AllFreeNovel
Share Us
My lips twisted into an angry snarl, fury boiling in my veins. It took all my willpower to rein in my rising temper and school my features. He had balls bringing up Jeruna. Pretty, smart, and with a backbone. I couldn’t help feeling a begrudging respect for him. This was unexpected. He held my still furious gaze, his unwavering.
“Grace didn’t want to do it and felt horrible about the whole deal. She’s a pushover. She needs to please. You can get her to do almost anything if she thinks it will make you like her in the end.”
“And that should absolve her?” My hands fisted over the armrests of my chair. Thinking of Jeruna made my blood boil. Self-control normally wasn’t much of an issue, but right now, mine was beyond thin.
“No, Mr. Myers. It shouldn’t and doesn’t. I’m merely explaining how it happened,” Marcus replied. “You have every right to demand retribution for the offense and to restore your honor.”
“How kind of you to grant me your permission.”
What’s my problem?
I was acting like a snotty brat. This was not how I wanted to portray myself to Grace’s former lover – the man who owned her affection from childhood. Showing more class than I was, Marcus pretended not to hear my childish outburst.
“Grace has been with you for the past two weeks. You must know by now that she’s nothing like Darla and Steffie. They were cruel and spiteful. What punishment they received was a long time coming.”
Marcus uncrossed his legs and leaned forward. While his posture could be perceived as begging, the expression on his face belied its submissiveness. Though he was pleading with me, he was also doing a lot of convincing.
“Grace is a good girl, loyal to the bone. She doesn’t have an ounce of malice in her. Granted, she’s no rocket scientist, and she can be a little superficial, but she’ll do anything for those she cares about. All she wants is to be loved.”
“Didn’t you just say you loved her?” I asked.
“I’m a man whore. As long as it’s tight, warm and willing, my dick is happy to dive in. Grace isn’t down with that. The whole time I was stepping out on her, she didn’t cheat once, even when I gave her permission. Hell, I even tried to convince her to participate in my orgies, but it’s not in her. It makes her feel dirty. Grace wants to belong to a single man who will only want to belong to her. That will never be me.”
Images of Grace begging me not to let the other Braxians fuck her flooded my mind, her words echoing in my head.
“Just you. Please… Please, Anton. Just you.”
And how she shied away from Caleb when he suggested we swap partners at Sade. That had been so unexpected, not that I would have ever let that twisted fuck anywhere near her. I would never admit it, but I was pleased by the thought that she wanted no other cock but mine.
“Fascinating, but what does that have to do with anything?” I said, tapping my fingers on my armrest. The clock was ticking. I wanted him gone before Grace returned.
Marcus straightened in his chair and gave me a speculative look. “I understand Grace has been punished for her trespass, and your elders considered your honor restored at Sade.”
How the fuck did he know that?
“Therefore, I would reiterate my offer to buy back the remainder of Grace’s contract. This would be the full amount of the original debt with all interest regardless of the two weeks she has served so far. I have found a man whom I believe can be everything Grace wants. He will be faithful, give her a home, a family, the stability, and love she’s always craved.”
I jumped out of my chair and heard it scrape against the floor. My fists resting on my desk, I leaned forward, glaring at him.
“Fuck you, fuck your offer, and fuck that man. Grace is mine. So take your offer and get out. You’re not getting her back.”
The bastard didn’t flinch. Instead, he barely repressed a smug smile. He’d baited me and I’d jumped in headfirst. I wanted to break his neck.
Marcus slowly rose from his chair, smoothing his suit.
“I don’t need her back,” he said. “I need her happy. If I were smarter, I’d marry her. You’ve had your revenge, Mr. Myers. Grace is a wonderful, beautiful girl. A smarter man than me would play for keeps and realize what a treasure he holds.”
“I do not need advice on how to manage my property,” I said, straightening.
Marcus glanced around the room with an amused smile. “That, you definitely don’t. I’ve taken enough of your time. Thank you for hearing me out.”
He sauntered towards the door. After opening it, he paused in the doorway and turned to face me.
“By the way, if Grace starts kissing you on the forehead, it means she considers you’re a couple and she feels affection for you.” With a final nod, he walked out.
I touched my eyebrow, then stroked across my forehead. Grace had kissed my forehead – just once, as a good morning greeting. Ten minutes later, I had stuffed her in a cage for twenty-four hours because she didn’t want other men fucking her.
I dropped back into my chair with a heavy sigh. Resting my elbows on my desk, I held my head between my hands.
