AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Yeah.”
I polish off the glass of wine and reach for the bottle. He watches me as if mesmerized but doesn’t stop me. I try to keep my tone upbeat to quell my rising nerves. “I’m amazed they left so readily, given your cheerful nature and infectious joy for life. You’re like sunshine in human form.”
He narrows his eyes at me. “Are you baiting me?”
My hand shakes a little as I pour another glass. “Nah.”
Of course I’m baiting him. If I can get him focused on sparring with me, it takes his mind off things like murder, bloodshed, and the darker cravings that haunt him. I want to see the man he is beneath the scars and shadowed masks he wears.
And if I’m honest? I want to distract him from the inevitable next step we take alone as a married couple.
“Try again,” he says, turning to face me. He finishes the beer and tosses the bottle to the table. I jump at the clang of glass and expect it to shatter, but it only rolls away.
“Maybe it’s your magnetic appeal and charisma,” I say, taking another generous sip of wine. My thoughts get a little muddled and the view in front of me blurs a little, like the room’s been etched in oil pastels. “Your genteel nature and lighthearted sense of humor?”
“Getting there,” he says, and I swear his eyes on me feel like he’s mentally undressing me. “Khristos,Princess. You’re fucking gorgeous. How much wine have you had?”
I finish my glass and eye the bottle. “Not enough,” I whisper, my words slurred. I reach for the bottle.
“No, Harper.”
A chill skates down my back at the utter command in his tone. I pause, my hand on the bottle, and lift my eyes to his. “What?”
“No more wine.” Warmth spreads through me from the top of my head to the tips of my toes. “I want you to remember tonight in vivid detail.”
Oh, God.
I stand on shaky feet and take a few steps to the vacant, makeshift bar that flanks a wall, abandoned bottles still lined up like soldiers. I reach across and grab a little shot of whiskey. I don’t ever drink that much. I don’t even know how to. But I do know two things: I don’t want to remember this night, and I don’t want him to think he can boss me around.
I twist the top off a shot of something amber and don’t even read the label. I tip my head back and down it in one gulp, sputtering when I come up for air.
I squeal when the full length of his warm body presses me against the white table. How did he get there? I wasn’t even aware of him moving.
“Disobeying me already? We’ve barely taken vows.”
“I’m not. You told me no more wine.” I hold up the empty shot. “This isn’t wine.”
“So that’s how we’re going to play it,” he says in a lazy drawl as he arranges my hands flat across the top of the table.
“Play what?” My voice sounds too high, too loud.
“The way you earn your first spanking.”
My cheeks instantly color and my vision momentarily becomes clearer. “Aleks!”
His palm slams across my ass, but I hardly feel it. I’m surrounded by layers and layers of fabric. I can’t help it — I’m so tipsy and so wound up I snort.
“Are you mocking me, Princess?”
I am so mocking him, but I shake my head.
“Me? Never. Aleks!”
In one swift motion, I’m up in the air and over his shoulder, my legs scissoring and hands flailing in front of me.
“These layers of clothes need to go.”
I’m shaking and want to fight but have no choice.
