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He arches his eyebrows. "Answer the question, pet. Do you still feel nervous about singing tonight?"
I open my mouth, then snap it shut. I can't claim I do. It's like it all disappeared.
More arrogance washes over him. He declares, "That's what I thought. And don't worry. If you show any sign of anxiety once we get back to the arena, I'll take care of you."
I gape at him, deciphering what he just admitted and hating how his arrogance isn't totally out of line. He did replace my anxiety.
He steps forward and strokes my cheek. "Like I said, I'm your husband, and I know what's best." He points to the window. "That's where you'll kneel. Tonight. And I'm not fighting anymore or repeating myself."
I'm too frustrated to argue with him anymore. "Ugh!" I mutter and go into my suite.
He calls after me, "You've got an hour before we have to leave."
I storm back into his suite, snarling, "You don't get to do this."
He crosses his arms. "Do what?"
"You know what."
"Make my wife submit to me?"
I glare at him.
He steps closer and grabs my chin. Butterflies erupt in my stomach, and I curse them. He leans down and states, "Don't tell me you haven't missed me. I know this life. I know what I trained you to do...who to be. And you don't just leave it. You saw firsthand, when Aria had her meltdown, what happens if you try to forget about your need to submit."
I huff, then try to deny it. "I'm not Aria. I don't have to take part in what you want."
"Then why did you just submit to me?" he prods.
"I didn't," I lie.
He leans into me, holding my head firmly against his chest and murmuring, "You begged me. You called me Sir. You wanted me to dominate you as much as I wanted it."
I almost slap him. Instead, I cry out in frustration, "Ugh! You don't know everything!"
"I know everything about what you need. So admit it felt good to submit to me a few minutes ago."
I spin and walk toward my suite. I declare, "I'm not playing your game, Riggs."
He follows me. "Answer me, Blakely."
"No."
He continues, "Why didn't you use the safe word? You could have told me to stop at any time, but you didn't."
I curse myself further. I throw my hands in the air and shout, "Just leave me alone, Riggs."
He stares at me for a few minutes as tension grows between us, then claims, "I will do whatever I have to do to make us whole. But you have to give me a chance."
Tears well in my eyes. "You broke my trust."
He shuts his eyes briefly, then pins them back on me. "I know. And I'll say for the hundredth time I'm sorry."
I laugh through my tears. "But you aren't. You don't even know what you should be sorry for."
Surprise fills his expression. "Is it not enough that I'm sorry I hurt you? That I know I harmed the only person in the world who's ever loved me, and I hate myself for it? Is it not enough to feel regret so deeply it makes it hard to breathe?"
I don't know how to answer him. I want to tell him it is and that everything can go back to normal. Instead, I reply, "Would you do it again?"
