Page 126 of Vicious Kingdom

Ilifted the kettlebell, swinging it strategically over my head. The weight strained and tore at my muscles. Forty-five minutes I’d been at it, doing a grueling workout.

It was all part of my grand plan.

Instead of going out to eat, Annaliese suggested we buy food and cook together. I teased her the whole shopping trip. I touched her lips, swatted her backside, tweaked her nipple. That coupled with the steamy kisses in the produce section and then again at the meat counter, right when she was in the middle of ordering steaks from the butcher, had her on edge.

Me on my toes?

No…she was the wanting, melting mess.

The moment we got home, I disappeared to the gym. Flustered, she’d taken out her laptop and was working at the kitchen counter. I’d stolen more than one peek at her in between sets.

Now it was time to make my move.

I turned off the music and went to collect my bride on the way to the shower.

“Mom, Mom! Slow down,” Annaliese said. She turned her head, watching me as I approached, phone pressed against her ear. “I can’t understand you, you’re yelling!”

Unease shifted through me.

I hadn’t counted on this morning’s business meeting to interrupt tonight’s date. They hadn’t contacted her at the bookstore, and I’d put the matter on the backburner, enjoying the time with my wife.

“He didwhat?!” Annaliese pinned me with a look.

I leaned lazily against the counter, debating if I should end the call or let it run its natural course. The sharp look in those blue eyes told me the conversation was ruining all my hard work edging Annaliese.

“And now they’re pressing charges,” she repeated, glaring at me.

Yep, time for the phone call to end.

I plucked the device and hit the red button as my wife yelped, struggling to move toward the phone.

“Now, where were we before we were so rudely interrupted?” I cajoled.

But Annaliese wasn’t having it. “You—” Her voice shook will ill contained fury. “You went and roughed up my uncle and cousin this morning?”

“I did,” I said, matter of fact.

“And you didn’t think to tell me?” she shouted.

“I didn’t want it to ruin our date, which now it is,” I grumbled.

Annaliese threw her hands in the air. “Unbelievable! You’re unbelievable!”

“No, I’m very believable.” I dropped the teasing tone and stalked forward, caging her against the island. “You wouldn’t give me a name. I checked with the staff first, but they haven’t been around long enough to bother you. Plus, you said the person was well-liked. So the next logical choice was your family.I started with your uncle, who was oblivious, and then your cousin happened to walk in. He was equally as idiotic in his sniveling response.”

Annaliese pursed her lips. “I asked you not to.”

“And I don’t fucking care who they are or what people will say,” I raged. “We’ll weather it. Together!”

“You don’t know that,” she countered. “I didn’t want anyone to know about this!”

There wasn’t a trace of fear in her eyes. There should have been. I was incensed.

Recognizing my own volatile reaction, I stepped back and took a deep breath.

“Fuck, Anna, how can you let him go unpunished?” I swiped a hand through my hair.

“His punishment is knowing I’m happily married and out of his reach,” she countered, voice laced with hot anger.