Page 16 of Breaking the Annulment

She shifted nervously in her seat. Why was he asking her a question like that? She shivered despite the temperature controlled interior of the car. Dread, and something she refused to name, shot down her spine. “I’m not a child, so spare me your punishments, Michalis. What did you expect me to do––put on an apron and set up house?”

That got a surprised chuckle out of him, the tension in his shoulders easing slightly, which, perversely, made her cream her freshly washed panties. She squirmed and crossed her ankles, her cheeks flaming with color. What the hell was wrong with her?!

Luckily, he didn’t seem to notice her lapse in judgment as he leaned toward her. “You’re avoiding my question,agápe mou.”

She blew out a breath. “No, I’m not avoidinganything. I’m simply choosing not to answer. There’s a difference. And I told you, don’t call me that.”

Michalis leaned slowly back against the seat, relaxing like he didn’t have a care in the world, and could let his guard down. She knew better, though. His eyes were still full of rage. He was playing some kind of game, and she wasn’t sure of the rules.

His arms moved casually up to rest on the back of the bench seat on either side of him, and he stretched his long legs out in front of him, adjusting his position slightly to get more comfortable, his feet settling a good distance apart.

Before she could stop herself, her eyes tracked their way down his chest, settling on his junk. Why did men do that all thetime? Didn’t they know women were going to look at their junk if they did that?!Oh my god. Have a little respect. Stop ogling the man’s cock. It isn’t a toy, made just for you.

Face flaming, ashamed of her total lack of self-control, she tore her gaze away. Hopefully he hadn’t noticed her checking him out. Angling her body as far away from him as she could without falling off the seat, she pulled her long hair around to the side nearest him, obscuring her face. She couldn’t completely hide herself from him, but with the length of her hair, she came pretty damn close.

The long strands were tangled from the hour of walking outside, and without thinking, she began to comb through the knots with her fingers, quickly getting lost in her own thoughts. What was she going to do when they got back to the house? Should she run for her room, lock herself inside before he could get to her? That didn’t seem like a very good idea. What if he didn’t let her out? Then what? What if he followed her in there? Would he beat her for running away? Suddenly the reality of her situation began to sink in. He wouldn’t cross that line, would he? She didn’t really know anything about him, did she?That’s not true.I know he’s a killer. I know he shows no mercy to his enemies.

As covertly as possible, she looked back over her shoulder, just enough to peak at him under her lashes. He was still stretched out. God, could the man get any more comfortable? If she was an assassin, it would be the perfect time to strike; he was completely open, almost inviting her to do her worst.

She stiffened. Was that his game? Lull her into a false sense of safety? Right now, she was the enemy, wasn’t she? And she’d provoked him. What if he treated her like he did all his other enemies? He wouldn’t kill her, would he? Beat her to a pulp and then kill her?

Aurelia risked another peak under her lashes. This time, she got caught. A small smile tugged at the corners of his mouth.

“You’re starting to look a little worried. Are you beginning to understand the danger you put yourself in?”

Nervously, she wet her lips with the tip of her tongue. “I don’t want to be your enemy, Michalis. I––I wasn’t trying to put myself in danger.”

“Every time you defy me,” he murmured, “you’re putting yourself in danger. I am not a nice man. Don’t push me. It won’t turn out well for you.”

Aurelia began to shake with fear. “What are you going to do?” The question came out on a whisper.

“What do you think I’m going to do?”

She shook her head, too distraught to answer right away. Michalis didn’t help her out. He just stared. Waited.

Her eyes glassed over with tears. “Are you going to kill me?”

“Maybe I should let you wonder, but no, I’m not going to kill you. Not now, not ever.”

Relief flooded her system. “Are you…are you going to beat me?”

His lips thinned with irritation. “I am only going to say this once, so pay attention. I do not beat women. The world I live in is full of violence. I do not want to come home to more violence.”

The tears she’d been holding back spilled over. He was a merciless killer, a criminal, yet he’d just given her a precious gift. He was admitting that no matter how hard she pushed him, no matter what she did or how many times she tried to run away, he wouldn’t kill her or beat her. The craziest part was that she believed him. The knowledge was powerful. Very, very powerful.

She wiped her nose with the sleeve of her shirt. It wasn’t very ladylike, but at the moment she didn’t care. “What are you going to do, then?”

“What scenarios were running through that beautiful head of yours? Should I lock you in your room? Spank you? Or maybe fuck you until you can’t walk straight? It would be a bit difficult to leave, then, wouldn’t it? How doyouthink I should punish you?”

They both knew her answer would have nothing to do with logic. Her cheeks flamed, tears stinging. Anger and twisted arousal coiled inside her, a reminder that no matter how much she hated him, her body still responded.

“You could let me go,” she tried, voice cracking.

“That is also never going to happen.” Michalis didn’t say anything the rest of the way home.

The trip didn’t take long by car, and they were home in under fifteen minutes. Aurelia thought the driver would pull up to the front to let them out, but he bypassed the circular driveway and headed around back. He pulled the car into the fully airconditioned garage, shut off the engine, exited, and locked the doors with the press of a button; all without saying a word.

What the hell? She reached for the door handle, confused. Why weren’t they getting out? She tried the door again. Locked. Windows––didn’t budge. Fear skittered down her spine. Michalis was just sitting there, not doing anything. “What are we doing in here, Michalis? I don’t like this. I want out. Right now.”

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