Lord Roy didn't respond, his hands slowly sliding from Violetta's shoulders, trailing down the silky fabric of her gown. His arms encircled her waist, pulling her back against his chest, his strong hands splaying over the curve of her stomach. He held her close, his chin resting atop her head, his breath stirring the silver strands of her hair.
Violetta's eyes flew open at the sudden change in Lord Roy's embrace, her hands instinctively coming up to cover his as they wrapped around her waist. She could feel the strength in his arms, the heat of his body seeping through the thin silk of her gown, warming her in a way that had nothing to do with the chill in the air.
"Roy," she said, her voice sharp and low, "what are you doing? If someone were to see us like this..." She let the implication hang in the air, the unspoken consequences of such a compromising position.
Lord Roy's arms tightened around her waist, pulling her back against his chest. She could feel the rise and fall of his breath, the steady beat of his heart against her back. "I know," he said, his voice low and rough with a emotion she couldn't quite place. "I apologize for my forwardness, Violetta. But this matter is of great importance, and I cannot stand by and watch you run from it any longer."
Violetta's breath caught in her throat, a flicker of something hot and dangerous sparking in her violet eyes. "Let me guess, it's about my marriage isn't it?" she asked, her voice low and dangerous. "Even you?"
Lord Roy didn't flinch, his grip on her waist unwavering. "I think that you are a woman of great strength and wisdom, Violetta. But even the strongest of us have our weaknesses, our fears. And I believe that your fear of remarriage, of producing an heir, is a weakness that could bring your entire dynasty crashing down around you."
Violetta's eyes flashed, her body going rigid in his arms. "Fear?" she asked, a harsh laugh escaping her lips. "You think I am afraid to take a man to my bed and bear his children?"
Roy silenced Violetta's sharp retort by capturing her lips in a passionate, demanding kiss. His mouth moved over hers with a hunger and intensity that stole her breath away, his tongue delving deep to claim the sweet recesses of her mouth. Violetta struggled for a moment, her nails digging into the backs of his hands, leaving crescent-shaped indents in his skin. But as the kiss deepened, as the heat of his mouth and the strength of his arms enveloped her, she felt her resistance melting away.
As they kissed, Roy's hands began to roam her body, caressing the curves hidden beneath the silk of her gown. His fingers traced the slender column of her neck, the delicate line of her collarbone, before drifting lower, skimming over the swell of her breasts. Violetta's breath hitched, a soft moan escaping her as his thumb brushed over the hardened peak of her nipple, even through the fabric of her gown.
When Roy finally pulled away, Violetta's eyes were dark and hazy, her lips kiss-swollen and glistening. "I know why you don't want to remarry, Violetta," he said, his voice low and rough with desire. "It's because of your late husband, isn't it? The former Duke Velyssia was not a good man, and he did not treat you well."
Violetta's eyes flashed, a mix of anger and pain warring in their violet depths. "You know nothing of what I endured," she said, her voice low and bitter. "The way he touched me, the things he said... I swore I would never again be at the mercy of a man's cruelty."
Roy's hand came up to cup her cheek, his thumb brushing over the delicate skin beneath her eye. "And you fear that if you remarry, you may have to endure it all again," he said softly. "That you may find yourself bound to a man who sees you as a prize to be won, just a tool to produce heirs, rather than a woman of unparalleled strength and intelligence you are, isn't that right, Violetta?"
Lord Roy turned Violetta to face him, his hands gripping her waist. She kept her head lowered, her hair falling forward to hide her face. He hooked a finger under her chin, gently but firmly tilting her head up until she was forced to meet his gaze.
To his surprise, he found tears streaming down her cheeks, her violet eyes glistening with unshed tears. Silent sobs wracked her body, her shoulders shaking with the force of her emotions. Roy's heart clenched at the sight, a surge of protectiveness and tenderness welling up inside him.
"Violetta," he murmured, his voice low and soft. "My dearest Duchess, why do you weep so?" His thumb brushed away a tear, the salt of it lingering on his skin.
Violetta's breath hitched, a choked sob escaping her lips. "You don't understand," she whispered, her voice broken and raw. "The things he did to me... it was like being defiled again and again, every single day." She shuddered, her body curling in on itself as if trying to physically block out the memories.
Roy's arms tightened around her, pulling her close, cradling her against his chest. "Shh, my Duchess," he soothed, his hand stroking over her hair, her back, her arms. "You are safe now. No one will ever hurt you like that again."
Violetta let out a harsh, bitter laugh, pulling back to glare at him with tear-filled eyes. "You can't promise that," she said, her voice sharp and accusing. "You can't guarantee that a husband would be any different than my late one." She pressed closer to him, her body molding to his, her hands fisting in the fabric of his shirt. "Unless..." She paused, her breath catching, her eyes widening as a sudden realization dawned on her. "Unless you are volunteering to take his place, my lord?" she asked, her voice low and dangerous, a hint of challenge in her tone.
Lord Roy chuckled softly, a hint of admiration in his dark eyes as he gazed down at Violetta. "If you are able to crack jokes like that, even in the midst of such emotion, then I believe you have indeed composed yourself, Violetta," he said, a slight smirk playing at the corners of his mouth.
Violetta's lips curved into a smirk of her own, a glint of mischief in her violet eyes. "You are an observant man, Roy," she said, her voice low and sultry. "But I'm afraid you've seen a side of me that I do not often allow others to witness."
With a fluid, graceful motion, Violetta slipped out of Lord Roy's coat, the heavy wool fabric sliding off her shoulders to pool on the floor at their feet. She stood before him, clad only in her thin silk gown, the moonlight from the window casting shadows that hinted at the curves beneath.
Lord Roy's eyes darkened, his gaze raking over her form, taking in every dip and swell. "A secret, then," he murmured, his voice low and rough with a sudden surge of desire. "I am honored that you would trust me with such a confidence, Violetta."
Violetta stepped closer to him, her heels clicking softly on the polished wood floor. She reached out, her slender fingers curling into the fabric of his shirt, her nails digging into the muscle beneath. "And in return," she said, her voice barely above a whisper, "I will allow you to spend the night with me, my lord. If that is a fair deal for you?"
Lord Roy's breath caught in his throat, his heart pounding in his chest as the implication of her words sank in. "More than fair," he said, his voice low and filled with a hunger that sent a shiver down Violetta's spine.
Violetta's lips curved into a slow, seductive smile. "I'm glad you agree," she purred, her body pressing against his, the heat of her skin seeping through the thin silk of her gown. "I do hope you can keep up."