Page 38 of Outcast’s Vow

Oh.

My fingers tremble.

“You think so?” I ask unevenly.

There it is again. That clenching in Baptiste’s jaw. Like something sincere, trying to break free.

“Yes,” he replies.

This isn’t a barb. No more mockery.

This is genuine.

“Well, I don’t,” I snap back. “I think you’re dangerous.”

“You haven’t gotten to know me yet.”

“I’ve built up a solid enough picture.”

“You really like pretending that nothing impresses you, don’t you?”

“And you enjoy pretending you don’t give a damn whether or not I’m impressed, Baptiste, and yet, we find ourselves here. Both pretending.”

“Yes, both pretending.”

Pretending. The word drifts in the air between us. Something in him twists. His hand curls into a fist. Yeah, this isn’t pretending, and we both know it, but neither of us is brave enough to confess the truth.

Silence stretches between husband and wife.

“Be wary, Baptiste,” I say, my voice trembling. “If you keep looking at me like that, I might start thinking you actually like me.”

His attention falls to my lips. My heart flutters, betraying what I’m really feeling.

I remember stripping for him in that room at the mansion. That sense of control over his desire. Seeing how he had to hold himself back. I remember what I was able to do to him with my naked body.

He was so close to begging for me.

“I’m not thinking that at all,” he replies. “I’m actually rethinking what the hell I’ve done to end up with you.”

I frown.

“Don’t start doing that, because then you’d have to declare to the world you made a mistake,” I snap back, “and I don’t think the great and smart Baptiste Tremblay ever makes a mistake.”

“You’re right. I don’t. Now, get changed. I want to see how bad you are at skiing. That’s why I brought you here.”

“Is that your only reason?”

“And because up here, no one can interrupt us.”

I leap to my feet.

“Well, then. Get ready to be impressed, husband.”

16

SYLVIE

Okay, so it turns out my new husband is very good at skiing.