Page 124 of Captive Ruin

Her eyes flash. “You wouldn’t—” She cuts herself off before she says dare. “My body is not my mind.”

Confirmation that she’s aroused. As I suspected.

“Your mind, then. Your sister? Your own protection?”

“From a war you started.”

“You’ll want for nothing,” I continue doggedly. “All my money, all my resources. They’re yours to help you find the happiness you need and the protection you deserve.”

“And my freedom?”

I smile. “A never-ending supply of rope and cuffs for you to cut up as often as you wish.”

She jerks against my hold, staring at me. “Why are you smiling now?”

“Because I’m happy. I just got married.”

“How the hell can this make you happy?” she asks, incredulous, then gestures around the empty room with her free hand. “How could this make anyone happy?”

I grip the back of her neck, pulling her close enough that I can murmur right into her ear. She’s tense, resisting me. “I’ve wanted you since the first day I saw you. I’m obsessed with you. You’re everything to me. Yes, I’m happy, because I’ve found you when I never thought I’d find anyone. I’ll do whatever it takes to fill your life with pleasure and joy.”

“Joy?” she chokes out, blinking back tears. “If you’ll do whatever it takes, why don’t you let me go and protect me from afar?”

“Because, my Little Stray, how will you be happy without my presence, my cock, and the spanking you so richly deserve?”

She laughs, bitter and mirthless. “I was wrong, okay? I can’t go through with this. I’ve said no, and once again, you’ve completely ignored me.” She shakes her head, eyes mournful and liquid, anger giving way to sadness. “How can we have a marriage when you refuse to accept any part of who I am? It’s… it’s… a farce.”

“It’s not a farce,” I say urgently, pulling her to me while in the corner of my eye Bastien walks to the door, giving us the illusion of privacy. “Earlier, you asked why I was smiling. Do you remember?”

“Because you’re a fucking psycho.”

“I was smiling because I never thought I’d find someone who could make me feel again. You, my fierce, beautiful, courageous Little Stray, you’re the reason I can smile.”

She pulls back enough to search my face, a tear running down her cheek that I want to kiss away. I hold her gaze with no reservation, letting her see whatever it is she’s looking for.

“I’m not walking into this blindly,” I continue softly, putting all my heart into my words. “I’m not doing this because the fates say I must. I’m doing this because I can’t accept a world where you’re not mine. If I must, I’ll put you in cuffs until I’ve found a way to prove what I say is true. I’m going to make you happy… at my side.”

She stares at me for dozens of beats of my racing heart. “I’m a long damn way from happy.”

“Then I have a lot of work to do.”

“Do you think you can?” she asks, like she genuinely wants me to say yes. “Do you think you’re even capable?”

“I cook a mean seafood pasta and I know a guy with one hell of an art collection.” I relax my hold on her wrist, but still keep it pinned to her back, her body pinned against mine. “And I know exactly how to make you come harder than you’ve ever come before.”

“No, you don’t,” she mutters. “You can’t beat what you did when you went down on me then fucked me.”

I grin, tugging her into me. It’s not just the playfulness of her answer, it’s that she hasn’t point-blank refused me again. A window of opportunity, however small, and I’ll take it. “Challenge accepted. It might take me a few tries, but we have the rest of our lives ahead of us.”

“Do we, Lukas?” she says, and I’m not even sure she realized she used my name. “Will you just abandon me again, cast me aside now that you own me, save when you need somewhere warm to put your dick?”

“No, I won’t,” I vow. Then I hesitate. “I do have… work commitments. I may not be there… every moment.” I wince. “I have to ensure the Volkovs leave us alone.” I meet her eyes, trying to compel her to believe me with the force of my words alone. “But I swear, I will do all that’s in my power to be your partner, your husband, your lover, to give you everything you need, and some of what you want.”

She falls quiet, watching me with her brow delicately furrowed, like she’s trying to figure out an enigma.

I slip my hand around her throat, holding her lightly, lifting her chin with my thumb. “Do you accept that what I’ve told you is the truth?”

“I… do,” she says, as if the realization surprises her.