The minute he says that, it’s like a bucket of ice-cold water, and I want to bite. Hard. But I don’t. And when I look up at him, I hope he sees the anger flashing in my eyes right now. Because I am, so fucking angry.
He moves faster, his hands squeezing harder on both my hair and my nipple as he comes. He doesn’t move, I feel the warm liquid shoot down the back of my throat and he stays in until every last drop is gone then, when he pulls out, he smiles.
“You loved it.” He gets off of me and walks to the bathroom, leaving me tied to the bed.
“I hate you,” I whisper to myself. “And I love you.” A tear leaves at the realization.
I’ve never had this before, never had my heart torn in so many different ways in my life. It hurts to know that the man I thought I would spend the rest of my life with wants to treat me this way, as if I am his whore.
I’m not his whore, I am anything but.
I’m his wife.
And he shouldn’t treat me like this.
The realization hits me hard. The tears that want to follow, don’t. And I stay still until he comes back out now dressed and ready.
“We have to leave. The shower is on, clean yourself up, and get dressed.” He walks over and unties me. When my wrists are free, they’re red from me pulling against the rope. He kisses them tenderly. “Cover yourself, no one needs to see any part of you. Only I can.”
I huff at him but choose not to answer back.
Climbing into the shower, I rinse my mouth and wash my face and body. When I’m done, I see jeans and a long-sleeve shirt, plus a cardigan. It’s mine and something I packed as I wasn’t sure what weather we were going to. When I slide the cardigan on, I turn to see him standing in the doorway watching me
“You are the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen. Do you know that?”
My blue eyes don’t even blink at his words. Why would they? I don’t trust what he has to say.
“You think I’m using you. I can see it in your eyes by the way you look at me. I’m not. I’m worshipping you in the only way I know how.”
I don’t say a word.
He becomes irritated now. “Everly, when we get back you will not leave me. Do you understand? I will put off this deal if I have to, and keep you here.”
Fuck no.
“I understand,” I say with a fake smile.
“I don’t believe you.”
“I understand,” I say again trying to mean it.
He scratches his head, his brown, sun-kissed curls tied up now. He looks even more dangerous in a suit. “You understand the consequences if we go home and you leave.”
“I understand,” I say again.
He grinds his teeth. “You can say more than that.”
“I understand.”
His fists clench at his sides. “Is this how you’re going to play?” He picks up our bags and starts walking out the front, loads them into a car, and then opens the passenger door for me to slide in. I do, and when he gets in, he drives away fast.
Angry at the wheel, not speaking to me the whole way, it’s no fun. We arrive at the private airport and I notice the jet we came here in.
“You drugged me,” I say to him.
He turns to raise an eyebrow at me. “Excuse me?”
“You drugged me?”
He laughs throwing his head back. “No, love, you did that to yourself. You said the sleeping pill wasn’t working, so you took another one, which in turn, knocked you out.”
“But—”
“I would never drug you.” He says it in a tone like he can’t believe I would even suggest it. Getting out, he comes around and opens my door, letting me out. He takes my hand in his, lacing his fingers through mine. “The only harm I would ever cause you is because you like it. Do you understand?” He pauses. “And don’t say what I think you’re about to say.”
I smile at him. A true smile because I was about to say it.
“You never asked me if I like what you do. How do you know I like it?”
Gunner leans in close to my ear. “You liked it when I spanked you, when we fucked before. You liked it when I wrapped my hands around your throat. You like it, Everly. I just need to introduce you fully to the world of pain.”
“And what if I don’t want to?”
“You’re already in, my love.”
We walk up the stairs of the jet, and when we sit, he hands me my phone.
“In a few months, we will go wherever it is you’d like to go. Bora Bora, Bahamas, you name it. But for now, I have to go back to work.”