“What?” I snap. “Think you can get what you want without having to commit to the agreement? Throw the agreement between our don and your captain into jeopardy?”
“No, sir!” Frederick glances at Aerin in a panic. “I wasn’t trying to do anything, I swear. I meant no disrespect.”
“You’re fine,” Aerin tries to say, but I raise my voice further.
“Get out of here before I report you for being handsy with the Paramatti heir before you’ve even put a ring on her finger. There are rules here, rules you must respect even though you’re Irish, because one wrong move and this deal crumbles because your childish, arrogant, and unable to keep your hands to yourself behavior may very well insult our don.”
Frederick looks between the two of us, his eyes wide like saucers, then he rips his wrist out of my grip and sprints away back up the path.
He melts into the darkness within seconds and a soft, annoyed laugh rumbles in my chest.
“That’s the Irish heir? Pathetic.”
“What the hell are you playing at?” Aerin snaps, shoving me with both her hands. “I was having a lovely time!”
“Sure you were.” Our eyes meet and heat throbs through my entire body. “I know what you were trying to do.”
“Oh really?” A challenge sparks in her eyes, and she glares at me. “I was getting to know my futurehusband.”
“Is that what you want to call it? Are you sure you weren’t trying to entice him into fucking you so you could break another rule and destroy everything your father is working for?—”
Her palm collides hard with my face in a sharp slap. “Howdareyou accuse me of that?”
“I’m not wrong though, am I?” My cheek smarts from the slap, but there’s a curl of satisfaction deep down in my gut. Am I this far gone that I crave even the simplest of touches and will accept a slap of all things? “I’m here to protect you, Aerin. Which includes protecting you from yourself.”
“There was nothing to protect me from! Look at him. Frederick is a charming, perfectly sweet man, and I’m going to be spending the rest of my life with him so you better get used to him!” Her voice wobbles slightly, and her breath catches in her throat. “After all, it’s not like I have any other prospects.”
My teeth clench together. “We all have duty, Aerin.” Callous words drilled into me the moment I started working here.
“Oh, what would you know?” She shoves at me again and walks past. “You have all the freedom you could want. You can go anywhere you want, do anything you want, and what do I get?” When she spins to face me, her curls fly in an arc and I’minstantly reminded of the restaurant. “I can’t do anything. I can’t go anywhere. I can’t see anyone. Privacy is a joke, so forgive me if the thought of my future husband fucking me over that statue over there is the highlight of my fucking day!”
Her tirade ends in a gasp as jealousy surges through me like the rampant rush of a fever. My hands land on her shoulder and I shove her up against the nearest marble statue, a woman curving forward with a jug in her hands. The slope of her arms and the jug hides us briefly from view of the dinner party.
“Stop,” I growl, my voice a low rumble in my chest.
“Why?” Aerin demands breathlessly. “Why should I want those things, huh? It’s not like there’s anyone else interested, is there?”
“All you care about is breaking the rules. I’m not a fool.”
“Are you sure about that?” Her eyes dart rapidly back and forth between mine. “You’re jealous, aren’t you?”
“I’m doing my job.”
“Where in the job description does it state that you’re allowed to touch me?” she hisses. “Where does it tell you that you can watch me shower and help me finger myself when I’m too drunk to do it?”
My blood begins to boil and my grip on her soft, bare shoulders tightens. “Aerin,” I warn.
“What?” Her chin juts forward. “What are you going to do, huh? Nothing, because you’re the coward here. You’re the weak one, not Frederick. You’re the one who can’t take what he wants because you’rescared.”
“You’re mistaken.” It takes all my strength to keep my voice level.
Aerin cranes her head forward and our noses brush together. “Am I? That’s why you’re mad, isn’t it? You’re not pissed that my actions with Frederick could bring shame to my father or ruin his deal with the Irish. You’re pissed because he’s doing what you’re toochickento do.”
She’s right.
She’s so right it’s painful. Aerin sees through everything, right down to the depths of my soul no matter how I try to hide it. Letting my jealousy get the better of me was the last nail in the coffin.
“We can’t,” I growl, my voice growing strained.
