Page 43 of Fiercely Protective

Chapter Ten

Bri

After soaking, once again, in Rogue’s luxuriously large whirlpool tub, I lost track of time and now I was scurrying around trying to get dressed for the gala that he said we must attend this evening. I sat before the mirror with only a towel wrapped around me, trying to finish my make-up and deciding how to do my hair. I wanted to pin the curls up, but since my hair was so thick, I wasn’t sure I had enough pins to do so. I wished I had my things from the apartment. Rogue had the bathroom stocked with everything a girl could dream of, but none of it felt as if it belonged to me. There was just something about having my own things.

After several failed attempts and almost giving up altogether, I finally managed to get my hair curled and pinned up the way I wanted. I glanced at the clock beside the bed. I had about ten minutes to finish getting ready. Blaze had said that Rogue would be here at eight o’clock and I was almost certain he would be the type of guy to be punctual.

I stepped into the dress, the soft silk caressing my skin, walked over to the mirror and took a minute to just admire my appearance. I had never had anything so nice, or so expensive in my life. I let my hands move over the beaded silk and watched how the light in the room caught the shimmer of the crystals sewn onto it. Despite the situation I was in, I still had to admit that I loved the way I looked in the dress.

I glanced at the clock again and seeing that it was now eight o’clock, I grabbed the heels that came with the dress, hoping I could walk in them without breaking my ankle, and headed to the living room, hoping Blaze would be there to zip my dress up the rest of the way.

When I stepped out into the hallway, I stopped short. Rogue was standing there and despite the deadly serious expression he wore on his face, he looked sexy as hell in the black tux he was wearing.

“Oh, you’re already here. I hope you haven’t been waiting long. I guess I lost track of time.”

The ferocity of his gaze surprised me as he stalked forward. “Tell me the name of the man that you ran away from, the man that hurt you.”

I shook my head, not wanting to have this discussion again. “No, there is no need for you to know.”

He gripped my arm tightly. “Damn it, Bri! There is every reason for me to know! You are my wife now and as such I will protect you. Give me his name!”

Fire flashed in his eyes and for a second, I was reminded of how dangerous he could be and how terrifying it must be for those that find themselves on his bad side.

“Why? What are you going to do?”

He abruptly wrapped an arm around my waist and anchored me to his body while his free hand held my chin firm. “I am going to do whatever it takes to keep you safe.”

I tried to look away. “And how are you going to do that? I thought marrying me was supposed to keep me safe, or was that just a ploy to get what you want?”

The corners of his lips turned up slightly, but it was not a pleasant smile. “You want to know what I will do to him once he is found? Alright, I will tell you. I have every intention of finding him and when I do, I am going to chain him to a wall in a place that I have set aside for just these kinds of things. I am going to bring him more pain than he could ever imagine. I want to watch him quake in fear and tremble with the realization that his life is about to end. I want him to feel the pain you felt when he tried to rape you. I want him to know that he fucked up when he dared try to take what belonged to me, Bri.”

I pushed against his chest, needing to put some space between us. Whenever Rogue was near, he seemed to suck the oxygen from the room, and I found it difficult to breathe, to think. “You can’t kill him for something that happened before I even met you.”

“Have you still not learned, my sweet angel, that I can and will do whatever I want? Now tell me his name so we can enjoy the remainder of our evening.”

The man may drive me mad with lust, but his arrogance was astounding. “No, I told you that he is dangerous and has connections to people who are just as bad as he is. So, do what you will, but you can’t bully me into telling you his name.”

For a second a sliver of fear rippled through me as I watched his eyes darken. His breathing increased just a hitch, but then a calm mask took over. I wasn’t sure what was more terrifying.

“Very well, if that is what you wish.”

He yanked me beside him and pulled me back to the bedroom.

“What are you doing?”

He walked over to the nightstand and pulled out the handcuffs he had used the first night I had tried to leave the building.

A panic began to settle over me. “You are not using those on me again!” I tried to pull away, but the grip he had on my arm tightened.

“I was hoping to have a more pleasurable evening, but you are so stubborn.”

My mouth opened. “I’m stubborn? You are the one threatening to handcuff me to the bed again just because you didn’t get your way.” I pulled back and struggled as he clasped the cuff around my wrist.

“You are my wife, whether you want to be or not, and it is my job to keep you safe! Today, when we left the church, the car that was following us was not there for me, Bri. They were sent for you.”

I felt the color leave my face and all the fight left my body. Rogue must have noticed and quickly wrapped his arms around me.

“He said he would kill me.” My words were soft, barely audible.

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