Page 20 of Tainted Ties

Ignoring him wholly, I grabbed the empty chair and dragged it to the other end of the table. My body hummed to life, painfully aware of him watching me.

Once I settled in my seat, I allowed myself to peek at him. His expression was one of bemusement, as if he knew something I didn’t. I arched a brow in question.

“I don’t bite.” His voice drawled, seeping into my every pore. There was no denying his allure, but his soul was ugly and tainted.

Hiding any trace that his words affected me, I cleared my throat. “Maybe not yet.” I was treading on dangerous territory; the innuendo of his statement was not lost on me.

His lips curved to the side slightly, insinuating. My hands curled into fists at my sides.

I assumed the conversation was over when he leaned forward, grabbed a piece of toast, and set it on his plate. But then his sharp gaze landed on me.

Roman tilted his head to the side, assessing me. All traces of amusement faded from his face and were replaced by a domineering expression. “Yet.”

We sat through the rest of breakfast in silence. Defeating silence that drifted between us uncomfortably with unsaid words that made it hard to focus on anything else. Even the food was tasteless on my tongue.

“Did you bring me inside last night?” I asked in a rush, eager to break the silence. “Undress me?” My face warmed, remembering I woke up in a nightgown with nothing underneath.

If Roman was surprised by my question, he didn’t show it. Instead, he continued chewing on his food while giving me a once-over.

I kept eye contact with him, trying not to squirm under his scrutiny as I waited for his answer.

Once he finished swallowing, he dabbed at his mouth with a napkin and then set it down beside him.

He had a feral charm swarming in those impenetrable obsidian eyes when he answered my question with another. “Would you be satisfied with any answer I give you?”

The way he spoke to me raised my body temperature in aggravation, but I contemplated his question.

He was right; every answer would be worse than the last. I huffed as Roman sat in his chair as if he had all the time in the world for me to answer.

Deep in my gut, I knew the answer. I knew it from the moment I woke up to this nightmare. It was Roman who put me to bed, who undressed me, and saw my most intimate parts. The calmness he presented was predatory.Of course, he’d never allow anyone else to see me.

Hoping he could see my distaste, I glared at him. And when he plucked invisible lint off his shirt, I knew the bastard knew I made the correct assumption.

Adding salt to the wound, Roman spoke again, “We’re leaving for the courthouse in thirty minutes.”

Instantly, my mind scrambled for a way to get out of this as I gaped at him. I knew it was coming but not this soon.

“I’m not marrying you.” There was no purpose for him and me to marry if he already owned me according to the contract. Even thinking about it made me want to snap and gouge his eyes out.

Roman stood from his chair, taking long measured strides in all his glory, until he stood before me.

My breathing slowed and halted when one long finger ran from the top of my cheek to under my chin, tilting my head up. “If I have to drag you to the courthouse today—mark my words,anima mia—I will.” His voice came out soft, making his threat sound almost pleasant, but I knew better.

I jerked my chin from his grasp and scowled at him. “If you think my compliance will come easily, you’re sorely mistaken. Even worse, if you think I care about a father whopawnedme off to receive his valuables.”

There wasn’t an ounce of surprise present on his features at my confession.

“I love a challenge.” He leaned down, resting his hands on either side of my chair, caging me in. “Don’t make this harder than it needs to be. You’ll soon find out that you’re mine in every way.” His hand flexed before gripping my hair tightly as he brought my face up to his.

I clawed at his hand with my nails, hoping I drew blood, but it only made him pull harder. “And let me make it clear. I don’t share what’s mine.”

Chapter7

Aurora

“Where the fuck have you been?” Enzo’s voice blared through the phone, causing me to cringe.

“Having the time of my life, obviously.” I had enough on my mind and didn’t need to add Enzo’s attitude to the list.

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