“Who are you,wife?”
I crossed my arms. “I tire of your riddles. What are you asking me?”
“Are you a spy?”
Coughing didn’t work to stifle the laughter. In fact, it made it worse. My arms uncrossed and I hugged my waist as the laughter got louder and harder.
“Why are you laughing?” he demanded as he slammed his hands to the arms of the chair.
“Hawk, that’s quite a leap,” I said between breaths. “I didn’t even want to be here.” That was blunt.
“Well, you are.”
“Yes, Captain Obvious. Webothare.Manandwife.”
He stood briefly, then he pulled the chair from the head of the table out and finally sat down. He brushed his hand over his hair then blew out a heavy breath. “How did you do that back there?” His voice was less aggressive and shaky now.
“I’ve trained in several forms of martial arts since I was a child.”
“Why? Shouldn’t you have been doing ballet or something?” he asked, tapping his fingers on the table.
“Why?” I sneered. “Because I’m Russian? Because I’m a woman? Or do you think I’m a little girl?”
“Goddamn,” he mumbled, looking at the ceiling. “You always this combative?”
“Are you always this accusatory? You question my motives when I have none, then insult my abilities.”
“We have enemies from all sides. Some we’ve yet to identify. So yes, I’m suspicious. Ofeveryone.”
“Wow,” I huffed. “Being married is more than I could everdream.” Gripping the arms of the chair, it was my turn to look at the ceiling. I fought to keep tears from blinking out of the corners of my eyes. Not sad tears, angry and frustrated ones.
He said, “I agree.”
Standing and pushing the chair back, I exploded, my accent slipping out. “Howdareyou? I am so far from home!” I started ticking off on my fingers as I continued, “Far from my only friend, far from my training room, far from my mother’s restaurant, and don’t even have all my things.” I threw my arms up. “I haven’t seen my new home, and I’ve barely seen the clubhouse that is apparently so important to you,afterbeing felt up by some stranger. This is all yours!” I shouted, my arms slapping down on my sides. “And now so amI, but instead of getting to go relax after being in a fucking car for twelve hours with a bunch of women I just met, my new husband is chastising me for defending myself. So Goddamnyou, Hawk,” I told him. “I agree,” I mocked with air quotes.
I’d just shouted at my husband. And cursed at him. And mocked him.Shit. It wasn’t like me to keep having outbursts like slamming a glass to the ground or screaming at men in power. I’d had a rough few days, though.
He stood slowly and my adrenaline rushed through me as my heart raced. But I stood unmoving. I wasn’t lying when I said I was not afraid.
He came closer and reached out. I was determined to not flinch. But he didn’t grab me. He gently took my hand. The soft warmth sent a jolt of electricity up my arm.
Still holding my hand with one, he covered it with the other. “You’ve had a long day. You need food, and rest. I’m sorry I insulted you. I’mnotsorry I questioned the motives of your father, but didn’t mean to imply I was questioning yours. And nobody here will touch you again. You have my word. If they do, they’ll cease to exist. And while I certainly didn’t plan to be married, you’re right. This is my club and my home. But it’s your home now, too. I hope you can start to feel that way soon. We both have to make the best of this, right?”
“Right. Thank you.”
He said lots of kind things, and he apologized. But Goddamn if he didn’t saynobodyhere would touch me. He probably already had his favorite women. After the heated discussion and his clear concern about me being here, I decided now wasn’t the time to broach the subject. But if he wasn’t going to touch me, and he had other women, surely there would be an agreement of some kind for me, right?
Except as dumb and antiquated as it was, I didn’t wantanyone but my husband to touch me. And the idea of any other women touching him made my blood boil.
Chapter 13
Hawk
Sending a wolf whistle through the clubhouse, I waited for everyone to shut up. The music was still playing, but low enough that I could talk over it once the chatter quieted.
“Destiny’s Enforcers, this is Katarina Petrov. Well, Katarina Jones now,” I said as I glanced at her, “but we gotta get that paperwork finalized.”
Squatch walked over, kneeling in front of her, “I’m sorry. I’d never disrespect the fir–”
