“You are my wife.”
“Not in any way that counts.”
He sighed heavily and ran his hand through his hair. “Charis, you ask too much.”
“Better than asking nothing at all,” she snapped back.
His eyes flashed, and he swung away. She knew it was unjust to berate him over what he couldn’t change.
Something women always said when they made less-than-satisfactory marriages.
He looked tired, discouraged. Her demands couldn’t be easy. He’d come to an unknown woman’s rescue and adopted responsibilities that took over his life.
Except she didn’t believe he felt like that. In her heart, she believed he could love her. Sometimes, she caught him staring at her with such hunger, her heart skipped a beat.
“All I can promise is once we’ve established our marriage’s legality, you can set up home anywhere,” he said with a coldness she knew was meant to put her at a distance. “You need never see me again. This interlude will become only an unhappy memory.”
“You think that’s what I want?” she asked bitterly.
“You must make it what you want.” He stepped away with an ironic gesture of one gloved hand. “Now go to bed.”
Her temper had stirred distantly as she’d listened to his self-sacrificing statements. Now it sparked. Her jaw tensed. “Are you going to sleep by my side?” she asked in a dangerous tone.
He looked surprised. He needed to learn she wasn’t an obedient hound to leap to his slightest command. He asked her to leave him alone to go to perdition. But she wasn’t allowing him his way. The determination that had gripped her before he appeared returned full force. She wouldn’t let him settle for this barren half-life he mapped out.
“No, of course not.” He frowned. “Haven’t you heard a word?”
“I’ve heard everything, and I agree with none of it.”
“We’ll talk in the morning.”
Her lips tightened. “I’m sure we will.”
“So good night.” He turned toward the door, then must have realized she hadn’t shifted. He confronted her with a frown of irritation. “Do you want something before I go?”
“I want you to come to bed.”
His lips quirked in a sour grimace. “After what happened there, any normal woman would run shrieking.”
She flinched at the normal woman remark but didn’t budge. “I’m not asking you to do…that again.” Hot color rushed into her cheeks.
“So you want a chaste bedmate?” His voice dripped derision.
She drew a harsh breath. “I want you with me, Gideon.”
“No.”
“All right. I’ll sleep in the parlor.” She folded her arms and stared at him implacably.
“Don’t be absurd,” he said with the beginnings of real anger. She realized until now he hadn’t taken her seriously.
Of course he didn’t. He thought she was a fragile young thing who needed protecting. Before they were done, he’d learn his wife possessed a will at least as strong as his. And a heart as valiant. She meant to fight for her marriage. She meant to fight for his future.
“Get into that bed now,” he growled.
She shivered although the room wasn’t cold. “Make me.”
He straightened, and she watched rage war with frustration on his face. “You’re acting like a child.”