Under His Rule

Fucking Patrick betrayed me by getting President Lawrence. I’m sure he told him we were in here—that she was in here, eating with me. It’s against the rules … the rules he created.

His nostrils flare. I wonder if he can smell her too.

That scent is the scent of victory.

I just hope he won’t realize.

Natalie thought I was the worst man she could ever meet. Wrong.

There’s nothing this guy won’t do to get his way. But he’s met his match in me.

“Noah,” he says. “Sit.” He points at a chair that’s standing near the wreckage we left after I sucked her pussy dry.

I sit down without a hint of shame. I know what I did, and I don’t regret a single minute of it.

We stare at each other for a moment before he finally opens his mouth. “Who is she?”

“I took her from one of our conversion sessions,” I explain. “She was rather … reluctant.”

“So she wasn’t an applicant,” he says. “Just a random … whore.”

“Yes,” I answer even though I want to wrap my hands around his neck for suggesting she’s ever been in someone else’s clutches, that she would ever open her legs for anyone but me. “But you have no problems with that, do you?” I fold my arms. “After all, your wife—”

“Silence,” he growls.

Of course he doesn’t like me speaking about Marsha, but he can’t deny the truth. She didn’t come from here, didn’t grow up to be a wife, and instead was destined to remain a crack addict at a strip club. But no one ever speaks of their history after they enter the community. After all, we’re all part of the Family.

“What did you intend to do? Hide her from me forever?” President Lawrence asks, pacing around the room.

“No, I was going to introduce you sooner rather than later. I just didn’t expect Patrick to beat me to it.”

“Don’t drag him into this,” he says, glaring at me. “You know he did what was required of him when you defiled our temple.”

“Right …” I rub my lips together.

He stops in his tracks. “Rules are rules, Noah,” he says. “And for a good reason too.”

“I know, I know,” I say, holding up my hands. I don’t want to fight with him. Not now, anyway.

“Don’t be so arrogant. Do you know what’s at stake here? What happens if you refuse to follow the rules?”

I know what’s at stake here. My head. He’s had people murdered for much less.

He approaches me and leans over to look directly into my eyes. “Your status as patriarch won’t protect you if you keep breaking the rules.”

“I understand,” I say, nodding. After a short pause, I add, “I apologize. I was a little—”

“Horny?” he interrupts. His nostrils flare. “You had no self-control. And at my table, nonetheless. Spoiling our food with that filth.”

“It won’t happen again.”

“No, it won’t,” he says, turning his back to me again. “She will not be in this room again. As a matter of fact, give me one good reason I shouldn’t banish her from this community.” He glances at me over his shoulder. “Or have her head.”

I swallow. “Because she’s going to be my wife.”

“Says who?” he growls.

“I …” I clear my throat. “I would be honored if you would give me your blessings, President.”

I hate sucking up to him like this—hate it with all my guts—but I know it’s necessary to extinguish this fire I’ve started.

“Hmm … Has her body seduced you so badly?” He raises his brow. “Maybe I should try her out for myself and see what all the fuss is about.”

My eyes widen. I feel sick at the mere thought. “Ah, no. She … uh …”

He raises both his brows now.

Shit.

I can see it in his eyes, that same hunger I see when I look in the mirror. The need for power.

It makes men do horrible things; things normal men could only dream of.

But I’m not normal, and neither is he.

“She is already bound to me,” I say, hoping it’ll stop him.

She’s already mine, and our rules forbid the patriarchs from claiming any other woman who already belongs to a patriarch after being bound … through sex.

“Really?” he replies, snorting. “After all this time, now you choose to fuck a woman?”

I nod. “I’ve waited long enough. It was time. My father agrees.”

He narrows his eyes. “Of course your father agrees.” His tongue darts out to lick his teeth. “But your father isn’t the president. You want me to honor her as your wife? Prove to me that you choose her. Prove to all of us that you choose her over—”

“I do,” I interject, getting up from my seat. “I will.”

A vicious smirk appears on his face. “I’ll call together the patriarchs. The Patriarchal Ceremony will be tonight.”

He turns around and walks off again, but then stops as he clutches the doorway. “You know I will never stop … no matter the cost.”