The Imposter Bride (Natalia and Magnus)

Chapter 26

At the thought of this, he lowered his head and stared at the girl in his arms. She was sleeping

restlessly, furrowing her brow as if she had encountered something unpleasant.

He gently lifted her chin and lowered his head to kiss her; he didn't dare to exert any force for fear that

she would wake up. As his lips danced upon hers, he savored the inherent sweetness they offered. His

kisses gradually grew more fervent, his hands beginning to lift the hem of her nightgown.

A soft whimper escaped from the girl, rousing her from her slumber.

Natalia was gagged in her sleep and couldn't breathe. She gasped for air and opened her eyes, only to

see someone on her again. "Ah!" Her scream echoed in the room. With a force born of fear, she

shoved him away, her mind racing back to the other night.

"Don't be afraid. It's me!" The man tightened his grip on her trembling hands, realizing how genuinely

scared she had been.

"Magnus?" Natalia couldn't believe her own eyes. She rubbed her eyes, making sure the man on her

bed was indeed Magnus.

"Yes, it's me. From now on, we will share a room." The man reached out and pulled her into his arms

and tucked her in.

"Share a room?" Her drowsiness vanished, replaced by sheer surprise.

"Magnus, I'm not ready to share a room with you yet. I'm not used to it." The faint smell of his soap,

mingled with his natural scent, filled her nostrils. Her body was taut with tension.

"What do you need to prepare for? You're my wife; it's normal for us to sleep in the same room. You'll

get used to it." Magnus said, pulling her closer and closing his eyes, ready to fall asleep.

"But... I..." Natalia squirmed in his embrace, trying to break free. She could feel the heat radiating from

his body.

"Stay still." His voice was hoarse and low, "If you keep moving, I might do something else."

The words boomed in Natalia's mind, leaving her petrified. His heavy breath tickled her ear, causing

her body to tremble uncontrollably. She dared not move a muscle.

After a while, Natalia felt her legs growing numb. She made a slight movement and heard his rhythmic

breathing behind her. She thought that he must have fallen asleep. As she bent her legs, she felt

something scorching. Even through the fabric, she could feel his heat.

Magnus took a deep breath as he rolled over her, "What did you touch? Hmm?" His voice was husky

and magnetic.

Natalia gasped in surprise, looking up at the man on top of her, feeling his hard-on on her abdomen.

She knew what she had touched. She wasn't the naive girl she used to be after what happened that

night.

Her face burned with embarrassment. She pushed against his chest, "I... I didn't mean to. I'm sorry. I'll

go sleep in another room. I tend to move a lot in my sleep. I don't want to disturb you."

Magnus didn't move. He could hear her heart racing, beating in time with the soft patter of rain outside.

It was a beautiful sound.

"There are no other rooms. You're sleeping here." He leaned in, his warm breath brushing against her

face.

He paused, "My legs may not work well, but everything else does. So if you have any other ideas or

can't sleep properly, I don't mind having some fun with you."

Natalia was mortified. She hadn't expected these words from the usually cold and aloof man. She

shoved him away with all her might, "Magnus, I've told you I'm not ready to share a room with you. I

don't want to consummate our marriage either."

With her sudden push, Magnus fell off the bed and onto the floor. Natalia was taken aback. She jumped

off the bed and tried to help him up, "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to."

Magnus' face was as grim as thunder. He slowly propped his hands up on the edge of the bed, and

before Natalia could come to his side, he propped himself up and climbed onto the bed in no time.

His agile movements were reminiscent of a wounded cheetah. He sat on the bed, his gaze fixed on

Natalia's pale face. "Get back in bed." He commanded, clearly irritated by her actions.

"Is it because of my legs? Why did you push me away? You're my wife." His intense gaze pierced her

heart.

"No, I... I just... I'm not used to... sleeping with you." She was shivering, whether from the cold or fear,

she didn't know.

"Not used to sleeping with me? Then who would you prefer to sleep with?" He leaned back against the

bed, his gaze cold and distant towards the girl who was shivering in her thin nightgown.

"Get back in bed. Do you want to catch a cold?" His voice was filled with impatience.

Natalia lowered her head and climbed back onto the bed, tucking herself under the covers. Before she

could utter a word, Magnus pulled her close, "Just sleep."

"But..." Natalia pouted. Even her sleep was being dictated.

She dared not move, her eyes tightly shut, her breath held. Magnus tightened his arms around her. A

smile played on his lips. Having a woman in his arms was indeed a different feeling.

Despite her discomfort, Natalia eventually fell asleep in his arms.

It was three in the morning, the rain outside still pouring down. Natalia's breathing had finally evened

out. Magnus looked down at her. Her eyes were tightly shut, her lips slightly parted. Even in sleep, she

looked troubled.

A chuckle rose in his throat. He closed his eyes, holding her close. As long as she behaved, he

wouldn't expose her lie. This was enough for him.

His chin rested on her head and before long, he too fell asleep. Perhaps it was the first peaceful sleep

he had had in years. The days of his leg treatment in France was like living in hell.

Now he could stand, but had to pretend to be disabled. He didn't want to upset his grandfather. If

Lucius found out he was recovered, he would plot against him. His grandfather was too old to handle

the strife. He remembered the year Jamie died. His grandfather was devastated. Jamie was a wound

that would never heal.

Magnus was used to waking up at six every morning. But today, he slept in. They both slept until nine

in the morning. The servants were shocked to find his wheelchair empty. When she gently pushed

open Natalia's door and saw the two people entwined in slumber on the bed, the housemaid quickly

covered her mouth and gently closed the door.

"Linden,Mr. Magnus spent the night with Ms. Natalia." The housemaid rushed to inform Linden.

Linden paused for a moment, his face immediately shadowed with displeasure, "And who else would

he share his bed with if not his wife? Stop making a fuss over nothing. We shouldn't meddle in his

affairs."