arranged marriage au | rhett abbott x oc | sneak peek
Author's Note: This story it set at the turn of the 20th century, somewhere around 1899-1901. I haven't quite decided yet, but it's important context for this story. Women did not have a lot of autonomy at this time, which is reflected in Rhett and Lou's conversation in this sneak peek. Is the timeline right in a historical context? Probably not, but it's fiction, so I can do what I want. Enjoy!
Release Date: Unclear
āLouisa.ā
āWhat?ā Her face is all hard lines and thundering eyes. Something twists inside him at the sight of her ire.
āI donāt want to own you,ā he says and steps closer, dirt crunching under his worn boots. āYour life is your own, even after we marry.ā
She shakes her head, tears pooling in her dark eyes, making his chest feel tight. He yearns to move even closer, wrap his arms around her, and assure her that he doesnāt mean her any harm. Despite not having a choice, he wants to marry her. He wants to build a life and have a family with her.
Heās halfway in love with her already. He hopes one day sheāll love him too.
āYou say that now,ā she says, tears in her voice as she speaks. āBut then Iāll argue or refuse to listen, and youāll remind me youāre the man and you get the final say. You may not want to, but you will own me.ā
Now he shakes his head, disbelief coursing through his veins. Itās the most preposterous thing heās ever heard, and he hates that she thinks that way about him.
āLouisa,ā he breathes, her name like a prayer on his lips as he closes the distance between them. āYou belong to you. Not your father or to me or to anyone, and Iāll do what I can to prove it to you.ā
She meets his gaze, bottom lip wobbling as she tries to hold back sobs. āYou swear?ā
He nods, lifts his hands and tentatively cups her cheeks. āI swear.ā
Tension hangs heavy in the air between them, and without thinking, Rhett bends his head down towards hers. His heart thunders in his chest as their breaths mix, and heat blooms under his palms as Louisaās cheeks grow red.
Their lips are a hairās breadth from touching when a horse neighs, making her pull back and Rhettās hands fall back at his side.
āI should get you home.ā
He offers the crook of his arm, and she weaves her hand into it, letting him lead her to their horses. Their boots drag across the dirt, and Rhett helps her up on Sally, the reddish brown mare that belongs to his almost wife.
He settles on Blazer, and they begin the ride back to the Kinney Ranch.
āRhett?ā
If her scent didnāt linger, he mightāve forgotten she was even there. He looks to his right and finds her watching him, maybe even with a smile at the corner of her mouth.
āThe house is lovely,ā she tells him, tone shy and withdrawn for the first time since heās known her.
likes are nice, but reblogs and comments are golden
having thoughts about defense attorney!bob defending readerā¦ there are lines that do not need to be crossed and best believe he crosses every single one of them.
love love love the idea of being at a dinner party and sitting next to your lover. he whispers gossip into your ear while everyone is deep in conversation. kisses your neck and bites you ever so lightly. inhales your scent and kisses your cheek afterwards. holds your hand once the plates have been cleared from the table and kisses your knuckles every five minutes. wraps his arm around your waist as youāre saying goodbye