Page 23 of Obsession

Madi

It’s my wedding night. I’m not an idiot. I know what’s expected of me tonight, and the idea of it has my stomach churning. Not to mention, Adrian announcing that he’s going to punish me for my antics.

I have myself locked inside the master bathroom after I ran away from my new husband downstairs. I’m avoiding leaving the safety of this room to see what’s in store for me in my new bedroom.Bedroom.I groan at the thought. I have to share a bed with him tonight.

Taking my time, I strip out of the silk gown, hanging it on the back of the bathroom door while I change into my pajamas. I picked the least revealing, least sexy set for tonight. I don’t want to give him any impression that I’m interested in anything he has to offer. So I chose long black pants and a matching button-down top that I do up to my neck. I waste more time washing my face slowly and thoroughly. Then I slather it with serums and creams until I run out of stuff to do. Finally, sucking in a long breath, I open the bathroom door.

Adrian is waiting for me on the bed, still in his suit sans the jacket and tie. His head pops up when I exit, his eyes roaming over my conservative attire. There’s an awkward tension that buzzes through the room as we stare at each other for a long moment.

“Cute,” he finally says, the words slicing through that tension like a knife.

“It’s not for you,” I spit out in a rush, which only elicits a laugh from my new husband.Husband, that word makes me cringe.

“Still,” he says, rising from the bed as his fingers reach for the buttons on his shirt. I swallow thickly as he undoes the top one, revealing the beginning of his chest covered in dark hair. “I like it.”

I blink rapidly, turning my head so I’m not looking at him while he continues to undo the buttons one by one. “Well, I’ll keep that in mind and be sure to buy pajamas youdon’tlike.”

Adrian barks out another laugh. “Feisty,” he says in his deep tenor, then takes another step, this time bringing himself too close to me. I can feel the heat radiating off his body. I take a step away, but my back hits the dresser. “Ya know, I think I like that too.”

The last button comes undone and then he’s sliding the white shirt down his toned arms. Toned arms that I shouldnot belooking at, least of all admiring. Adrian catches my gaze.

“Do you like the view?” he asks with a smirk.

I feel trapped between him and this piece of furniture, watching as he tosses the shirt in a way I should not find sexy. I need to get a grip. “Not even a little bit.”

When he laughs again, this time it’s louder. I’m having the opposite effect than what I planned. I need to abort all plans and just go to bed before he can toy with me anymore. My only problem now is that he’s blocking my path.

“What’s wrong, Madi?” he asks, amusement tinting his words.

“Nothing.” I swallow.

“Nothing?” he mocks. “You seem uncomfortable.”

“I’m not,” I answer too quickly, and his eyebrow ticks up. He moves in closer, his hands hitting the edge of the dresser behind me, caging me in without laying a finger on me. “I don’t bite, princess.”

“I know that,” I huff.

“Then tell me,”—his hot breath skates across my cheek—“what’s wrong? What are you afraid of?”

I don’t like the insinuation that I’m afraid of anything. Even though I’d be lying if I said I’m not afraid, at least a little bit, of what he might do to me tonight. It’s not the pain, per se. I’ve learned how to take that over the years. But mental scars are harder to heal.

“I’m not afraid of anything.”

“Tell me,” he urges again, this time softer. He’s so close, his arms barely grazing my sides.

I need to tell him something so he backs off, and admitting I’m afraid of sleeping with him because I’m a virgin doesn’t feel like the best thing to say. “I didn’t realize we were going to share a bed,” I settle on.

“Well, you are mywife,”he emphasizes the title, “and typically, husbands and wives share a bed.”

“I know, I just…”

“What?” He touches me now, a light brush of his fingers against my arm.

“I’d prefer my own room.”

“Not happening.” His answer is quick, not even a second of thought.

I frown. “You-”

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