The dark intensity of his demeanor should frighten her, but Celia only felt a macabre fascination. An unlikely calmness settled over her now that she’d voiced her dark secret aloud. This revelation could ruin her. Any other gentleman would reject her upon learning she did not come untouched to the marriage bed. But Gabriel apparently did not care. He wanted her beyond all reason.

Maybe, if she was brave enough to let him in, he might possess the power to destroy all her carefully constructed walls.

How Celia longed for the opportunity to be wiped clean. To have the nightmares and fears purged at the hands of this man. Could he build her broken body back up until she was stronger than ever before?

“So, you are not pure, Celia Buchanan. Well, neither am I. We’re the perfect pair, don’t you think, to become the new Marquess and Marchioness of Rosenthorne?”

Gabriel’s palm cupped her chin, his fingers digging slightly into her cheeks. The pressure reminded Celia of her promise to be his. She’d agreed to this when they were alone in the garden. And she abruptly realized there was no backing out at this juncture.

How could she even consider it after revealing her terrible secret? No one else would want her now. Thinking of the dishonor and scandal this could potentially cause her family caused a small moan of distress to rise in her throat.

Gabriel heard it. His hand drifted up and buried itself in her hair. His fingers were soothing and yet inexorably firm against her scalp.

“Whatever happened in the past shall remain there, Celia. Our future is all that matters. The only thing that matters.” A smile of something resembling pain twisted his lips. “Trust me to do what is best for you. Trust me to do whatever is necessary to keep you safe. But understand this, sugarplum. You are mine now. Mine. And I am not a man who shares his possessions. Should you ever seek the attention of another man, even if that man is my own brother, I will not hesitate to erase him from this world and have you witness his demise.”

His words made her shiver. Gabriel Rose was a dangerous man who had likely killed before. God above, he’d just warned her he would not hesitate to take a life if he believed it was warranted. Giving herself over freely to a man who considered her one of his most prized acquisitions was probably the most rash decision she’d ever made. And the only one that felt completely right.

Gabriel took a deep breath and seemed to gather himself. The uncertainty and pain she witnessed earlier disappeared. Left in its place was the confident, arrogant man she knew so well.

He smiled in that charming manner of his. The one Celia could not resist. The one that somehow twisted her into a wanton creature prone to surrender.

She was his. And Gabriel wanted her just as she was.