Page 31 of Taken By Him

His chest muscles tense. Here comes the bombshell.

“We’re going to be married tonight, Kasia.”

No matter my exhaustion, I push away from him to stare into his eyes.

“Tonight?” There’s no time to plan. I don’t have a dress, there’s no guest lists, no parties.

“We’ll throw a celebratory party once my father returns home. You’ll plan it all the way you want it, but we need to marry. We need to get it done before your father makes whatever move he’s planning.”

I blink. Sleep is fogging my thinking. “But he signed that agreement. He can’t go back now.”

He smiles at me, like my ignorance on such things is cute.

“I can’t exactly take him to court over it, can I?” He brushes a strand of hair from my eye and tucks it behind my ear. “Promise me you’ll give me no trouble. I don’t want to punish you on our wedding night.”

There’s that word again. Punish.

“Is this how my life is to be? Punishment for disagreeing with you?”

His eyes darken. “No. Punishment is only for disobeying me. You can disagree whenever you’d like.”

I stare into his eyes. They’re still the icy blue from when we met, but there’s a tinge of warmth I didn’t see before.

Could he be softening?

I adjust my seating on his lap and feel his erection pressing against my hip. He hasn’t asked for anything in return. He hasn’t forced himself on me, and he was tender only moments before.

It was all a ruse to get my cooperation. There is no tenderness in him. Nothing real. This isn’t a real relationship. There will be no true marriage.

This will only be me being made to bow to his dictates whenever he wants and he’s not above punishment and bribery to get it.

“Either way, Kasia, by the time you fall asleep tonight in my bed, you’ll be my wife,” he promises in the heaviest tone I’ve heard him use.

In his bed.

“My father won’t be there, then,” I say. “At the wedding,” I clarify.

“No. It will just be Margaret and my brother. I’ve arranged for a priest.” He pinches his lips together. “I wish I could give you something more...well, more.”

For a moment I thought he might say romantic. But surely nothing between us will ever be that.

This is an arrangement. I have no say in it. It’s been decided. I only have to show up.

“There’s time this afternoon for you to shop for a dress if you’d like. Margaret can go with you, and two of my men.” He brushes the back of his knuckles across my cheekbone. The small gestures are confusing me. I push his hand away and slip off his lap.

Tugging my dress down, I smooth out the skirt. If anyone saw what we did, what he made me do, I would be mortified. A quick look around tells me we’re alone. At least from what I can see. There’s always a man on guard somewhere.

“I don’t—actually, yes. That would be nice.” Any excuse to get out of this house. Even if it is to shop for a dress I will despise.

He looks up at me, as though he’s not quite sure what to make of my compliance. Isn’t this what he wanted?

My phone dances on the table and I swipe it before he can grab it. An email. Finally something that might bear fruit.

“I’ll talk with Margaret. We can leave in an hour if she’s able.” I pick up my kindle and my untouched cup of tea. I’d come out to the yard to bury myself in a book, to forget all the mess surrounding me. But he’d only brought it out with him.

He gives a slow nod then stands from the chair. “I’ll let her know. Tommy and Michael will be going with you.”

I raise my chin a fraction. His cock is outlined against his trousers. I keep my gaze fixated on his chin and curl my toes into my sandals.

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