Chapter 224: Chapter 224 I Love Her
"So that explains why you took on that impossible kidnapping mission against her?" Fiona recalled the time Reginald had accepted a job to abduct Phoebe—a task that left him scarred and cost him a finger.
"You have no clue what you’re saying. This is all in your head." His aggression had faded, replaced by something more guarded.
"Really?" She brushed away her tears, sliding off the bed to close the distance between them. "I barely know her—we’ve only crossed paths a few times. But when I mention her name, I see something shift in your eyes. An emotion I’ve never been able to spark."
"You’ve lost your mind with these wild accusations, Fiona." His voice carried authority, anger flickering across his features, but she saw past the facade.
He wasn’t denying it. He couldn’t even force himself to say he loved her—so how could he claim his heart was free? No, he stayed silent because someone else already owned it.
The thought hadn’t even occurred to him to try that approach.
It might have offered her some small comfort.
"Even as your mate, bearing your mark, your heart beats for her." She pressed her palm against his chest. "I was never truly yours, because she’s always been the one occupying your thoughts."
"You’re stirring up trouble." His eyes narrowed as he seized her hand and pulled her into a harsh kiss. "Is this what you’re after?"
"No!" She shoved him back as he dragged her toward the bed, forcing her down roughly.
He pinned both her arms above her head with one powerful grip.
"Upset about carrying Allen’s child? Is that what’s driving these accusations?" He positioned himself between her legs, spreading them apart. "Mad because I won’t let you terminate the pregnancy? Is that what this is about?"
"No!" She struggled beneath him, but his body trapped her completely. He lifted her right leg, and she could feel his hardness pressing against her.
This confrontation was arousing him.
"What are you doing?! I don’t want this!" Tears streamed down her face as he kissed her. She kept her lips sealed, but he forced them apart with persistent pressure. "No! Release me! Reginald!"
"This is exactly what you’re demanding, isn’t it? You question my loyalty when I’m right here with you, when I’m this close to you!"
"You don’t love me! That’s the issue! You love her!"
Reginald froze, his glare burning into her.
"See? Even now, for just a split second, you can’t bring yourself to lie and say you love me instead of her." She wanted to laugh through her pain. "You can possess my body, but never my heart. Just like Allen—he can have my body, I’m even carrying his child, but he’ll never own my heart because it belongs to you. I love you... sadly, the feeling isn’t mutual."
The words poured out through her tears and bitter laughter as she met his gaze, no longer fighting. She didn’t care what happened to her anymore. Reginald could take whatever he wanted...
She despised herself because despite everything she knew, she still loved him. Still craved him.
When he leaned down to kiss her, she didn’t resist, yet tears continued falling because his lips were so gentle. Unlike before, he kissed her slowly, tenderly, as if savoring her taste.
It almost felt like love.
If only she didn’t know better, she might have believed it.
He traced kisses along her cheeks, her eyelids, tasting her tears before moving down to her neck, her collarbone.
This time, he released her hands since she’d stopped struggling. He caressed her slender throat, trailing down to her breasts.
She gasped, trying to suppress her response, but it was impossible. His touch always set fire to her veins.
"Stop this, Reginald..." Her breathing became ragged. She hated how her body surrendered to him. She wanted his touch, wanted him to destroy her even though he already had. She loathed herself for still yearning for him. "Stop..."
He ignored her words because her body told a different story. He pressed his palm against her flat stomach. The pregnancy had changed her scent.
For a moment, he seemed to consider how wonderful it would be if the child were his... what it would feel like to be a father?
To have a little one resembling him or her... it didn’t sound terrible.
If only there was even the slightest possibility the baby was his...
But there wasn’t. He’d been doomed from the start. They hadn’t been together during the time she conceived, so it had to be Allen’s.
"Ah!" She curled inward as he pressed slightly harder on her belly, but he immediately eased the pressure.
He couldn’t harm the baby. It was their only guarantee of survival here.
Frustrated, he tore her dress away and discarded it. She lay naked before him.
Her skin felt tender, her face flushing red—a blush that spread to her neck and breasts.
"I don’t want this..." She threw her head back as he slipped two fingers into her wet heat.
There was no denying her arousal at his touch.
He said nothing, continuing his ministrations. Leaning over, he captured her breast, biting gently on her hardened nipple before sucking until she gasped and her heart raced.
"No..." Her protests grew weaker as she ground herself against his fingers, coming undone soon after.
Her body trembled as she moaned loudly.
The climax lasted an eternity before he pulled away.
He didn’t take things further—simply pleasured her without asking for anything in return. He grabbed the blanket and covered her naked form.
"I love her." He climbed off the bed. "Yes, I love her. Just as you love me, I’ve loved her since we were children." His laugh was harsh, directed more at himself and his circumstances. "But then she became my stepsister."
She pulled the blanket tight around herself, feeling humiliated that he’d just given her pleasure before admitting he loved someone else.
"Is that the confession you wanted?" He settled into the chair, his fingers still wet with her essence. "What will you do now that you know?"
She couldn’t answer. What did she want?
Would this change anything? Would it alter their situation?
"Allen told me you handed me over to him. He said you could have stopped it but chose not to. That you were willing to sacrifice me to him." She sat up, hugging herself beneath the blanket.
She’d never felt such shame as she did admitting this.
"He claimed you were happy to give me away."
He lifted his head. "And you believed him? How could you?" Disappointment filled his expression, making her feel worse. "I don’t love you the way I love her, but you’re still my mate. Anyone disrespecting you disrespects me. If you feel humiliated, I feel worse because I was powerless to prevent it."
She frowned, trying to read his expression, but it proved difficult.
He could see the guilt creeping in. Allen must have said something to trigger this, and his sleep-talking had been the final blow.
But he knew her well enough to turn the situation around.
The truth was out—no matter what he said now, she wouldn’t believe he didn’t love Phoebe, so he might as well admit it.
Still, he wasn’t stupid. He only confessed what he couldn’t avoid.
"Allen wanted you desperately. Don’t you remember how he tried to isolate you, sending all of us back to Mya?" Anger flashed in his eyes. "The other warriors and I could have left you here alone instead of enduring this humiliation." He raised his wrist to show the silver bracelet. "But I chose to stay..."
Before they could continue their conversation, someone shouted from outside.
