The Lady Is Mine-Chapter 182: To be Loved by a man

Jenna sat atop Rhane’s body, her head nestled on his shoulder and her hair sprawled, covering her face. She tried to breathe slowly, though her insides now felt sore, but she loved the feeling of having Rhane inside her. She felt secure and somewhere between safe and randy.

It was great, Jenna thought to herself. Having Rhane take her was absolutely great.

She’d never imagined that mating with a man would feel this refreshing— like she had taken clean spring water after chewing mint. It gave her an indescribable feeling. Rhane had been slow, placed her comfort above his, and even worried through it all that she might be hurting.

The irony of life, Jenna never considered she would one day be in the arms of someone like Rhane. He wasn’t her kind of man. Jenna preferred men who appeared soft but were also kind and loyal. Coming from a good family was also a bonus.

On the contrary, Rhane was everything different. The story behind his birth was frowned upon by all; his features were sharp and scary enough for a woman like Jenna, who had survived through hell. Killing came as naturally as breathing for Rhane.

All of these were enough to send warning signs, but somewhere in between all of these and what she preferred in a man, Jenna had seen a light.

This man worshipped her like she was the only woman alive. He kissed her feet and kept her grounded when necessary. Not once, even as a joke, had Rhane tried to hurt her.

The look in his eyes anytime he spoke to her made Jenna want to get rid of her clothes and stand naked for him.

So this was what it meant to be loved by a man. A good man.

"Love?"

Jenna moaned when Rhane adjusted on the bed, rubbing her sore core. She raised her face and moved back. Jenna was almost falling asleep on his body.

"You should rest on the bed," Rhane rubbed her back, helping Jenna sit up properly before he moved her hips up and removed himself from her, helping Jenna sit on the bed. 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝒆𝔀𝒆𝙗𝓷𝒐𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝓶

Jenna rubbed her eyes. Once she had settled, she remembered something. "The bandage?" She searched Rhane’s stomach.

"I’d lost my mind for a moment... did I hurt you?"

Rhane smiled, his eyes gleamed. It was a pleasant sight watching Jenna worry for him even after what they just had.

"I like it when you lose your mind...do it often," Rhane remarked.

Jenna bit her lips, embarrassed, but Rhane didn’t notice her pink cheeks as he was too busy arranging her hair with his palm.

Done with checking the bandage and seeing that it was all good, Jenna moved a pillow behind Rhane and placed it so he could relax.

"No more... I can’t risk the wound being open again. You only survived by a whisker," she lamented before relaxing her back on the bed.

Rhane tapped his shoulder for Jenna to lean on. When she hesitated, he raised his brows. "It is a cut on my stomach, my hands and feet are still intact."

Jenna rolled her eyes but still leaned closer to rest on his body.

"You smell so good, love," Rhane complimented, tracing his fingers around Jenna’s hair down to her bare shoulder. "And I’ve missed you so much."

"I missed you too," Jenna confessed. "My father had come to visit the first few days... but I’ll send a letter to him tomorrow."

Rhane stopped moving his hand. "Let me send the letter to him, I’m sure he has a lot he wants to say to me."

Moving her face up slightly so she could see Rhane, Jenna rubbed his chin. Feeling the roughness around his jaw, short beards were beginning to grow.

"He asked that we delay the wedding at first, but now he is asking for a part of the land offered by the royal family," Jenna sighed. It was really embarrassing to say. "I’d thought my father had changed, but everything has to be a trade to him, including his daughter."

Rhane hummed, shifting his eyes from Jenna’s hair and now staring at the candle. Waking up to the news of him being an earl, not just that, but also more lands and a seal with his name was a surprise. He didn’t know why or what had happened.

"I’m sure he doesn’t think that way," Rhane replied. "I will meet up with him and have a talk."

Jenna twitched her lips, a soft exhale escaping them. Pressing her head closer on Rhane’s shoulder, she traced his bare chest down to the bandage.

"Rhane."

"Hm?"

Jenna licked her lips. "Have you any thoughts of having children?"

