Page 6 of Sacrifice

“Unhand me.” She lifts her chin in defiance. No way am I letting her go. But, I watch her with fascination and a bit of pride.

Most people cower before me. Not Aribella. She holds her head high and squares her shoulders. If we were in the Renaissance period, she’d be deemed royal and regal looking. She has no idea the war she’s causing inside of me right now.

Goddamn, she’s going to be a handful. “Oh, mi dulce reina.” I push her face up, forcing her neck to arch until I hear her yelp.

“I’m not your queen!” Aribella screams as she tries to knee me in the groin. Blocking her knee, I laugh at her gumption.

“Mmm. You’re going to be a lot of fun, aren’t you?” Shit, my inner thoughts slipped out. “You know Spanish. This is wonderful.” I already knew she was taking Spanish classes, but it’s nice to know her teachers are doing a good job.

“Oh, shut up. I want my cat and my clothes.”

Fuck me. She turns her lower lip down in the cutest pout I’ve ever seen. If only she knew I’d give her the world, she’d learn to exploit that.

Keeping a stern face to hide my amusement and how much I want her, I squeeze her neck.

“I fucking said no. When I speak, it is final.” Watching the way she processes what I’m saying is intriguing. Aribella goes from pouting, to shock. And now she is raging mad.

“Then I’m not going anywhere.”

“Mi reina, you don’t have a choice. You can either walk out of this house alive. Or I can tote you out in a goddamn body bag.” The thought of killing her makes me nauseous. Besides, I’m not willing to kill her. Hell no. She’s going to be my queen, damn it,but I will have to put fear into her first. It’s the only way I can get her to conform to my needs.

Meow

Aribella’s body goes soft at the sound. The fight leaves her eyes as the stupid cat comes down the stairs.

“Can I at least have my cat, then?” There’s so much anguish in her voice, I’m not sure I can tell her no.

As I’m about to deny her request again, the cat stretches and runs its paws along my leg. I never thought I’d be an animal lover, but it seems I’m going to learn.

“Fine. You may have your stupid cat.”

Aribella gasps. “Don’t call him stupid. He’s a sweet, sensitive boy.” She’s not afraid of me right now, even though my hand is wrapped around her throat. She bends down and picks her baby up. I want to squeeze her neck again, instead I release her, not wanting to choke her. At least not yet, and not with my hand.

Anger and jealousy rise in me as she strokes the cat’s magnificent white and brown fur.Fuck me. I understand why she calls him Espresso.

“Let’s go.”

When she looks up, I see her smiling at the cat. “Fine.”

I step away from her, giving her just enough space to move. Aribella stomps down the stairs with her cat. I swear, said cat looks over its shoulder with the wickedest grin I’ve ever seen. I bet the son of a bitch is going to be like his owner; feisty.

Silence. That’s what I hear in the cabin of the car. It’s not peaceful though. Aribella hasn’t uttered a word to me on the drive to my house. Not a damn word. She sure has talked to thecat, though. He is curled up in her lap as she strokes him like he’s the king of the world.

By the time I pull the car into the driveway, I’m seething over how wonderful the fucking cat is to Aribella.

“What’s his name?”

Trying to reel in my anger, I look at her. It’s not like I give a damn what the cat’s name is. I just want her attention to be on me.

My question makes her smile at me. Ah, so talking about the cat is what makes her smile. Got it.

“Espresso,” she purrs, and kisses the top of his head.

Damn it, I am fucking jealous. I’m pretty sure what I’m about to do is going to make me the biggest asshole.

“We’re here.” I get out of the car, walk around the front, and open the passenger side door. Aribella gets out and looks at the house.

She doesn’t speak about the house, which must seem like a palace after that dumpy little farm or mention how much of a gentleman I am right now. However she does look over to the garden and her eyes widen in awe, I make a mental note of this for later.

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