Page 45 of Married to the Devil

I realize my mistake immediately. His face shuts down. It goes blank and dark, and he slowly closes the door behind him before turning and coming toward me.

“You don’t seem to understand.” I lean away, heart pattering as he looms, a gorgeous monster in a tight black t-shirt. I swear I can see the outline of each individual ab muscle and there are like fifty of them. “You and me are forever, June.”

“There’s no reason for that. Marriages end all the time⁠—“

“Mine don’t.”

For a beat, I’m afraid he’s going to grab me, but instead he drops to his knees in front of me, hands to either side of my thighs, hemming me in.

We’re nearly eye height now. He’s a few inches lower, thanks to the tall bed. I’m breathing fast, startled by his intensity, remembering the way he went down on me that first night. It was so long ago, years now, but every moment, every touch is seared into my brain.

I’ve craved him so many times. It’s pathetic, I know. Almost sick, how badly I’ve wanted to relive that pleasure. I’ve touched myself again and again remembering his mouth, his dick between my legs, his moans in my ears. The most erotic and blissful night of my life, but I’ll never have it again.

Even now, inches away from him, I can’t let myself.

“Why can’t we be reasonable about this?” I whisper, fear and desire fighting in my heart.

“Nothing about my life is reasonable. I’ve given up so much to be where I am, and I will continue to sacrifice until there’s nothing left.”

“You’ll ask that of me, too?”

“No, wife. I’ll shield you from the worst. You and my daughter will be sheltered, protected, loved. Worshipped, if you let me.”

“I don’t… I can’t…” God, what does he mean?

Worshipped?

The way he’s down on his knees, the gleam in his expression, the way he’s looking at me like he’s going to break if I try to escape⁠—

He really means all this craziness.

That’s the scariest part.

Every word is true.

He looks wrecked with how much he wants me, and that makes my heart thrill in return.

I’ve never had someone care about me so much. Not even Grandma, and she was the best thing that ever happened to me.

But whatever Rafe’s feeling, it’s not real.

It’s not healthy.

And it’ll break me if I let it.

“All I want is my life back. That’s all I want.”

“Your life is with me now.” His fingers curl, gripping the sheets. It pulls me closer to him slightly. His face almost between my thighs. I bite my lip to keep from groaning at the thought of him diving in, kissing me, nibbling.

“You’ll get sick of me. You’ll change your mind.”

“No, I won’t.”

“What about Hattie? How will you explain that you kidnapped her mother?”

“She’ll grow to understand one day.”

“I won’t.”