I will have her for my wife or die trying.
And death is an option. Who knows what other traps my bride has set for me?
“You said that I’ve been holding back. Maybe I’ll give you a taste of the cane. It has a wicked bite.”
She lets out a squeak. She can’t hide her emotions, and I love that about her.
“I could punish you for days. Years. We have a lifetime together, remember?”
I can practically hear the pitter-patter of her heartbeat.
I jump out from behind the corner. “Got you.”
She shrieks, as I knew she would, and darts for the stairs. I follow her, letting her get ahead of me. I don’t want her going too fast in case she trips and falls.
Once we’re downstairs, I’m not holding back. I chase her through the living room and into the dining room. She pushes a chair in my path, and I narrowly avoid it.
I curse, and she giggles like a maniac, speeding away.
There’s a creak in the kitchen, then a crashing of silverware. The pantry door’s swinging, but she wouldn’t be so silly as to go in there and get trapped. No, she’s faking me out. She’s squatting in the shadows by the cabinet, hoping I’ll pass her hiding place without spotting her.
I walk past her, pretending to do just that.
I pause out of sight, near the door to the greenhouse. That’s where she’ll head. Her territory. I’ve got to catch her before then. If she gets her hands on more poison, I give myself only thirty minutes to live.
I can’t let her win this round.
I’ve beaten every other opponent I’ve ever faced, but I fell prey to her. I underestimated her, but I will not make the same mistake again.
She is the deadliest opponent I have ever faced. And she might be the death of me.
I can hardly wait to see how this ends.
Bella
* * *
I crouch in the corner of the kitchen, holding my breath. My house has become haunted by a gas-mask-wearing monster. He just lumbered past me.
Should I grab a knife? No, that would be stupid. He’s a fighter for a living. I need to keep this benign, in case he catches me.
He’s gone.
If I run, I can get to the door to my greenhouse. I count down in my head. Three, two, one—I spring forward, making a break for it?—
A shadow falls on me. “Got you.” Kaiser slams into me, wrapping his arms around my middle, lifting me right off my feet. I shriek, kicking.
“Behave,” he orders, and I freeze automatically. His voice is so creepy.
He tosses me up into his arms, carrying me like a bride back up the stairs. I stare at the creepy gas mask.
What happens if I lift it off?
Before I can touch him, his muscles flex in warning. He growls, “Now you’re in for it.”
I squeal, half in horror, half delight.
We’re back in the bedroom, where he throws me on the bed. I bounce, but before I can get my limbs under control and scramble away, he’s on me. I can sense the anger emanating from him, but he’s perfectly controlled as he pushes me down. He shoves my legs apart and lays on top of me, his full weight crushing me into the bed. And oh my goddess, it feels so good.
