We took turns sliding the rings onto each other’s fingers, and that’s when I noticed her shaking. Her hands trembled so badly that she almost dropped the ring, but luckily, she didn’t.
“With the power vested in me,” the priest continued, “I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride.”
The crowd rose to their feet, erupting into applause.
I pulled her closer and sealed our union with a kiss, her soft lips quivering beneath mine. Hesitant but perfect. It was much sweeter than I imagined, even without depth or fervency.
The taste of her lips awakened something primal within me, something I hadn’t felt in all my years of kissing multiple women.
I saw a sparkle in her eyes when I pulled away, one I’d never seen before. I couldn’t tell what it was, only that it thawed something frozen inside me.
***
My master bedroom was dimly lit tonight, the air perfumed with roses and scented candles. The king-sized bed was meticulously made, with fresh sheets and thick blankets draped over the mattress.
She sat on the edge of the bed, her head bowed, manicured hands resting on her lap. The zipper of her white silk lace dress was halfway down her back, revealing the band of her black bra.
Seated on the sofa across from her, my gaze hovered over her body, drinking in the sight of her beauty. My tie was hanging loosely around my neck, my jacket was draped over the sofa’s headrest, and my eyes were pinned on her.
Just staring at her gorgeous body sent heatwaves crashing against me, accentuating my lust. I could feel my cock growing harder beneath my pants and my heart swelling with desire. The longer I gazed at her, the crazier I grew.
That kiss at the altar had awakened something in me, and all I wanted to do was claim her. Right here. Right now. But no. Scarlett was too broken, too afraid to even look me in the eyes. She must be waiting for me to make the move—to reach out and take what was mine.
As much as I would love to do just that, I couldn’t bring myself to claim a woman who didn’t want me. She said I was a monster—and she wasn’t wrong. But even a monster like me knew where to draw the line. I’d never taken a woman who didn’t want to be taken, and I wasn’t going to start now.
It didn’t matter how badly I wanted her; I wouldn’t claim her until I sensed that she wanted to be claimed.
“What’re you waiting for?” she asked, breaking the awkward silence between us. “Go ahead. Let’s get it over with.” The pain in her voice couldn’t be any more glaring.
I didn’t respond, just kept looking at her as she fought back the tears that welled in her eyes.
“I didn’t realize you were so eager for it,” I said, a teasing smirk lining a corner of my lips.
Silence.
She held my gaze, her chest rising and falling with slow, uneven breaths. Her eyes burned with a quiet fury that thawed my heart.
“Stand,” I said, my voice firm and authoritative.
Her brows knitted together for a second, as if processing what I was up to. A moment later, she reluctantly obeyed, rising to her feet.
I uncrossed my legs, my gaze unwavering as I rose from the sofa. With a deliberate slowness, I approached her, my shoes clicking against the marble floor. I watched her breath hitch the closer I drew to her, and when I halted before her, she dropped her eyes to the ground.
Her body stiffened as I raised her chin so she’d look me in the face. She locked her jaw, trying to mask her nervousness even though the heaving of her chest told a different tale.
I combed my fingers through her hair, my eyes boring into hers as the scent of her feminine perfume wafted into my nostrils. Her heart was pounding hard and fast, a testament to the fear coursing through her body.
I caressed her face with the back of my hand—tracing her jawline with a finger. “Since you’re so eager to consummate our marriage, perhaps we should do just that,” I said quietly, feeling the softness of her smooth skin beneath mine.
Her pulse quickened, and I could almost hear the sound of her racing heart. Her body was shaking, her lips trembling as she managed to look into my eyes as if pleading with my conscience.
“I am your husband now, meaning you belong to me and I can do with your body however I please,” I said, watching hershrink beneath my gaze. “You wouldn’t resist if I told you to lie back on the bed and surrender to me, now would you?”
Her breathing came in ragged gasps, her jaw tightening to conceal the emotions spreading across her body.
“Answer me,” I said. “Would you deny me what’s mine?”
She swallowed hard, then reluctantly shook her head.
