Jem was shocked at the intensity of Matias’s kiss. But then he let out a growl and his other hand tangled into her hair, turning her head so that their kiss deepened. Jem’s entire body filled with heat, a pulse of its own growing in her belly. She heard herself whimper as she gripped his collar. But the second she tried to pull Matias closer to her, he released her with a curse.

He stepped back and stared at the floor. “Shit,” he said, his voice rough. “I didn’t mean to do that.” His eyes rose to meet hers. “I came in here to tell you that I will not bed a woman just because of a royal command.”

Jem tried to steady her breathing—she was still gasping from their heated kiss. She held her robe closed over her body, but now the fabric was agitating her breast, which had become quite sensitive suddenly. The memory of his lips on hers was still burning.

“Then why did you come to my father’s estate to claim me as your wife?” she finally managed. “Isn’t this what you wanted? To claim me?”

Matias glowered at her. “I only did it because I don’t like other people taking what’s mine.”

Jem stared at him. The old Matias would never have talked to her like this. She took a breath. “My father might have treated me like property, but I never thought you would do that.” She gathered courage as she spoke, her voice rising. “You’re right. The old Mati I knew is dead. He never would have treated me this way. He never would have humiliated me.”

Matias leaned against one of the bedposts and folded his arms. “So do you want to get this marriage annulled? Since your old husband is ‘dead’ and all?”

“That’s not what I—”

“Then you can go off and marry that old geezer Penrose.” Matias smirked cruelly. “If you’re lucky, he’ll die trying to consummate the marriage and then you can become a widowed bride yet again.”

Jem’s mouth fell open, and tears sprang to her eyes. At the sight, something passed over Matias’s face—some old familiar tenderness—but it was gone within an instant.

Jem squeezed her eyes shut. She had tried not to even think about a wedding night with Lord Penrose. She could easily see his black gums and decaying teeth and the way he had leered at her. The thought of him touching her naked body made her shudder with revulsion. Panic began to rise up in her gut.

She couldn’t marry Lord Penrose. And if she didn’t spend tonight with Matias, she would have to. It was just a fact.

Jem heard the door handle click and her eyes flew open. Matias was about to pull open the door, but before he could, Jem said, “But I want you!”

Matias’s hand froze on the door handle. He turned back to look at her, his expression stormy and unreadable.

Jem straightened her shoulders, doing her best to push away her panic. She took a step toward him and repeated, “I want you.” When Matias didn’t respond, she stuttered, “I…I married you two years ago. I will honor my marriage vows now as a woman should.”

Matias scowled at her. “Because you don’t want to marry that old man?”

“Yes,” Jem said, choosing honesty. Her voice was steady despite her remaining nerves. Matias’s scowl deepened, but Jem refused to back down.

This man in front of her might not have been the same Matias she once knew. But she was in the same position that she was in two years ago. He was her only chance to escape her father’s abusive household. If she married Lord Penrose, she knew her father would still try to control her. So Jem was going to do what she had to do to escape.

She took a deep breath and forced herself to cross the room to Matias. When she reached him, she stood on her tiptoes and planted a slow kiss on his lips. For a moment, he didn’t respond. But then he growled low in his throat and wrapped his arms around her again, his tongue demanding entrance into her mouth.

Jem parted her lips for him uncertainly, but within moments, she was swept away by his thorough kisses. He was further igniting something low and coiled in her center, waking parts of her up that she didn’t know she had.

Suddenly, Matias scooped her into his arms and carried her to the bed in a few quick strides. He threw her onto the bed and then climbed on top of her, pressing her into it with his heavy, strong frame, his lips claiming hers again.

Jem had never done anything like this. Not with Matias, not with anyone. She tried to remember the things she’d overheard about a woman’s wedding night—had any of it included such passionate kissing as this?—but her mind was hazy.

Then Matias’s hands started to roam over her body. Slowly at first as he parted her robe, his rough hands ghosting against her skin through the thin gown. She gasped, the feeling like lightning down her spine. Then he pressed a kiss just above her breast, and then the other. Jem squirmed on the mattress, realizing now that this—this was what they were about to do.

They were about to cross a line she couldn’t come back from.

Her husband looked up at her face. “This is your last chance to turn back,” he said gruffly. His voice was low, pained almost, as he pressed her into the bed.

Shaking with some need she couldn’t describe in words, Jem reached up to place a hand on his chest. “I…I want this,” she whispered.

