Page 164 of My Ruthless Husband

“Wait!” I scramble to stand, water splashing onto the floor as I rush out of the tub. “I’m coming.”

When I see him heading for the towel rack instead of the door, it hits me—the jerk made me think he was leaving. He plucks the plush towel before holding it open for me. He’s watching me, eyes dark and intent as I walk toward him. Without a word, he wraps the towel around me, his hands moving slowly, reverently, as he dries my body. His touch is gentle, too gentle after the way he’s been rough with me earlier. I should feel grateful, but all I feel is wary.

This is what he’s been like lately. Fucks me until I’m shaking, then treats me like I’m something precious, something breakable. He draws me baths, massages the soreness from my legs, even dries me off like this. A year ago, I would’ve killed for this side of him. But now, it just makes me uneasy. The Damian I know doesn’t do soft.

He scoops me into his arms without a word, carrying me like I weigh nothing as he takes me out of the bathroom. We pass by the broken frame where the bathroom door used to be—his handy work from a few days ago.

As he steps into the walk-in closet, he sets me down. “Get dressed.”

“Finally.” I exhale a relieved breath. But before I can even take a step, his hand grips the back of my neck, pulling me into a kiss so rough it makes my knees buckle.

“Don’t make me change my mind,” he growls against my lips, his hand tightening for just a second before he lets me go. And then, he slaps my ass and walks out, leaving me breathless and shaking, my heart pounding in my chest.

???

We ended up late for lunch because Damian took one look at me in that tight, knitted bodycon turtleneck dress and decided lunch could wait. Instead, he went down on me, devouring melike I was his last meal, and when he finally pulled back, instead of fucking me, he stripped me down and knelt over me, stroking himself off before he came all over my breasts. “See? I’m being considerate,” he had the audacity to say, like he deserved a medal for not fucking my sore pussy.

After that, he had made a mess, and he knew it, so we ended up in the shower again. He behaved, more or less, except for two heated make-out sessions that left me dizzy but no worse for wear.

Now, as he leads me down to the entertainment zone of the mansion, holding my hand like we’re some lovesick couple, I ask, “Where’s Vicky?”

“She’s gone.”

“Where?” I press, stepping into the movie theater, but he doesn’t answer. We take our seats, and I feel a knot forming in my stomach.

“Damian, where did she go?” I ask again, voice tight with suspicion.

He glances at me, completely unfazed. “I fired her.”

The words hit me like a punch, and I’m on my feet before I can even think. I storm out, refusing to stop when he calls my name.

In the hallway, I run into Hal. My anger flares up at the sight of him. “This was your doing, wasn’t it? You got her fired!”

“She was fired because she was incompetent.” Damian calls out from behind.

I whirl around and find him striding toward me. “The movie’s about to start,” he says, reaching for my hand, but I snatch it away.

“Incompetent?” I shout. “Well, you’re an incompetent husband, but I’m not firing you, am I?”

Hal wisely makes himself scarce, leaving us alone. “Is that why you’ve been playing nice all morning? Buttering me up withmy favorite food, planning this stupid movie, all so I won’t lose my mind over you firing Vicky?”

“Yes,” he says with no shame, no remorse, just pure, unapologetic arrogance.

I gasp, his indifference knocking the breath out of me. “You hateful man! Bring her back. Right now!”

His eyes darken. “Don’t raise your voice at me.”

“Oh, I’ll do a lot more than raise my voice if you don’t bring her back!” I threaten, my hands shaking with how badly I want to slap him.

“Why do you want her back so badly?”

“Because she’s the only person in this entire house who gives a damn about me!” I snap, my voice breaking. “I’m serious, Damian. If you don’t bring her back, I’ll stop eating.”

“I can always hook you up to an IV.”

I step closer, my tone deadly. “You know damn well I’ll rip that thing out.”

His jaw tightens.

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