Page 81 of When Hearts Surrender

“Too bad. I already turned in your resignation.”

“Youwhat?How dare you!”

I’m going to hell for this. But Maxwell, you’re already living in hell. The fruit of your temptation is dangling in front of you and you can’t have it.

She storms up to me, a Valkyrie wrapped in a towel, looking like a wet dream come to life, and jabs me with her fingers. “You haveabsolutelyno right to do this. I’m an independent woman. Just because I’m married to you doesn’t mean you get to be a diabolical tyrant and control me, you asshole!”

Desperation scrapes inside me. Nothing came up in my cursory investigation of her fall other than her boss being involved in suspicious activities. Maybe he’s behind this. Maybe it’s the curse. Maybe they are one and the same. After all, before the women died in our family, there were always a series of unfortunate incidents—whether they be accidents or crimes.

And I can’t protect her if she goes back to the shelter. She isn’t safe there. She has already been hurt—it’s too close of a call.

But Belle clearly doesn’t care. She jabs my chest some more. “I won’t do it. I’m going back to BSUA to ask them to take back my resignation, just you watch.”

I snort and narrow my eyes. “Unless they want to piss me off, they won’t dare to take you back. I’ve made that abundantly clear. If you try anything, I’ll make a call to the mayor and get the shelter closed. Then what will happen to your precious animals?”

I’m definitely going to rot in hell for this.

I tower over her, but she doesn’t cower. That fiery spirit, that strong backbone.

God, she’s spectacular.

Heat swirls inside me and I lean down. “I’ve also hired you a bodyguard. You’re to take him with you at all times when you leave this house.That’s not up for negotiations. If you decide to disobey me, I’ll pull the funding from McKenzie’s, contract be damned.”

She fists her hands by her sides and glares at me. If looks could kill, I would’ve died a thousand times over. “I don’t know what I ever saw in you, Maxwell. Why I get fooled time and time again, thinking there’s a sensitive soul inside you, thinking the Silas I met that first night is the real you buried deep inside the frigid billionaire the world knows.”

I flinch.That Silas is there. He’s trying to protect you.

But I don’t say anything.Hate me, Belle. It’s better than you dying.

She seethes, “A marriage doesn’t work this way. You don’t get to make unilateral decisions for me and expect me to obey, because I won’t.”

My blood runs cold. “Are you calling my bluff?”

“And what if I am? What are you going to do about it?”

My nostrils flare and I lean down further, watching her shiver, her eyes turning molten as if just realizing how irresistible her taunting made her. My gaze rakes down her body, scantily clad in the thin towel.

Her nipples are saluting me through the cloth and my cock rears to life. My mouth waters, wanting to taste them. She’s clenching her thighs.Fuck, she’s turned on.

“Watch out,wife. I might be a scarred, anxious freak, but I never bluff,” I rasp, drawn to her heat, the lust in her eyes, until there’s less than one inch of space between us.

“You’re not a fre—” she begins but stops herself.

She was going to make me feel better, my beautiful, kind little muse.

My heart throws itself against my rib cage, the blood pumping hot in my veins. My hands tremble with the need to touch her, to kiss the living daylights out of her.

She grits out, “God, Ican’t waituntil this arrangement is over. I hate you so fucking much.”

I rear back, her words piercing my chest even though I know they aren’t true, judging from the way her pupils are dilated, the pulse fluttering rapidly in her throat.

But they hurt, nonetheless.

I press my lips against her ear, relishing her half gasp, half moan. “Oh yeah? Not before you give me an heir, Belle.”

Before she can respond, I spin her around and pin her to the bed, my foot kicking her feet apart. She thrashes underneath me, and I would’ve stopped if she wasn’t rubbing her sweet ass all over my aching erection like she needs this as much as I do.

Fuck, I should leave this room. I’m too emotional, too mad at her, for her, with her. I’m so goddamn crazy about her I can’t think straight.

---