I ground my teeth to hide my vexation. “I’m just trying to milk the most out of our contract.”
“I’d rather you milk my cock, baby.”
“How charming. Which brings me to my next condition…I want complete faithfulness.”
Even though this marriage was against my will, I did want to fuck Zeno. But I would not be made a fool in front of Montardor’s elite society, ergo no mistresses for him.
“Done.”
That was fast. I arched an eyebrow.
“Seems I have acquired a taste for bossy, defiant principals who dress like naughty librarians.” Zeno licked his lips and eyed my body like he wanted to devour me. “For the record, I want complete faithfulness from you as well.”
“Done.” I grew hot under his perusal. “My other condition: no more threatening my family, Zeno. I mean it.”
“I promise. What else, Darla?”
I searched his face for any more lies. I would be a fool to trust this man, yet even I could hear the sincerity ringing in his words. He had everything he wanted—my family’s and my obedience—so there was no more reason for a fake façade.
I believed him when he said he didn’t know who I was the first night we met, just like I believed he would leave my family alone and be faithful. Zeno was attracted to me. The way he looked at me was proof enough that I was all this man would need during our marriage.
I reached up to fist a handful of his hair and tugged.
Zeno didn’t flinch at the pain. Simply smirked through it.
I enjoyed crawling to him, getting spanked, and having my throat assaulted by his appendage. But outside of the bedroom, I wouldn’t be a submissive little bitch.
I may be marrying this man, but I wasn’t signing away my dignity.
“You want me?” I goaded. The sound of the rain’s pitter-patter filled the space between our racing hearts. “Work for me. Get down on your knees and ask me like a gentleman.”
“You and I both know I’m not a gentleman.”
“Try for me anyway.”
I wrenched him down with all my strength. He went to his strong knees without a fight and I realized it wasn’t because he was entertaining me.
No.
Zeno liked to get on his knees for me.
His hands cupped my waist and he watched me with an indescribable expression. “You are, without fail, the most beautiful woman I have ever seen.”
The rawness in the statement hit me square in the chest like serrated knives. It’s almost as if Zeno didn’t wish to utter the compliment but was helpless to do so. Or maybe this was just one of his traps to lure me deeper into his web.
Either way, I no longer cared.
For a big chunk of my life, I never felt beautiful or worthy. My ex-boyfriend Owen had dated me when he really had a crush on Dacia, and my own mother spoke highly of her eldest daughter but disregarded me completely.
For once, I wanted someone to treat me like the first priority.
“My full name is Darla Ivy Hill,” I whispered, finally giving him what he’d asked at Chaleur. I let go of his hair and cupped the nape of his neck. “Maintenant, demande ma main.”
Zeno reached into his suit pocket. I realized then he’d stolen another one of my barrettes. Plain, golden, with my initialsDIHengraved, it kept his black tie in place.
It was ludicrous.
It was possessive.