“He was getting too close.” I clenched my teeth so hard my jaw hurt.
A beat passed before Bridget’s face cleared. She glanced around before whispering, “You know I had to dance with him.”
“You danced with him twice.”
“Rhys, he’s technically my date.”
It was the wrong thing to say, and judging by the way Bridget winced, she knew it.
I stopped in front of what I knew was the library from my pre-wedding advance work. “Get in,” I said curtly.
A hard swallow disturbed the delicate lines of Bridget’s throat, but she obeyed without argument.
I followed her inside and locked the door behind us with a soft click. The room wasn’t fully furnished yet, and it was empty save for a rug, a table, and a large mirror. The lights were off, but there was enough moonlight streaming through the curtains for me to spot Bridget’s wary expression.
“I told you, I had to bring him,” she said. “Everyone expected me to bring a date, and it would’ve been weird if I only danced with him once.”
“Stop saying the word ‘date.’” It came out soft and dangerous enough she shivered.
I walked to the table by the window and leaned against it while watching Bridget through dark, hooded eyes.
Possessiveness and anger gripped me—not at her, but at our situation and a world where we were forced to sneak around like criminals. I hated having to hide her, us. I wanted the world to know she was mine and mine alone. I wanted to tattoo myself into her skin and sink into her so fucking deep she could never get me out.
“Take off your dress,” I said.
“Rhys—”
“Take. It. Off.”
I heard Bridget’s breath hitch from across the room, but she didn’t argue again. Instead, she reached behind her and did as I asked, keeping her eyes on mine the entire time.
Other than our harsh breaths, the soft metallic slide of the zipper was the only sound breaking the silence.
I remained still, my muscles coiled with tension.
I couldn’t claim her the way I wanted outside these walls, but right here, right now, when it was just the two of us?
I was going to take her until we were both utterly ruined.