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Cameron’s shoulders relaxed a little, and a touch of the hardness left his face. ‘Good.’
‘Did you have a good time?’ Katie said, turning and directing the question at me.
‘Umm. I mean, it’s a nice place,’ I stuttered back, not ready to have the attention turned my way.
‘There were some bits she found pleasurable,’ Cameron said, bringing images of his mouth on me, burrowing into my head. Heat crept up my cheeks as I gaped at him. ‘Me? Not so much.’
The prick.
The heat left my face soon enough when another voice wafted down from the upper floor. I looked up and sure enough, Harold stood leaning against the balustrade, looking like the fat cat that he was.
‘Well, isn’t this the sweetest fucking reunion?’
Cameron’s jaw clenched as he looked up at his dad, and Katie subconsciously moved herself just a little behind her brother. Any warmth fled the room as Harold looked down at me, like a roman emperor ready to give me the thumbs down.
‘Father.’ Cameron’s voice was tight and hard.
‘I’d have thought a week with your bitch below you would have mellowed you out a bit more, still got a face like a slapped arse.’
Shame washed over me as my jaw dropped, having no idea what to say. Cameron’s fists tensed at his side as he glanced between me and his father.
‘It’s not that kind of marriage,’ he eventually said.
Harold laughed, the sharp bark ringing out through the cavernous hall. ‘Don’t be a pussy Cameron, she’s your wife. She can’t say no. May as well get your fill while she’s here. If you don’t, someone else will.’
An ache filled my chest as his words careened into me. He’d wanted me for himself after Esther had run. He’d settled for Cameron having me to punish my family. I’d hoped that being his son’s wife would be enough to protect me from him. I guessed not.
I waited for Cameron to say something, but he remained a cold statue beside his sister, his ticking jaw all that gave his fury away. He may be mad at me, but was he going to let his father talk to me that?
‘You’ll all be at dinner on Friday. No excuses.’ Harold gave one last, long look over my exposed thighs and grinned. ‘Welcome home, Maeve. Don’t get too comfortable. I imagine your stay will be short.’
The three of us stood fixed to the spot as Harold retreated out of view above, and I only relaxed when a door slammed closed behind him.
I couldn’t believe Cameron would let his father talk to me like that. We may not have been in love, but I was still his wife. Fire shot through my veins, renewing my purpose. I was going to take Harold down, whether or not it took Cameron down too.
I turned on my heel and walked toward the door.
‘Where are you going?’ Cameron asked as I wrenched at the handle.
‘To see my brothers.’
‘You can’t.’ He stormed over and placed a hand on the door near my face and pressed it closed. I turned my face to him, setting all my rage glaring into his face.
‘Am I your wife or your prisoner?’
‘You’re not a prisoner...’
‘Then you’ll have no problem with me seeing my family. Like you got to see Katie.’
His face was only inches from mine, and I watched as his gaze momentarily dipped to my lips before meeting my eyes once more.
‘You can’t keep me locked up.’ I was painfully aware of his heat as he stood so close, and I swallowed hard, my body reacting in ways I had no intention of acting on. My heart rate stormed through me as I remembered the last time he was this close...
‘Fine. Go. But if you try to run, you better hope I find you before he does. Benny will take you, make it somewhere public in neutral territory.’
‘Thank you,’ I said, before turning toward the door, and waiting for him to release the pressure he was exerting on it. I froze as he grazed my waist ever so lightly with a fingertip while leaning close, his breath warm at my ear. Then he moved, and the warmth was gone.
I was out of the door before I let myself think about the touch any more.
