Claiming His Wedding Night

‘And even if it did, the only sight I want to see is you. In that.’ He gestured to the slip hanging from her hand.

‘You’re a monster,’ she said shakily.

‘And you are a hypocrite. Making all this fuss—’ His breath hissed through his teeth. ‘We had an agreement. We still do.’

‘I did not agree to this. To you snapping your fingers like some sexually depraved dictator.’

He shook his head. ‘That’s not what’s happening here. You’re just having a tantrum because I called you. In my house the rules are simple, sweetheart. Either fold or play.’

She stared at him in disbelief. Did he actually think this was like a game of cards?

‘This is not a hand of poker.’ She was practically shouting. ‘This is you trampling all over my feelings.’

He shrugged. ‘I don’t care.’

It was his shrug as much as the cavalier tone in his voice that made something inside her snap. Her breath was suddenly choking her.

‘Fine,’ she snarled. ‘Have it your way.’

Pulling her dress up over her head, she yanked off her bikini top, tugged the panties down from her hips and faced him—naked.

Malachi stared at her, his face hard with fury. ‘What are you doing?’

‘Me? Oh, I’m just getting ready for sex. That’s why I’m here, isn’t it?’ Her voice was shaking, her breathing ragged. Dragging the slip over her head, careless of the delicate lace, she met his gaze. ‘So where do you want to do it, then? On the table? On the beach?’

What was the matter with her? He shook his head, trying to control his anger, his confusion. ‘You’re being melodramatic!’

There was no reason for her to act like this. She’d agreed to the deal. And the deal was about sex—not this raw emotion. So why was she making such a fuss?

She glared at him. ‘No, I am not. I’m just being truthful. But honesty was never your strong point—was it, Malachi?’

‘I never said you were just here for sex!’ His voice was rough. He had finally lost his temper.

Swearing under his breath, he ran a trembling hand through his damp hair just as there was a knock on the door. He turned, frowning, and opened his mouth to say something. But Addie cut him off.

‘Of course not. You never say what you mean to anyone! So why would today be any different?’ Pressing her finger against her forehead, she pretended to think. ‘Oh, I remember now. It’s because I’m not just anyone. I’m your wife.’

‘And I’m your husband. And you owe me a honeymoon and I always call in my debts.’

‘You are not my husband. You’re just a man who’s blackmailing me for sex.’

He took a step towards her. The skin on his face was stretched tight; his arms were braced as though invisible hands were restraining him.

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; ‘If I’m blackmailing you, then how come I’m the one paying?’

She shook her head, her hands curling into fists. ‘That’s all you care about, isn’t it? Money. And winning. I think you’ve lived and breathed that casino air for so long you think everything’s like poker. That’s why you’re doing this. Why you’ve turned this, us, into some sort of sick fantasy game. You just can’t help youself.’

Malachi stared at her in silence, his angry response stilled in his throat. He could feel her accusation, lodged beneath his skin like a poisoned dart. Hear it inside his head. Only it wasn’t Addie’s voice but his own, saying words he’d never had the courage to say out loud. Words he should have spoken long ago to people who should have known better. His head was spinning. This wasn’t meant to be happening. He had just wanted to prove a point, but somehow he’d become the nightmare he’d been trying to escape from all his life.

He breathed in sharply, pushing aside that disturbing thought. ‘It’s not a game—’ he began.

‘Yes, it is,’ she spat at him. ‘Only you don’t even know it. You actually think it’s normal to manipulate your estranged wife into being your mistress. Or had it slipped your mind that we are still married?’

His eyes were hard and gleaming, like polished steel. ‘I hadn’t forgotten. But having not heard from you since your little outburst at our wedding reception, I’m surprised you bothered to bring it up.’

‘Why should I contact you?’ Her eyes flared with pain and anger. ‘You lied to me.’