Read Online A Marquis for Mary by Jess Michaels - Free Book Online

“Once I did. A very long time ago. But, you know, I always hated myself more. For not saving her. Now I know I couldn’t have. She didn’t want to be saved. She wanted to destroy.”
    “It was all she was capable of,” Edward said softly.
    Flynn nodded. “But Mary is capable of so much more. She is not like Alice, not in any slight way.”
    Edward jerked his head toward his future brother-in-law, surprised that he had shifted the conversation to Mary. But then, why wouldn’t he? It was obvious Flynn cared deeply about his wife’s sister.
    “I can see that,” Edward reassured him. “Her light from within is…it is uniquely her.”
    “She’s been through a great deal,” Flynn continued. “Her father’s ways are…well, she saw Gemma suffer. She had to fear every day for her own welfare.”
    Edward squeezed his hands at his sides. “The idea that she had to live that way makes my blood boil.”
    A shadow of a smile crossed Flynn’s face. “I have stood by silently in the face of his behavior, waiting for the moment when Mary was safe and I could turn my full wrath on that scheming bastard.”
    Edward lifted both brows. “You have plans for him?”
    “Oh, yes.”
    “I would very much like to be a part of them,” Edward said without hesitation.
    Flynn stared at him, as if sizing him up for a moment. Then he nodded. “I think together we could ensure that bastard suffers nicely for what he did to our wives.”
    Edward wanted to elaborate. To scheme, but before they could, the door behind them opened and Gemma and Mary entered the parlor. All thoughts of vengeance or Alice or anything else unpleasant emptied from Edward’s head, replaced by only the vision that was Mary.
    She was utterly beautiful in a pale blue gown stitched with yellow flowers. Her dark hair was spun up in a complicated fashion, leaving tendrils to frame her slender, beautiful face. She had never been so beautiful, and the pounding thud of desire that accompanied every moment he spent with her had never been so loud and strong.
    “Good evening, gentlemen,” Gemma said with a knowing smirk in his direction before she slipped from her sister to stand beside her husband. “I think Lord Woodley approves, Mary.”
    Mary’s cheeks darkened with the most fetching blush. One that crept down her chest and disappeared into the wonderfully low neckline of her pretty gown.
    “Gemma,” Mary protested softly.
    Edward stepped forward to take her hands. “I most definitely approve.”
    Gemma took Flynn’s arm and all but dragged him toward the door. “Come, Crispin, let us make sure the carriage is ready.”
    In the past, Flynn might have refused that very obvious ploy to leave Mary and Edward alone for a moment. But this time he said nothing, only nodded toward Edward as the two left the room. Left Edward alone with the most delectable, fascinating woman he had ever encountered.
    “You look beautiful,” he murmured, drawing her closer now that they were alone. “I feel as though I could lose control just looking at you.”
    Her eyes widened slightly. “Like what happened in the garden?”
    He smiled. “So much further than in the garden. At some point your sister will take you aside and explain to you how much further we could have gone…damn, should have gone that day. But Mary, I want to promise you now that the first time I claim you as my wife, it will be good for you. There will be pleasure. So much pleasure.”
    He nearly balked at the direct, passionate words that were spilling from his lips. He had never been an orator or a poet, finding words of desire easy to find. But with Mary, he could have written sonnets.
    “I have no doubt that you will make me very pleased,” she whispered. “And I can’t wait.”
    Edward stifled a groan, but he couldn’t stop himself from pulling her against him. He lowered his lips to hers and kissed her for the first time in what felt like an eternity. Her lips parted and he tasted her, drinking