He held me tight as I tried to push away. I clawed at him, struggled. He kept me pinned there, feeling the warmth of his body. I finally stopped, breathing hard, and glared into his eyes.
“Let me go.”
“You haven’t stopped thinking about that kiss, have you? I know I can’t get it out of my head. The way you moaned and writhed. Your taste and lips. You might hate me, but you want to let me explore every inch of your pretty little body despite all that. I want to hear you admit it.”
“Go to hell.”
“I’d gladly burn for eternity if it meant getting to spend a lifetime teasing you.”
“Asshole.” I shoved off his chest and he let me go. I stumbled away and put a few feet between us. I kept breathing hard, gasping for air, trying to clear my wild mind, but I couldn’t seem to get myself straight.
He had me, trapped and snared.
“I’m not marrying you.”
He stood, came forward. I backed up until I bumped into the wall. The corkboard clattered and a page fell off.
I stared into his eyes as he placed his hands on either side of my shoulders and leaned close.
“You don’t have a choice.”
“You can’t force me. That won’t work.”
“There are ways.” He tilted his head, brought his lips less than an inch from my own. I wanted to close that gap and kiss him so badly it hurt, but I wouldn’t give him the satisfaction.
“But it won’t be worth your time. Why bother with an unruly wife?”
“I’ll break you, love. Slowly, but surely.”
“What’s the point of that? Why take an unwilling wife?”
“Because you taste so sweet.”
He kissed me then, hard and rough, and I groaned against my will as I kissed him back. His words were honey, poison, pleasure and pain, but when he bit my lip, it felt like heaven, or like hell, I didn’t know which, and didn’t care.
One lifetime exploring him. One lifetime suffering.
Writhing with pleasure.
He broke the kiss off abruptly. The absence of his lips was like being dunked in water.
The kitchen door opened. Anthony came in. “They made a decision.”
Darren didn’t take his eyes off mine. “Are they waiting?”
“You should go back in.”
“Thank you. We’re coming.”
Anthony glanced at me then disappeared.
“We should go.” My voice was a whisper. I was so weak, so pathetic. I gave him what he wanted every time.
“Tell me you’ll marry me.”
“That’s one fucked-up proposal.”
His hands moved down to my hips and gripped me hard. “Say it. Say you’ll marry me.”
“I’m not going to do it. You can force me, but I’ll never come willingly.”
For some reason, that seemed to please him. He released me and stepped away.
I leaned my head back and stared down my nose.
“We should get back.” He held out a hand.
I didn’t take it, but I followed him back into the hall.
Back to that conference room.
Back into the blackest pit.
14
Darren
The room was warm when we returned. Or maybe that was only Winter still lingering on my lips.
That girl hated me. And she wanted me just as much.
It made my blood boil and rage.
The way she resisted her own desires drove me wild. It was beautiful, watching her struggle against herself, only to finally give in to the pleasure she so desperately needed. I wanted to give her everything, to make her my queen, my wife, my future, if that meant I’d get to drive her wild every night of her life.
I wanted that contradiction, that insane need.
I wasn’t lying when I said Winter would be good for me. I needed something to smooth out my rough edges and I thought having a wife could do that.
But Winter herself was perfect. Clever, intense, fearless.
Most people would’ve fallen apart a thousand times already.
Not my Winter.
Old Bern looked agitated. He shifted in his chair, scowling at the floor. Kaspar stood nearby, inspecting a cigar. Maeve said with her back straight and nodded as we approached.
Winter lingered nearby, but she didn’t join the circle.
That wasn’t for her. Not yet, at least.
I took a seat across from Maeve and looked from her to the others. Old Bern scowled at me.
“We came to a decision,” Maeve said, looking blank. I’d never been able to read her, not once in all these years.
“And what’s that?”
“I don’t like it,” Old Bern said. “I want to make that clear. I don’t like it one bit.”
Kaspar made a face. “You don’t like anything except the smell of your own body odor, Bern.”
Old Bern turned red but didn’t reply.
Maeve’s lips flattened. “We’ve decided to give you more time under one condition.” She looked toward Winter. “You make good on your promise to marry her.”
Winter released a strangled yelp but didn’t run away.
Strong, gorgeous Winter. And to think, I hated her when I first met her.
Daughter of a rich, arrogant bastard, living in some squalid little beach town, hiding away from her destiny.