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“Whatever you say, boss.”
Boss. Now he was frustrated with me. Not that I blamed him.
He eyed me carefully but determined I wasn’t in the mood to be challenged. I returned to my desk, enjoying another sip of coffee before easing down the mug and grabbing my phone from my pocket. I was eager to return to my bride, if only for another hour or so. As I dialed Constantine’s number, I couldn’t seem to take my mind off Maria.
Everything about her had been unexpected, including the initial meeting where she’d tossed wine in my face, calling me on the carpet for my possessive words. I’d never been challenged that way by any woman. I’d been furious and aroused at the same time, almost unable to wait until our wedding night to consummate our marriage. While the moment I’d laid eyes on her I’d known the arrangement was one I wouldn’t mind, her actions had sealed the deal, only in wine, not blood.
However, today I would spill the dark red substance keeping me alive for a heightened purpose: entering into a lifetime alliance with a merciless group of men. The oath I’d issue would be one only allowed to be ended by death.
The allegiance to the Brotherhood wasn’t something to be taken lightly. Perhaps that’s why the nightmare I’d had after attempting to garner an hour or two of sleep continued to trouble my mind.
No matter the brutal acts committed by her father, she was the light to my darkness, the good to my evil. It seemed we were two perfect opposing forces that had been forced together for all eternity. In my dreams, I’d reached out for her and she’d suddenly disappeared, fading slowly as the sun set in strings of color behind her. It was the strangest dream I’d ever had.
And I wondered if it was telling, a premonition of things to come.
“I thought you’d be fast asleep at this point,” Constantine said, half laughing.
“It was impossible to sleep with a beautiful vixen by my side. But you already know that.”
“Perhaps I do.”
“You heard about the fire and one of our employees?” I asked casually.
He exhaled before answering. “A moment of flared testosterone and nothing more. There’s no need to react.”
“Aren’t you worried their warning was just the beginning?”
“You mean because of what you did to poor Ronin weeks ago? They know better than to come at us with both barrels. Stop worrying, brother. Their reaction is par for the course. I confirmed the meeting with the Brotherhood for noon.”
“Where?” I glanced out the window at the view of my ranch, noticing a few of the horses were already active in one of the three corrals. It had been far too long since I’d been riding, something I used to do on a regular basis. It was something I’d enjoy introducing Maria to.
Why did it matter? As she’d told me more than once, we weren’t destined to be friends.
The push and pull had already had pronounced effects on us, which I continued to find surprising.
“At Casino Royale. Why not?”
The fact my brother had insisted on the meeting being held in one of our operational sites versus a secluded location with no direct affiliation meant he truly wasn’t worried about Liam or his band of merry men. I wasn’t so lucky to take the offensive maneuvers in stride. I’d learned the hard way that my instincts were almost always correct. “I’ll be there. However, I’d make certain we have extra protection in case we have visitors.”
“Ah, now that you’re married, you’ve already become more worried. Perhaps it’s old age.”
“Very funny. I’ll be there.” He was still laughing when I ended the call. I glanced down at the coffee, ceremoniously pushing the mug aside, preferring some sweet nectar instead. I headed out of my office, padding toward the stairs. As soon as I reached the bottom, I noticed a flash out of the corner of my eye. Grinning, I took the stairs two at a time, continuing to be amused at her playfulness.
When the nightmare had awakened me, I’d remained sitting in the chair in the room, watching her fitful sleep, murmuring words that made no sense. A mother she missed. Disease. She’d seen her mother only hours before, the woman appearing healthy and without issue. Perhaps there were some secrets my lovely bride was keeping from me. That only added to the need to peel away the many layers.
“Where are you, my pet?” I asked as I stood outside the door to our bedroom.
As expected, she didn’t answer. My cock twitched more than before.
Maybe she truly believed she could shut me down. Whatever the case, given the mood I was in, I’d allow her to play a little longer. I pushed open the partially closed door with a single finger, studying the empty bed and what surroundings I could see. As soon as I walked in, I sensed her presence from behind the door and reacted before she had a chance to carry through with her attempt to rile me by smashing my head in with the lamp she’d taken from the dresser.
I easily snagged her wrist, walking us backward by several feet until I shoved her against the wall. She kept her firm grip on the base of the light, glaring at me just like she’d done the night before. Before our passion had taken over.
“Tsk. Tsk. You should know better, my bride.” Her fingers were tight around the brass surface, but I easily peeled them away, the scent of her infusing my senses so much my balls were tight as drums. We held each other’s gaze for what seemed longer than just a beat, her eyes suddenly filling with a number of emotions I wasn’t equipped to read.
But she didn’t fight me when I placed the lamp back in its original location before pinning her against the wall with the crush of my weight. She wiggled in my hold, which did nothing more than add to the longing we shared. More than a touch of heat stained her lovely face and it pulled at the yearning from deep within.
In those few seconds as we continued our silent sparring, my cock turned to stone, the need to drive it inside of her becoming uncontrollable.
