Page 371 of Rage

“Why are you moving me? I like my apartment, and I love my roommate.” His fingers tighten slightly around my neck at the word love. It happened so quickly I’m not sure that it happened at all.

“You are my wife; you should live with me. I’ll have your things moved in the morning.”

The fact that I’m in a vulnerable position at the moment, one where he could easily snap my neck, apparently doesn’t help me control my anger, and I lash out. “Now! Now, you want me? After two years of ignoring me, you suddenly changed your mind and find me worthy of living with you?”

The bastard has the audacity to smile. He fucking smiles like this is all a joke. Like my entire life is nothing but a joke to him.

The car comes to a stop, and the driver steps out as soon as the vehicle is in park. The interior light flickers on, blinding me for a second. I force my eyes open, wanting to at least see coming whatever he has planned.

The front door closes, and the back door opens a moment later. Instead of getting out, Emmett stays seated. “I don’t want anyone to see her. Make sure all the men are gone.”

“Of course. I’ll take care of it,” the driver confirms before stepping away.

“How am I supposed to live here if no one is allowed to see me? You can’t keep me a secret forever, you know.”

“Everyone who works for me knows about you.”

“Sure they do.” I don’t believe a word he says. “Then why can’t they see me?”

“Because if one of my men sees you in this outfit, I will use my favorite carving knife to cut his eyeballs out and feed them to the sharks.”

Sharks?I don’t know why that’s my first thought after that monster of a sentence. Probably my sleep-deprived brain’s fault. I try not to read too much into what he just said, mostly because the last time I let myself believe he actually liked me, he dumped me.

The driver didn’t close the door, making it easy to hear his approach. “All clear.”

Emmett wastes no time. Grabbing me under my arms, he pulls me out of the car with him. My feet barely touch the graveled driveway when I’m lifted up in the air again and thrown over his shoulder.

Too tired to fight him, I just let my head hang low as he walks me into his house and up the stairs. With each step he takes, my body bounces against his shoulder.

“If you don’t put me down, I’m gonna throw up,” I warn, not joking one bit.

My stomach churns as he throws me down onto a soft bed. I fly off the mattress slightly, landing on my front with my face shoved into the blanket… a blanket that smells like him. Oh, god. I’m in his bed.

Turning my head to the side, I blink my eyes open and scan the room. “Take the cuffs off, please. My arms hurt.”

“I should leave them on tonight as your punishment.”

“My punishment?”

“For leaving the house like that.”

My mouth opens to counter with a witty remark, but whatever I was thinking evaporates into air when Emmett’s hand lands on the back of my calf. Slowly, he runs the rough pad of his thumb along the inside of my leg, and up my thigh until he’s almost touching my shorts.

I don’t move. I don’t even breathe. Too stunned to do anything. Emmett has never touched me like this. Actually, no one has ever touched me like this.

His fingers run over my skin, leaving a tingling hot path behind that feels so intense I worry it will leave a permanent mark. Even worse, I want it to. I want him to mark me, so I can hold on to the moment forever, so I never forget what this feels like.

His hand inches up painfully slow. His thumb is now brushing against my shorts, sending a shiver down my spine.

Suddenly, he pulls away, leaving my skin cold and wanting more. I don’t even realize I’m making a disapproving sound until Emmett chuckles.Asshole.

Turning my face, I bury it into the soft comforter, thankful that I don’t have any makeup on. He might have seen my puffy eyes from my angry tears, but at least I don’t have black streaks running down my cheeks.

With my face hidden, I listen to Emmett move around the room. He opens then closes a door, maybe the walk-in closet. Then he gets something from a drawer near the bed. The sound of clothes being taken off has my stomach in knots.

Does he think I’m going to sleep with him?

The bed dips with Emmett’s weight as he climbs onto it. “Wait! What are you doing?” I wiggle away from him, but he quickly places his hand between my shoulder blades and holds me down.

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