Page 62 of Seizing Control: Part Two

He sighs. “Offer still stands.”

On the way to my husband’s bedroom in the sleeping quarters, I stop to take in the memorial wall dedicated to our fallen. The most recent framed photograph is for Zeke. It’s an image I snapped. A trip to the Margaret River on our Harleys. He’s happy. Gaze bright. Smile genuine. As I scan the picture, I’m struck by the shadows that hide in the depths of his eyes.

Even though I mostly ignore it, it’s clear Zeke’s discontentment was never far from the surface. His expression in the photo is a stark contrast to the confident man I’ve had all to myself for the past few months. If I’m being honest, Lazarus is more of a silver lining than Slash. He’s my second chance. The opportunity to build a life with the best version of the man I’ve loved for as long as I can remember.

My feelings for my husband are the culmination of an inevitability.

I’ve loved him just as long as I’ve loved Zeke.

The only difference is that I was blind to my feelings.

As I contemplate the words I need to say, starting with an apology and ending with a simple request, my throat is seized from behind, and I’m roughly spun around. My back hits the wall. I wrap my arm around my belly while my other hand curls into a fist.

The defensive manoeuvres are unnecessary.

I recognise my assailant.

My husband.

“You’ve got some gall showin’ ya face here.”

“Had to,” I retort. “You left without lettin’ me explain.”

His ice-blue gaze is full of pain and reproach as he scans my face. “You’re a treacherous bitch.”

“And you’re a coward.” When Slash’s lips thin out into a line, I shrug. “What’s wrong? You can dish it, but can’t take it.”

“Fuckin’ leave.” He tells me to go at the same time as his fingers tighten around my throat to keep me in place. I smile to let him know that I’m aware of the contradictory emotions raging inside him. Slash growls, “I don’t want a bitch who can’t keep her legs shut. I’m done with ya.”

“Okay.” My easy acquiescence confuses him. Feigning calm, I affect another shrug, this one hampered by his big body crowding mine. I breathe in his cologne, holding his scent deep in my lungs as I’m wracked with excruciating familiarity, then I exhale. “If you want me to leave, then you have to let me go.”

“Fuck me, duchess.” The agony in his tone is beautiful to hear. A glorious promise. It fills my heart with hope and energises me to keep goading him. I watch his gaze darken when I run my tongue over my bottom lip. “You’re poison.”

Pushing on to my tiptoes, I fight his hand collar to angle my mouth to his ear. “Not poison... I’m venom.”

The last word has the reaction I anticipated. Slash shoves me into the wall, then he curls one arm around the small of my back and uses the other to sweep my legs out from underneath me. Without straining under my weight at all, my husband easily carries me down the hallway to his bedroom. He kicks the door shut behind us, then deposits me on the bed with gentle movements.

His kind actions are in stark comparison to the hatred in his eyes.

The sight buoys me.

With slow movements, I stretch out, resting on my elbows, elongating my body to allow his icy scrutiny to take in the changes that have occurred in my body during his absence. He catalogues my bigger chest, traces my protruding stomach with his eyes, moves down my thighs to my feet. When his gaze scans me again then settles on my face, I push upright so I can run my fingertips down the column of my neck. Stroke by stroke, his attention is rivetted to my fingers as I trace the marks I’m certain his manhandling has left on my skin.

Hunger invades his face.

A visible pulse pounds in his forehead.

I swipe my tongue over my bottom lip.

“Don’t.”

Smiling, I ask, “Don’t what?”

“Don’t tempt me, wife. The mood I’m in ain’t gonna let me grant you any mercy... and in your state, I need to give you that, whether I want to or not.”

“You won’t break me.”

“So brave.” Slash chuckles. It’s a dark sound devoid of humanity. Goosebumps erupt over my skin at the sound of his depravity taking control. “So fuckin’ stupid. I’ll shatter you, then I’ll rebuild you, just so I can break you again. It’s what you deserve... lettin’ him inside you while you’re wearin’ my ring and bearin’ my last name.”

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