Page 3 of Sex & Cigarettes

“How long before he goes back to his whore with you out of his bed?”

“Shut up.”

“You look unwell.”

“I’m fine.” Fear burns in the back of my throat and I gasp for air.

“Ainsley...” I hear my name but my vision blurs and then it’s lights out.

**

Cool air fans across my body followed by a fingertip running up and down my arm as I stir. My head is swimmy. My memories fuzzy. Blinking my eyes, I turn toward the unfamiliar heavy scent of cologne.

“There you are. Welcome back,” the cold voice of the bastard who kidnapped me filters through my ears. At the sight of him as my vision comes into focus my stomach coils. “You gave me quite a scare, mi belleza. You had a panic attack.”

I scoot away from him and he laughs. Licking his lip, he shoots me a grin. “You surprise me.”

I stay quiet. I have nothing to say to him unless he wants to discuss letting me go.

“The silent treatment. I understand. You are upset. You’ll see that here with me is the safest place for you.”

I’m past upset. I’m angry. I want to kill him. Safe. With him? Is he poking fun at me?

“My private physician gave you a look over. You and the baby are perfectly healthy, but you need to eat. Your blood sugar was a little low. Nothing to be concerned about.”

“Why do you care?”

“If you’d open your eyes, you’d see I went to great lengths to procure you.”

“I’m not your property.”

“But you are.” He passes me a file. “See for yourself. It’s all here in writing.”

“I don’t care what some deal you claim to have made with my father states. He’s dead, and I say who I give myself to. Not him. Not my husband. Not you or any other man.”

Raul stares at me long and hard. His hand hovers toward my cheek. Mouth twitching at my repulsion of the idea of his touch he drops his hand. “I’m not used to being refused, Ainsley. You must realize it injuries me greatly. Though I do appreciate your fiery spirit.”

“I’m married, pregnant, and in love with another man. I’ll never want you. You can take everything from me, but that only solidifies what I already know about you. That you’re a cruel monster who thinks he can take whatever he wants. You can do whatever you want. You can keep me here forever, but I will never be yours. Never.”

A dark shadow passes over his face, but he remains quiet. His steely gaze pins me in place. “Your father owed me a debt. It falls on you to pay it.”

“You want money? Property? Territory? Take it. I never wanted any of it. I didn’t ask for this.”

“And yet, mi belleza, all I want is you.”

My stomach tightens. “And all I want is to return to my husband.”

“The liar.”

“The man who loves me.”

“The man who failed to protect you.”

“You murdered my friend in cold blood in broad daylight.”

“That was unfortunate. I do apologize.”

“You’re not sorry. This is all some sick game to you.”

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