Matias stared at her for a moment, and then said, “Fine.”

Before Jem could respond—fine?—in one swift motion, he ripped her gossamer gown down the middle, burying his face against her chest.

Jem gasped. Whatever was going to happen tonight, she hadn’t expected this. For a moment, she was shocked…she was suddenly so exposed, the torn fabric revealing her body to this man she could barely recognize anymore. But then waves of pleasure washed over her as Matias pressed hot kisses over her body in places she didn’t know were so sensitive. She gasped again, all other thoughts forgotten.

Heat gathered in that place between Jem’s legs, but Matias sat up suddenly, kneeling between her thighs. He lifted his shirt over his head in one violent movement and tossed it aside. Jem’s eyes widened, but he descended onto her again before she could fully take in his broad chest and chiseled stomach.

Matias continued to kiss her in soft, delicate places, and Jem arched her back at the sensation. A moan tore from her throat, and Matias’s hands on her hips tightened so hard she thought she might have bruises later. He sat up again and undid the front of his pants.

Jem’s face flushed as his manhood was revealed, stiff and unfamiliar. Matias stared at her face. “Open your legs,” he said, his voice hoarse.

“What are you—” Jem began to lift herself up on her elbows.

“Did I say you could move?” he asked darkly.

Jem slowly laid herself back down, gripping the sheets beside her in apprehension.

Matias slowly lowered his body back down over hers. He leaned down to kiss her again, his lips hungry and desperate on hers. Jem felt herself squirming, wanting…wanting…something, she didn’t know what.

Their tongues tangled together, and Jem grew increasingly breathless. She sought something to grab onto for support and took hold of his wide shoulders. Then his hand reached somewhere a man’s never had, causing Jem’s breath to descend into moans. What was this feeling? How was he doing it?

All too soon, he pulled his hand away. But his movements were slower now, more gentle. He reached up to cup her face delicately.

Jem looked into his eyes, and for a moment, she thought she saw a glimpse of the old Matias.

He raised himself up on one arm. Jem watched him, her lips parted. Unwittingly, she licked her lips. So this was a man’s desire.

“Be a good girl for me,” he said. “Follow my lead.”

Jem nodded. Not listening to him right now seemed impossible—the absolute last thing she wanted. Then he slowly positioned himself between Jem’s legs. Jem’s body jolted when she felt him against her sensitive flesh, and she couldn’t help but fall back, gripping the sheets again. Her hands curled into fists, whether from fear or desire, she couldn’t tell.

“Take a deep breath,” Matias said softly. Jem looked at him and inhaled slowly. When she let it out, he slowly started to push himself inside of her.

Jem cried out, and then reached up to cover her mouth. “Your body will adjust to me,” he said, his voice thick.

Jem nodded as Matias held still. Then slowly, he drew his hips back. He pushed forward again and this time, their hips meeting. Groaning, his head fell onto her shoulder.

“You don’t know how often I’ve dreamed of this,” he said huskily.

Jem’s heart filled with recognition at the tenderness in his voice. Here was the man she knew all those years ago, now covering her with his newly muscled body. She felt him inside of her, pulsing with heat and desire and want.

After a moment of letting her adjust again, Matias began moving, his breath growing ragged as he thrust into her. Jem’s body was walking the razor’s edge between pleasure and pain. Everything about this was unfamiliar and new, but…but so much of it felt so good.

Jem reached out to grasp Matias’s arms. Maybe the man she loved really was still in there.

“Matias,” she moaned.

At the touch of her hands on his biceps and his name on her lips, Matias growled and his movements grew suddenly faster. Jem squeezed her hands tightly over his toned arms, trying to hold on, trying to steady herself as he drove her into the bed, again and again and again. This sensation began to build within her, starting at her core. It felt…good. It felt like pure bliss.

Gasping, she looked up at his face, but his eyes were closed as every muscle in his body seemed to be tightening as he groaned again. Then he tensed, a rough groan escaping him. He collapsed on top of her, breathing heavily.

Jem lay beneath him, uncertain if it was over as her body pulsed, her own passion that had been building starting to wane. After a few moments, Matias slipped away, then rolled over to his side.

Jem stared at his toned back for a second and then turned to stare at the ceiling. It was yet another surreal moment on top of a surreal day. She’d shared a bed with a man. No—not just any man.

Her husband.

And now they truly were husband and wife.