“How am I supposed to believe you can convince everyone we’ve consummated our marriage when you keep flinching away from my touch?”

“Believe me, the flinching will make everyone believe the lie even more. I definitely wouldn’t have stopped flinching away from your touch if you’d taken what’s yours. The more I flinch, the more they will see you as the monster you want them to think you are.”

Lysander chuckled, the sound low and amused. “I think you might know ...