𝐈𝐍𝐒𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐀𝐁𝐋𝐄 ✦ 𝘳𝘦𝘻𝘦𝘧 𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘭

-07

"I haven't finished talking yet" you continued walking up to him."I can predict what the suitable wife would be like." He kept his back to you "Useful, for one thing."
"Most women are," he pointed out.
"And accomplished," You continued. "Not a dreamer. She would
keep her mind on practical matters, and manage the servants perfectly, and she
would never be tricked by the fishmonger into buying scrod after it's turned."
"What makes you certain I would want a conventional wife?" He asked turning to look back at you. Your nerves tingled as you said "Because you're like my father,"

"Not entirely."

"Anyhow, You'll have no difficulty finding her," you continued. "There are hundreds of them here. Maybe thousands. And if you married someone different from the woman I just described, you would eventually come to think of her as a...parasite."

The light pressure of Magnus's hands closed over your shoulders. He turned you to face him. His vivid eyes were warm as he searched yours, and you had the discomforting suspicion that he was reading your thoughts far too accurately. "I prefer to think," he said slowly, "that I would never be that cruel. Or idiotic." He added "All I would ever ask of a wife," he murmured "is that she would bear me some affection. That she might be happy to see me at the end of the day."

"That's not very much to ask." He asked "Isn't it?"

"If you had talked to me at least once in the ball or asked for a dance" you retorted, "it could only have improved my reputation. But you rejected me publicly, which means all the lords out there know there is something wrong with me."

"I didn't ignore you."

"It certainly felt like it, you cold bastard!"

Magnus paused before adding in baffled irritation, "And there is nothing wrong with you.Why the devil would you say that?"

"...am I that undesirable?" You were ranting. "Would it have been so
disagreeable?"

His gaze felt to the exposed skin of your chest. With utter gentleness, he traced his thumbs across the winged shape of your collarbones, until gooseflesh rose on your arms beneath your puffed sleeves. Your breath quickened beneath the touch of his fingers. You were never as close to a man like this before, except for the night of the red paradise. You eyes were wide and startled."What are you doing?"

Struggling to control himself, he
concentrated on breathing. Breathing. He wasn't aware of reaching for you but suddenly his hands were on you, hooked just beneath your arms where the yellow satin was permeated with the warmth of your body. You were light and supple, like a cat...he could lift you so easily, pin you against the wall.

"Put me down this instant" you said breathlessly, trying to wriggle away
from him. He jerked you hard against him. "Which means now I have something to prove."

He knew it was wrong the instant your lips met. Because nothing would
ever equal the perfection of you in his arms. He was ruined for life. God help
him, he didn't care. He began to ravish your mouth with deep, twisting kisses, bringing your body rhythmically against his. This is what I feel for you, he told you with fierce, consuming kisses. This is what I want. There wasn't a chance in hell of that happening, perhaps it was the drink he had earlier that had this effect on him. However, nothing could have made him stop.
Lifting his mouth from yours, Magnus pressed his jaw against the side of your
head. "I think," he said raggedly "this puts to rest any question of whether I find you desirable or not." .
"Magnus" you gasped, then was silent, wondering desperately if you would ever be able to feel anything again.
Magnus couldn't stop.

No, This had already gone too far. He told himself. Realizing how close he was to losing all self-control, Magnus ripped his mouth from yours with a quiet groan and thrust you away from him as he stared at you without emotion. "If you ever need anything," he said quietly, "you can come to me. I want to be your friend,y/n"
"I should th-think you have quite enough friends."
He used his thumb to smooth the silk of your eyebrow. "Not like you."
"Friends don't kiss like that."
He flicked his forefinger lightly against your cheek. "Don't be a child,y/n."
The remark stung, and you replied in the haughtiest tone you could
manage. "What could either of us have to gain from friendship?"