“No!”
“I think you will find you are.”
Throwing my hand down, he stepped back and started to turn away from me only to return and take my face in his hands
kissing me. Shoving him off, I wiped my lips on the back of my hand and his eyes never left mine.
“You don’t get to touch me ever again!” I shouted, although my voice was broken and filled with regret.
He took the step forward to fill the space between us and snaked his arm around my waist, pulling me into him.
“I will touch you whenever I want, wife,” his voice was husky, filled with desire and longing.
Pushing aside some of my wet hair from my neck, he stared down at it then back up at my lips.
“No, you will not,” I hissed, trying to ignore my body’s reaction to him.
He wouldn’t dare do what I thought he’d do. Not the Nicholas I knew. Who always asked for my consent, for me to say yes
and allow him, welcome him. Even when right now my body called for him, frantically needed him, I couldn’t find the words
to allow him in.
He’d only hurt me again.
“You think I'm a monster, Annwyl? Is that why?”
“You are not a monster. But you are most certainly not the man I met in the woods or even the one I married.”
He licked his lips and swallowed a lump in his throat as his eyes darkened. A growl rumbled through his chest as he
brought his free hand to hold the back of my neck. I didn’t move, still pressed up against him as the rain continued to beat down
on us. Both our horses no doubt were annoyed and inpatient.
“You forget, I can hear your thoughts. You only see the creature that dwells inside me. The one telling me to do unspeakable
things to you.”
“Do them then, if you dare to.”
His grip loosened around my waist at my words, I’d hit a nerve. Good. I hoped I did. This back-and-forth pattern we
seemed to have fallen in annoyed and hurt me deeply. I wanted passion filled with love and heat within my marriage. Not a
passion that was filled with hatred and loathing.
“You promised me you’d make me reach points that I never knew existed, and so far.” I popped myself up onto my toes so I
could really look him in the eyes. “I’ve only reached the end of my patience with you.”
Chapter 48
NICHOLAS
Reached the end of her patience? My inner voice was screaming at me to slide my blade across her throat just for the
briskness and bravery in her voice. While another part of me couldn’t have been more turned on if I tried.