Rhane’s eyes moved down before he nodded. "Well... yes. I did say it before, I wanted to fill the house with children. Our children. Daughters as beautiful as you are, and our sons as wise and stubborn." A silence followed after his response.

"But that isn’t what you want, right?"

Jenna closed her eyes, squeezing her palm tightly.

Rhane noticed the shift, moving up his shoulder. "What is it?" He took Jenna’s hand into his own. "If you don’t wish to have children, that is fine... yes, I’ll feel hurt, but also it is your womb that will carry my seed. I have to know what you want." His eyes stayed on Jenna’s worried face.

"Rhane, do you not think about it?" Jenna asked, her eyes looking down.

Rhane moved his head to the side. "Think about what?"

"What others are saying about me? And... also what if I can’t bear children? I’d lived with a man for over five years and for once..." Jenna’s voice broke. "When I left the marriage, I was glad I didn’t have a child, but now... what if it’s because I’m barren and I can’t give you the children you wish so much to have and..."

Jenna swallowed hard. She tried to look away, but Rhane held her in place.

"And what, Jenna?"

Jenna chewed her inner cheeks. "You might end up bringing home a mistress... a real woman that can have children for you. Then Gerald might be right that I—" When she saw Rhane’s eyes, Jenna stopped.

"What did Gerald say to you?" Rhane asked, his voice low and his eyes boring into Jenna’s soul.

Jenna opened her lips, then closed them again. "Let’s not talk about it anymore."

"We will, Jenna," Rhane replied casually. "If it bothers you, then it’s something we have to talk about. I don’t want it mentioned next time. That is how doubt fosters in marriages. So I want you to look at me and tell me exactly what you were told."

Jenna felt Rhane hold her hand tightly. She wasn’t escaping this conversation. And Rhane wasn’t smiling either.

"It’s just that... he... I’m not woman enough to please a man. It was better to have a mistress to replace me." Jenna didn’t like that she had remembered something like this in a moment when she was supposed to be happy.

It dawned on her that she still carried heavily the weight of her past. Jenna feared it would ruin everything for her.

"You’re right."

Jenna widened her eyes, her heart skipped. Her mind ran through an entire kingdom with thoughts and back.

"Men do take mistresses, it isn’t a new thing, even with commoners." Rhane sucked his teeth. "But I won’t be saying anything else, as I don’t want to cross the line in the name of having a conversation."

Jenna’s heart still raced.

"But I might not know it all, but one thing I’ve heard is that not having children is not entirely a woman’s fault, as it could also be from a man." Rhane tugged Jenna’s hand again and placed it back on his chest.

"We can try, as long as you want it. We can try to have children. If it works, thanks to the heavens. And if it doesn’t... there is Percy and Kali... they’re enough to handle."

Jenna didn’t know when she giggled.

"So, we have nothing to worry about. And a mistress?" Rhane chuckled dryly. "If you wish for me to remind you how much of a woman you are... I can take the whole night. But it isn’t idle. I want you to know it, Jenna... you’re perfect. And yes, you are a woman—one who has stolen my heart."

Jenna’s lips curled into a smile. "So do you want a boy or a girl first?"

"Whichever is fine, love," Rhane replied with a shrug.

Jenna frowned. "And what if I have only girls and there is no boy?"

"As much as I’m already excited about the idea of having my smaller Jenna running around my garden, I’d also want a boy..." Rhane was beginning to feel hard from their conversation.

"So you’ll make me have a lot of girls and then a boy?"

Rhane grabbed her chin. "No. Now, kiss me and let’s go to sleep."

Jenna murmured but still went ahead to kiss him. She wasn’t done saying the things that ran through her mind in the moment.

"Goodnight, Rhane."

Rhane rubbed her face. As strong as the young woman tried to act, she had a long way to go before healing completely. Not only that, she might have heard what people said about her. It made Rhane remember the young woman he saw at the mountain and what she said about Jenna.

If anything, he needed to make them stop and be afraid to disrespect his wife. And he was going to.

"Goodnight, love." He pecked her lips.