Chapter II

Eva's eyes snapped open and she took in her surroundings. Her body still trembling she tried to raise herself on her elbows.

''I wouldn't do that if I were you '' a masculine voice said from behind her and at the sound of it she quickly closed her eyes and pleaded with him

"Please don't hurt me!"

Dunham stared at the tiny form in his bed that currently thought he was going to harm her or even kill her. He slowly rose from his chair and approached the bed.

''Please" her voice was barely a whisper but it did something to him. It awoke within him a protectiveness he hadn't known he possessed. She seemed hopeless.

He sat next to her and slowly brushed a tendril off her face.

"'Shh love, no one is going to hurt you."' He told her, stroking her cheek. He immediately noticed her expel a breath and her body relax.

"'I may be a cad, but even I don't stoop so low as to beat females. So you have nothing to worry from me sweets. "

She finally opened her eyes and by God, she looked at him like he was a saint. There was pure, unadulterated admiration on her face, as if he'd just said he was a god. She took his hand into both of hers and clutched it to her bosom.

"Thank you '' she whispered.

Eva was in the seventh heaven. Her husband was everything she could have desired in a man. He hadn't yelled at her for not responding to his kiss and even fainting, and he had even promised not to hurt her. If she wasn't lucky she didn't know what she was. She had to find a way to forget, a way to be his wife in the true sense of the word, so when he dipped his head to kiss her she banished all thoughts. His lips felt good on her own, too good actually. She gasped and he took advantage by slipping his tongue inside. It felt...pleasant, the pleasantness of it actually shocked her. His hands moved at her waist and slowly up until one settled on her breast. Her eyes flared open and she unwittingly began to scream and struggle within his hold.

"No, no, stop!" There were tears in her eyes and Christian froze. Cursing under his breath he let her go and rose from the bed. She immediately scrambled at the other end of the mattress.

"Damnation!'' he grumbled at no one in particular.

"What is wrong with you?"'

"I...I don't want you...touching me like that." she stammered, avoiding his gaze.

"You don't want me, your husband, touching you like that, but you let other men?" he asked in an abrasive tone, getting angrier by the minute. Her eyes were wide with shock at the fact that he knew her secret and she added quickly:

"'That was different ..."'

''Different how?"' he all but yelled ''Oh yes I know, It's different because that's something only a whore would do, not a gentle bred lady"

She went solid as a stone and he turned on his heels to leave, but not before hearing her whisper.

"I am not a whore"

Eva cried herself to sleep. She cried for the cruelty of everyone and for the unfairness of everything. She wasn't a whore; she hadn't wanted any of that. But once she stepped into the dream realm, she saw herself again, five years ago.

''You all but wanted it, admit it!'' he laughed as he tore at her dress. 'You see, I am a patient man, but even my patience has a limit ''

'No, please... please just leave me! ''

''You want it rough wench? Of course I will oblige you! '' He started kissing her, forcefully, his breath a mix of spirits and cigarettes which made her sick to her stomach.

''No!! Stop!'' she pleaded, tears falling down her cheeks. He continued to kiss her, his hands roaming all over her body, kneading, hurting her.

"Stop!'' she yelled and this time he slapped her.

Eva awoke screaming.

Lord Ashton eyed Dunham the moment he entered the tavern. A few wenches were giggling and sending inviting glances as he passed by.

"I have to say, this is the last place I would have expected to find you in"

Dunham gave a bitter laugh and downed the last of his whiskey.

"This is the last place I expected to be as well…"

"I gather that she's uncomely?" Ashton asked while taking a seat next to his friend.

"Oh she's comely enough, maybe that's the problem…" He said in a cynical tone. Ashton just regarded him questioningly.

"She's one of those…"Dunham began, slurring his words a bit. "She's acting all innocent, trying to control me but I know better…I have firsthand experience with her kind. She thinks that because she's stunning, she can bat one eyelash and I'm down at her feet." he gave a hard laugh and continued.

"I bet all those fools she bedded were so besotted with her that they did all she asked. Well, she is in for a surprise as I bend for no woman."

"Did she try something on you? That's why you are in such a foul mood?"

"She was playing the victim, begging me not to hurt her…" He shook his head at the thought of her pleas. "But well, in the end it seems she would rather spread her legs for anyone but her husband"

"She denied you?"Ashton asked, truly shocked.

"She didn't just bloody deny me, she began screaming"

"Good God, I wouldn't want to be in your shoes"

"Neither would I…"

A wench came and filled both their glasses, almost intentionally revealing her cleavage in the process. Dunham recognized an invitation when he saw one so he smiled at her.

"I'm sorry, buddy, but it seems I still have a wedding night to consummate" he said, taking the girl's arm.

"Just not with your wife" Ashton whispered ruefully as his friend departed with the girl. He had hoped the rumors were not true. Damn, he had hoped she was a nice lady. A lady his friend could be happy with. He was wary of women as it was, now even his wife? He truly felt sorry for Christian. And maybe even sorrier for his lady wife. She was not going to have an easy life.