Page 35 of Married to the Devil

I turn to her, one palm against the glass. Last time we were together like this, I had her tits against a window; my cock sank between her legs. I don’t think that will happen tonight, but my god, I would bleed to taste her again.

“Here is the reality of your situation. Out there—“ I tap at the darkness beyond. “You are not safe anymore. If this could be any other way, I promise you, that’s what I would do. However, if I am going to protect you and my daughter⁠—“

“My daughter,” she hisses at me.

“—I must do so with all my resources and as publically as I can. Your existence is no longer a secret, and I will not allow it to be a liability. Making you my wife and Harriet my legitimate daughter is the only way I can protect both you and my empire.”

“Your empire?” She spreads her hands. “Who the hell are you, Rafe?”

“The details of who and what I am are not for you to worry about. All you need to know are a few simple rules, which you will obey.”

“This is crazy.”

“The first rule: you may never leave the grounds of this house without my explicit permission.”

“Got it, I’m a prisoner.”

“And the next rule: you will respect my men and you will ensure they respect you in turn.”

That gets her attention. “What do you mean, respect me in turn?”

“Any comments, any unwarranted attention⁠—“

“Do you think your employees are going to hit on me?”

“You are my wife now, June. You will have to deal with a lot of attention.”

She bursts out laughing. I don’t find it funny. Maybe she doesn’t realize how beautiful she is, but she’ll quickly learn that male attention is hard to avoid in a world like mine.

And I’ll be damned if anyone so much as glances in my wife’s direction without answering to me.

“Should I walk around fully covered too? Necklines to here, hems to here?” She points at her throat and her knees. “Actually, maybe down here⁠—“

“This is not a joke.”

Her smile slowly fades. “You’re right. It’s a kidnapping.”

“The third rule: you will be faithful, no matter what.”

“I don’t cheat on people.” She grimaces and holds up a hand. “Except we’re not really together. And that’s convenient of you, saying I’d better keep it in my pants, when I bet you’re spraying that thing all over town.”

I arch a single eyebrow. “Spraying it? Should we discuss how reproduction works, love?”

“Shut it, you know what I mean.”

“I will be faithful to you, June.” I don’t mention that I already am, that I have been since the night we slept together. Years of celibacy haven’t been easy. A lot of long, thoughtful showers have kept me sane. But she was a slip to begin with.

Any woman. Any attachment. Any desire. It becomes a liability.

A weapon my enemies will use against me.

The fewer ways I can be hurt, the stronger my family will be.

“I’m so sure.” She groans and starts pacing. “This is crazy. People are going to worry about me. Beth and Marnie⁠—“

“Will be contacted and dealt with.”

She opens her mouth to list more names, but who else is there?