“Don’t be ridiculous,” she said. “I won’t marry you to revenge myself upon your father.” She tucked her head against his shoulder, breathed in the clean scent of his shaving soap, and felt the last icy shards that had pierced her heart so many years ago melt away to nothing. “But I will marry you because I love you.” Marcus shuddered with relief, his arms holding her so tightly for a moment that she thought the air might be wrenched from her lungs. “You can’t take it back,” he said fiercely, and his lips caught at hers in a desperate kiss. “I won’t,” she said, turning her face to his. They
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