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She sank her teeth into his finger, biting hard enough to break skin. He stiffened but didn’t pull away. Blood touched her lips and she jerked back, spitting and wiping her lips on her shoulder.
“What is wrong with you? Why are you doing this? I’m not who you think. Please, listen to me. I’m not your ainsicht. My name is Annalise and I have a job and a life and a...” No family. “People will miss me. I can’t stay here.”
When he didn’t answer, she shifted to look at him. He kept hold of her arm, but allowed her to twist to face him.
She expected a fight, but as her gaze met his, she didn’t find anger. On the contrary, he looked ... excited.
His chest lifted with heavy breaths as he brought his finger to his mouth and sucked away the blood. “I don’t know how to react to a woman like you.”
“Just let me go,” she pleaded.
“It is not my goal to upset you.” Her breath hitched and she stilled as he brushed a tear away from her cheek. “But I cannot let you go, Annalise.”
“Why?”
She watched his glance drop to her breasts. If he let go of her, she’d fall. Her balance became a new worry, but her first concern was getting through to him.
“Why can’t you let me go, Adam?” she asked again, begging him with her eyes to reconsider his decision.
A soft rumble hummed from his chest as he drew his focus back to her face. “Because you’re mine.”
Chapter Seventeen
Her emotions were palpable, wedging an agonized ache into his chest. This was not how he intended this to go and seeing her eyes once again glaze with tears had him reconsidering the value of his life. Her overwhelming bewilderment suffocated him to a point that he’d do almost anything to ease her upset.
But as he held her to him, suspended by his arms, her body pressing closely to his, his desire to possess her clouded his thoughts. He could take her here, in the barn, and put an end to all debate, but such haste would sentence him to a lifetime of her resentment.
If only she would listen to him, but before she could listen, she needed to calm her emotions, or nothing would penetrate her fear and anger.
“Hush now, Annalise. Promise you will not run from me and we can talk.”
Her lips, so full and pink, quivered. He sensed her dishonesty before she answered. “I won’t run.”
“If you do, I’ll catch you.” He wasn’t worried about her getting away. He was worried about his body’s response to the chase. But trust had to start somewhere, so he let her go.
Her eyes darted toward the trapdoor of the loft, then to the hay chute. He frowned. If she jumped, she’d injure herself. “We must be able to trust each other. You said you wouldn’t run from me.”
Her gaze cut to him and narrowed. From afar, she might pass as Amish, but there remained an English edge to her no amount of proper clothing would cover. Perhaps it was the carnal knowledge of what she wore underneath that haunted him. Or the fiery color of her hair that seemed to capture sunshine in each thread.
He retrieved the kapp from the floor and turned her, so he could affix it to her head. “The women will show you how to properly pin your hair.” He removed her elastic band and untangled her hair, though half had already fallen free. “Elastic is forbidden. Straight pins are used to secure capes and aprons. Women are not permitted jewelry of any kind, or makeup.”
She jerked her shoulders away as he traced a finger over her exposed neck. “Don’t touch me.”
“It’s my duty to teach and protect you.” It was his right to touch her. “The modest clothing is for your safety. It will allow you more freedom to explore.”
She shook her head, her frustration pelting him. “I’m probably going to fail my midterm because of you. Do you know how long I’ve prepared for that exam? I have to get home by morning.” She swatted the kapp ribbons away from her ear
The motion seemed so feminine it stole his attention. Then her words sank in. “I’m sorry about your exam.”
“Don’t apologize. Let me go. Then there will be nothing to apologize for. You can still fix this.”
She didn’t realize the day. “I’m sorry, because it is already Monday evening.”
Her eyes went wide. “Goddamn it, Adam!”
His fingers quickly covered her mouth. “You cannot say such things here, ainsicht.”
“Stop calling me that!” She shoved his hand away. “You made me miss my fucking exam!”
“You must be more thoughtful about your words, Annalise! I demand it.”
Her head drew back. “You demand it? Screw you! Do you have any idea how much you’re messing up my life? I might not graduate now!”
