Page 39 of These Deadly Vows

“Yeah. Shame on me for wanting better than I deserve, right? My father was an evil man who hurt you. I’m not him.”

“His blood flows through your veins.”

“As it will with the son, you expect me to bear you. Are you going to hate him for being related to him, too?”

“I never said I hate you, Adeline. Hate is a strong emotion.”

“There’s a thin line between love and hate.”

“Hate would imply I care enough to feel something for you outside of necessity.”

“I’d rather die than have your child.”

“Don’t tempt me.”

“Go ahead and do it. It’s only a matter of when, anyway. My father is out of the picture. You don’t need me to take Chicago. You can’t hurt him through me. He’s dead.”

“Is that what you want? Are you ready to die right here? Right now?” I lead her out onto the balcony, taking her right to the banister. “I could throw you over and everyone would believe you jumped if that’s what I told them to believe.”

Adeline licks her pretty pink lips with tears glittering in her eyes.

“You don’t want to die, princess. You’re desperate to live. To feel. To be free. I can make you feel good if you let me. Make you crave my touch. Make you beg me to fuck you.”

I shove my thumb between her lips.

“I can teach you to enjoy making a baby with me.”

I pop my thumb from her soft lips.

“Not as long as you’re fucking your whore, too.”

“And that’s all this tantrum is about, then. You not wanting to share.”

“It’s about respect. Respect I’ve earned because I’m your wife.”

“And who says you’ve earned it? That comes in time, Adeline. It doesn’t happen overnight. Did you think I was going to what stick my dick in your virgin cunt once and fall in love?”

She doesn’t answer. She doesn’t need to.

“I’ll let you in on a secret. I haven’t kissed a woman since Victoria other than the one I gave you after our vows. I’ve not buried my tongue in anyone’s pussy since her. I’ve fucked plenty of women since her. All with a condom. All but one. You getting that from me was a big step.”

“You must have truly loved her.” She cups a palm to my jaw, and I want to pull away. Her touch is like a fiery flame, daring me closer. Brushing her thumb along my scar, she whispers, “I see you, Ghost. What was your name before? Who were you before you turned into this cruel monster? Who were you before my father destroyed you?”

“Someone I’ll never be again.” I grab her wrist. “So don’t fool yourself into thinking otherwise.”

“Why do you punish yourself and everyone around you?”

“Because I’m alive.”

“And she’s not,” she finishes for me.

“That’s enough sharing. Now take off your pants and turn around.”

Chapter Eleven

“Now take off your pants and turn around,” my husband grits the order at me.

“What for? You have other plans, remember? You don’t want to fuck me tonight.”

---