“It wasn't like that.”
“It wasn’t a trap?”
“It was very much a trap.” I smack him. He takes the hit. I seem to be more shocked by my actions than he is. I shake my hand because damn, it hurts. He doesn’t even seem fazed. Suddenly he moves, gripping both my wrists in one hand. “You’re not going to hurt yourself because you’re angry with me.”
“You made me think we could fall in love.” I sink my teeth into my bottom lip when it starts to tremble.
“I wanted you before I knew who you were. Sticking it to Edward was a bonus. I brought you back here and kept you safe. Slept in bed next to you to make sure you were okay because I knew you’d be mine, and that was before I knew anything except for the promise I’d made you.”
“I should have left with them.” My words come out as almost a whisper. There is no power behind them. Mikael’s hold on my wrist tightens.
“You’re my wife. You’re not going anywhere.” A spiral of heat rushes through my body at the possessiveness of his words. No, I’m not going anywhere, and not only because I know it’s better to be with Mikael than Edward. I still want him. It’s terrible. I shouldn’t want to be in the same room as him. I know he used me, but I don’t want to go.
“I think you know I don’t have anywhere to go. The second I leave here, Edward would have me.”
“He will never have you.” He leans in close. “No one will have you. You’re my wife. Edward could die tomorrow. He very well might if he keeps trying to come for my wife, but you’ll still belong to me long after he’s gone.”
I try to press my thighs together as my clit starts to throb. My panties grow embarrassingly wet. I can’t, though. Mikael’s big body is there keeping them open.
I pull at my arms, and he releases my wrists. My hands go to his chest where I tell myself I’m going to shove him back, but when I place them there, my fingers dig into the material of his shirt.
“Don’t tell me you don’t feel this?” I do, but it’s all so confusing. It’s hard for me to believe that this man really wants me. Years of being told no one would want me, and now here I have the hottest man I’ve ever seen in my life wanting me. “You feel it.” He leans in a little closer. His mouth is so close to mine.
I do, and I can’t take it anymore. His words are too much. So I do the only thing I can think to get him to stop speaking.
I kiss him.
10
MIKAEL
There is only one thought in my mind—claim her. Without breaking contact with her mouth, I sweep her into my arms. My feet know where to go. The halls are blessedly empty as I make my way up to the bedroom. Ruby and Marco have done their jobs of clearing everyone out. I kick the door to my bedroom shut and don’t stop kissing Aurora until we reach the bed. When my knees hit the frame, I toss her onto the mattress.
“Baby, you’re gorgeous.”
I slide the small puff sleeves from her shoulders to her arms. I place a kiss on her bare skin, following a path along her shoulder blade to the base of her neck. Her pulse beats wildly against my mouth. She needs me, too.
My desire for her, my absolute lust for her has nothing to do with Edward Blackstone, and I’m going to prove it to her.
“This dress better have a zipper,” I growl as I run my hands over her cinched-in waist to find the opening. My plans for a quick removal are stymied when I find a row of what seems like a hundred satin buttons. “No.”
She smirks. “There’s a zipper. It’s hidden.”
I push at the buttons and breathe a sigh of relief when I see the metal tab of the closure. “Thank fuck. I was about to have a temper tantrum.”
“What does a Mikael temper tantrum consist of?”
“Crying. Throwing things. More crying, I guess. I don’t know. Haven’t had one that I can remember.” I pull the zipper down and watch with pleasure as her golden skin is unveiled like the best Christmas present known to mankind.
“Because you always get what you want?”
“Possibly.” I lean forward and press a kiss between her shoulder blades. Enough with the small talk. I need her.
“Especially when it comes to Edward?”
I pause and then continue my path down her newly exposed spine. “He’s got nothing to do with us.” Silence greets me, so I continue to kiss her until my lips meet the thin elastic band of her delicate G-string.
“I’m going to ruin this.” I tug on the strap with my teeth. She shudders.