When financial desperation and too much drink lead Michael to unknowingly sign a contract to marry a toddler, he does what any man would-runs away and spends the next 15 years pretending it didn't happen. During that time, he gives up the booze, restores his estate, and opens The Raven's Den with his two closest friends. What better way to hide from your responsibilities than running a gaming hell? Belle's life as a wealthy orphan raised by servants may be unconventional, but she's always been happy. Until Lord Dalinridge suddenly drops into her life. The brute forces her to marry him and leave everything she's ever known behind. Belle feels more like his prisoner than his wife. She is determined to hate him, but slowly, she discovers he's actually just a man and not a beast after all. He's kind and gentle and he stirs desires in her she's never felt before. She quickly learns to trust him with her body, but after keeping so many secrets from her, can she ever truly trust him with her heart? **This book contains a bit of spanking, so if that's not something you enjoy, this book is not for you.