Total pages in book: 95
Estimated words: 91847 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 459(@200wpm)___ 367(@250wpm)___ 306(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 91847 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 459(@200wpm)___ 367(@250wpm)___ 306(@300wpm)
I close my hand over her thigh, squeeze. “Like I told him, and I’ve told you enough times, you should know it by now: I’ll do whatever I need to do to keep you safe.” One of my men closes my door and we’re off. Madelena folds her arms across her chest and keeps her gaze out the window.
I’ll wait until we’re home to talk to her. Besides, my mind is busy trying to connect all the goddamned dots. But once we’re in the house, Madelena walks up the stairs without looking back. I follow her into our bedroom and close the door.
“You okay?” I ask her, watching her slip off her shoes and draw the blankets back. I think she’s going to ignore me, but she drops the blanket, shakes her head, and stalks across the room to stand nose-to-nose with me.
“I want the Santos back from yesterday. From the days before. I don’t like being here in Avarice with you. You’re different when you’re here. You turn into a fucking bully, and I’ve dealt with enough of those in my life that I don’t need another one! I won’t have it!”
She spins on her heel to walk away but I capture her arm and stop her. She sets her hands against my chest to keep distance between us.
“You asked me what my problem was, so I’ll tell you what it is. I’m a husband trying to protect his wife. If you think that’s bullying, so be it. You’re mine, Madelena. I brought you into my world, a world you don’t know. And when it comes to your safety, I will make the decisions because I am the one out of the two of us equipped to do so.”
“Whether I like it or not?”
“Whether you like it or not.”
“See that’s the thing. You did bring me into your world. You forced me into it. Why couldn’t you just leave me alone? Just let me live my life without you?”
Her words hit their mark. They wound, but they also infuriate. “You want a life without me?” I tug her closer. “Is that how shallow your words are? Because I didn’t think love worked that way.”
“Let me go.”
“Am I wrong? Does telling someone you love them mean nothing to you? Are those words just lip service? Empty and meaningless? Tell me. I’m fucking dying to know.”
“I’m tired, Santos.”
“Yeah, I think you are. But we’re in this together now, Little Kitty. You’re mine, and whether you like it or not, I’m yours.”
“Whether I like it or not. Again.”
“Correct.”
“Go to hell, Santos.”
She tries to pull free, but I tug her to me. “When I make a promise, Madelena, it means something. I thought you knew that. Or did you forget?”
I walk her backward to the bed, spin her around and hold both of her wrists in one of my hands at her back. I tug them down, forcing her shoulders back. When I bring my mouth to her ear, she turns her face toward me, her breathing shallow. Being this close does to her exactly what it does to me, and the wild beating of the pulse at her neck tells me this moment is no exception.
“Do you need a reminder?” I ask in a low whisper.
She shudders.
I slide my hand along her inner thigh, up under her skirt and into her panties. From behind, my fingers tickle the cleft of her ass, tips of my longest fingers closing over her clit, my thumb rubbing her asshole.
Her breath trembles.
“You’re wet.” I press my cock against her back as I play with her. “I know the marriage vow was forced, but the words ‘I love you’ were not. Don’t tell me you already forgot having said them.” I push my thumb into her asshole, circle four fingers over her swollen clit, and listen to her moan with pleasure.
I smile.
“You’re mine, Madelena.” I bend her over the bed, release her wrists, and draw my hand out of her panties.
She makes a sound of protest as I push her skirt up and her panties down.
“Don’t worry, sweetheart. I’m going to show you what it means to be mine.”
I undo my belt, my slacks, freeing my cock and push into her in one hard thrust that makes her grunt. “Mine.” I draw back, slide one finger into her tight ass, watching myself fuck her as she fists handfuls of the blankets.
I take her hard and deep, and it’s not to make her come. She doesn’t deserve to come. It’s to make sure she knows who she belongs to and that words carry weight with me.
“You and I belong to each other now. For better or for worse. Until death do us part. And I mean every word of that.”
“Santos,” she starts, arching her back.
“You want to come?” I ask before closing my teeth over the curve of her neck.