

We waited long enough to go through with it. Now with the passing of his father and his assumption of the title, we are ready to be wed.

And as he prepares for our wedding, I lay in bed with another man.

Once Harry recovers, he props himself up on his forearm and gazes down upon me. "My beautiful bride." His voice is hushed and he leans down to welcome my lips into the gentlest of kisses. Oh how I will miss these sweet signs of affection.

When he pulls away, his eyes search mine for a while. I'll miss those beautiful green eyes. "We could go to Scotland. Gretna Green. We have time before the sun rises, we could get a head start-"

His words rip through my heart. "Harry... Please do not do this..."

"Do what, Jane? Fight for us? Fight for our love and for our marriage?" He doesn't sound angry, just defeated.