Necromancist (Seven Forbidden Arts 6)

“All this time, I believed I’d accomplished something, but it was just another lie.”

“You know what your problem is?” He gave her a gentle shake. “You never stopped living in your mother’s shadow. That’s why you gave up. That’s why you threw away a fucking golden opportunity handed to you on a silver plate.”

She jerked from his hold with a gasp. “I dropped out because I didn’t want to sing.”

His voice softened. “You were afraid of turning into your fucked-up mother.”

“Don’t speak about my mother like that. She’s dead. Show some respect.”

“She didn’t deserve my respect. She was a selfish bitch who cared about nobody but herself, not even about her only daughter.”

An old pain seared through her, the intense kind only the truth could inflict. Even if she’d refused to admit it to herself, she couldn’t deny it.

“My mom wasn’t perfect, and I’ve been hurt plenty of times,” she whispered, “but never like this.”

“Then nobody’s been honest with you. It’s time you face the facts. Your mother wasn’t fit for the role, and your father was too busy with his job to make up for her neglect. You and I, we may be worlds apart in breed, but we’re not so different. The people who were supposed to protect and love us knocked us both down. I had nothing to give you, so I gave you the only thing I could. I gave you a chance. I suffered in hell, and you blew it away.” He advanced a step, putting his chest an inch away from her face. “I’m not going to pussyfoot around you or treat you with kid gloves, any longer. It’s payback time. You’re singing on stage with me.”

Her mouth fell open. She stared at him in horror. “Forget it.”

“You will, or I’ll publicly announce our relationship whether you’re ready to face it or not.”

“Are you blackmailing me?” she exclaimed.

“I’m making you grow some backbone. If you’re going to live with me, you’ll need a strong one.”

A tremor ran through her body. “I never thought you could be so cruel. I’m glad you’re reminding me the man I loved doesn’t exist.”

“Oh, I’m here, baby, hard and real.”

“Not for long,” she challenged.

“Wake up and smell the roses. I’m not going anywhere, at least not without you.”

“You never stick around.” She lifted her chin. “Soon, you’ll be nothing but another bad memory.”

He fisted his hand in her hair. “Have I not been clear enough for you? You’re mine. I’ve been fighting for you for nine, bitter years, and I’ll fight to my grave. Maybe you didn’t love me enough to stand up for me against your family, but you still need me. Say it.”

“No.”

He turned her around and marched her to the couch. “Say you want me.”

She knew what was coming, and she was a perverse woman for wanting it. It didn’t mean she had to admit it. Upon her silence, he bent her over the armrest and pushed her dress up over her hips, exposing her bare bottom. She shivered as the cool air hit her exposed folds.

He stroked a palm over her ass cheeks, making her muscles contract. “Your pretty little ass is still red with the imprint of my hand. It’ll hurt like hell to get another spanking so soon. I’m not asking for much. Tell me what I want to hear.”

She looked back at him. His eyes were fixed on her lower body, already dark with lust.

“You can’t bend me over and take me like a caveman every time you want,” she bit out.

He gripped both her wrists in one hand behind her back. The metal of his buckle clinked. “As long as you want me, I’ll take you how and when I want.”

“You’re a possessive bastard.”

He pushed his groin flush against her ass. She could feel him working open his jeans. “I’ve earned the right. As I said, I worked nine long years for it.” The head of his cock touched the inside of her leg.

Heat gathered between her legs. “Is that what you think? That you had to become famous and make loads of money to win my approval?”

Lodging his cock between her globes, he rubbed himself slowly up and down her crease. “Whether you approve or not doesn’t matter, because it won’t change a goddamn thing. As soon as you get over your denial, you’re moving in with me.”

She kept her thighs pressed together, but her sex clenched, begging to be filled. “We’ll never live together.”

He stilled behind her. “Is that so?” His voice turned mocking. “Now, why would that be?”

“You’re just like all the rest.”

“Am I now, Princess?” He started moving, again. “How’s that?”

“You’re self-centered. You don’t care about my feelings. You couldn’t even tell me to my face I wasn’t good enough for the scholarship. You’re nothing but a coward.”