AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“H-how are your mother and sister safe in New York?”
God, this woman was beautiful, inside and out. The first thing she worried about was my family.
“They can come here,” she continued. “I will give them my protection.”
Gracious, always so damn gracious.
“I might take you up on that offer if things don’t work out,” I replied. “But for now, for my mother especially, they’re better off staying where they are.”
She lifted her chin regally, eyes flashing as she stared down on me like I was dirt beneath her shoes, which wasn’t far from the truth.
“The offer stands, but only for them,” she clarified, drawing a line in the sand.
A line I had every intention of disregarding.
I took a step closer.
She took a step back. Fuck that. Time to lay down the law and get my woman back.
Hardening my tone, I declared, “We’re back together, Clara. I’m going to marry you, and then I’m going to make your belly round with my babies and put any questions of who owns you to rest, do you hear me?”
She jerked, backing up further. I followed her, step by step, until her spine hit the wall. Her eyes raked me over from head to toe. Her gaze raked me over from head to toe. It roved over my features as if memorizing them for the last time. I was hers. She was mine. Why the look of stark desolation on her face?
She swallowed. Looked away. Returned her gaze to me like the queen she was. “God, you can’t imagine how much I’ve wanted to hear that, but too much has happened.” She gave a harsh bark of laughter, her eyes bleeding agony.
“It’s too late,” she announced.
Over my dead fucking body. I’m not taking no for an answer.
“Come here,” I demanded.
She vigorously shook her head.
“It’s too late, Tatum. You’re too late, don’t you understand? You can never own me. Never.” Her voice ended in a pained rasp, the words own and never hovering out of my reach.
But I refused to accept it. Never was a word meant to be torn apart with my bare hands. When it came to this woman, never was a word to be banished from my vocabulary.
“On your knees,” I ordered, my tone turning vicious.
I scoured her with my eyes. Every inch of her was mine, dammit.
Other men groveled, as they should. As should I, except this was my version of begging for forgiveness. And if she didn’t follow my command, if she didn’t forgive me, I didn’t know what I’d do. I fucking loved her, was madly in love with her, but if I’d permanently severed our bond, I’d shrivel up into a ball and die.
She shifted on her feet, uncertain.
She licked her lips.
Then she dropped to her knees.
Thank Christ.
“Crawl to me.”
She didn’t dare shake her head, but her mesmerizing eyes begged me to release her.
I would not.
“Never,” I replied to her unspoken plea. “Now. Fucking crawl now.”
