Page 28 of Whispers of My Skin

“What the hell are you talking about, woman? Do you have a concussion or something?” Joel growls back. “We’ve only been married a day, and we’re certainly not getting divorced.”

“Oh, yes we are, moron. I can’t stand to be married to you for a second longer than necessary.”

“Are you crazy?” He raises his voice. “You’re the one who came to me, remember? Have you already forgotten the deal we agreed on to get the ranch back on its feet?”

“No, I most certainly haven’t. Whereas you, on the other hand, just one day into this marriage, already seem to have forgotten what you promised. So I want out. I want a divorce.”

He stares at me furiously and I return the look, refusing to be cowed.

“Not happening, Tara. For better or worse, you are my wife. You will continue to be my wife. You will not be leaving me, and there will be no divorce.” he states firmly.

“I disagree.”

“I don’t care whether you agree or not. That’s how it’s going to be.”

“We. Are. Done.”

“No. We. Aren’t”

By now we are virtually nose to nose shouting at each other, passions and emotions running dangerously high.

Love and hate, two sides of the same coin.

Suddenly, he backs me up against the wall and traps me there with his lean, hard body. His large hands cradle my head, holding me in place as he resorts to kissing me to shut me up.

We battle our demons, warring against each other, fighting and battling for control. His tongue duels with mine. The layers of clothes do nothing to conceal our desire for each other. My body calls to him, and his to mine. If we let things continue to their natural conclusion, if we give in to the release of passionate angry sex that our bodies are screaming for, it would be mind-blowingly amazing in the heat of the moment, of that I have no doubt. But when the passion dies down again, then what? Back to square one, with nothing resolved, that’s what. Which is why I can’t let my treacherous body concede control to him, I can’t give him that advantage.

I come to my senses and push him away.

“Don’t touch me,” I hiss as I slap his face, my chest heaving from the warring emotions.

His jaw clenches as his fingers wrap tightly around my wrist to slowly pull me to him. “Don’t you ever slap me again, Tara. You have no grounds for complaint. You can’t claim you didn’t know what you were signing up for, because I told you right from the start that you would be my wife in every sense of the word, including obeying me in every way. You knew what you were signing up for and you went ahead. So, there’s no way out, no get out of jail free card, no fake marriage. Get used to it. No divorce. Not happening. This marriage is for real, and you don’t get to walk away.”

“Well, if I’m your wife, then where does your beloved Cassandra fit into all this? Why are you so intent on remaining my husband when you two obviously share some kind of close connection? She’s made it only too clear that she’d be thrilled to get you all to herself, so she can have you. But guess what? She doesn’t get to have my ranch too. No fucking way.”

That leaves him stunned.

I fling the hall door open and almost make my escape, but before I can make it as far as the stairs, Joel jams his foot in the door to prevent it slamming closed.

“Not so fast! What the fuck are you talking about?”

I run to the stairs to escape from him, but he’s right behind, his long legs taking the stairs two at a time.

He’s not going to let it drop.

Fine.

I turn and face him.

“I’m talking about earlier today, Joel. Think back, and I’m sure you’ll work out why this marriage is over.”

“I still have no idea what you’re talking about.”

“Don’t play me for a fool. Don’t go acting the innocent, pretending you have no idea what I’m talking about.”

“Tara, if it’s because of the painting...”

“Oh, what’s the point,” I yell. Exasperated by his refusal to acknowledge that he’s been plotting behind my back, I throw my hands in the air and turn once more to storm off to my room. But with a quick movement, he catches me by the waist and pulls me back into his hard body.

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