Page 58 of The Heir

As she departs the dining room, we sit in silence while he keeps his gaze averted from me. And even though I'm technically the one wronged here, my feelings are hurt.

"Okay!"I say through gritted teeth. I look at him anxiously then work to make my tone soft, tilting my head and casting my eyes to the table."Okay... I'm sorry for kicking you. I was just upset. "

He doesn't acknowledge my apology, and it stings. We're both quiet as Marianne bring us our food, setting it down on the placemat in front of me. It's a beautifully poached salmon with a lemon butter dill sauce with wild rice and spinach. But I can't move. I can't do anything until I hear King's nice voice. "You'd be upset too if someone took you against your will. I'm acting out be-because," my eyes flicker, "I'm stressed. I'm c-confused. I don't know what to think.This is a lot that I'm trying to p-process."

I feel trapped eating ramen noodles, can't he see that this is a million times more serious than that?

Still nothing, but his clenched fist relaxes, however, there's a hard set to his features that's currently unmovable.

Appealing to his sympathetic nature isn't working very well. I know then, that the damage is done.

He's decided to keep me despite my temper, my attitude. My fight. His decision is made, and from the looks of it, has been made for quitea while. Instinctively I know that there's nothing I can say or do to convince him to let me go.

"Eat," he says. But I stay unmoving in my seat.

I take a sip of my wine, then another. "Can I please just-"

"No." He doesn't wait for me before putting a bite of salmon in his mouth, chewing slowly. My eyes fill with tears I blink away.

"What did I do to-" I jump in my seat a little as he clears his throat hard, startling me.

I purse my lips, sensing that he isn't in the mood to talk. My lips tremble, trying to find a way to make this right. My mind races, thinking back on all of our office meetings and the various interactions we've had. Especially the meeting we had where he treated me with such care and consideration when I showed up sick to his office.

The look in his eyes when he told me Christopher didn't value me, and the entire time he was gathering things for his household that I loved obviously speaks to the character traits of a good man. So, why go to such lengths toabductsomeone?

Seeing I've been quiet for a bit of time and he's still eating and ignoring me I sniff hard and hang my head, bringing up a hand to wipe a tear away. I don't like his anger. It's not like mine. I don't feel turned on by this. Not like how he is with me.

I bring up my eyes to look at him, but he doesn't spare me a glance.

"Please don't be mad at me," I say, seeing he's still not budging I hang my head lower, and dig my nails into my arm.

I bring a shaky hand up to my fork and pick it up, biting back a sob as I take a very small mouthful of salmon then wash it down with the entirety of my wine to get rid of the sawdust taste. It's not enjoyable. Not with this chasm between us. We eat for long minutes in silence, and I barely can manage a thank you to Marianne who pours me asecond glass of wine from a small clear decanter before putting it off to the side.

"You're welcome, ma'am." She shifts to pour King what I presume is a scotch from another decanter, and I tighten my lips as the ice clinks against the glass, magnifying the silence between us.

Long minutes pass, and I begin to feel a little woozy, and it causes me to spiral in my thoughts.

What can I do to make it right? I can't go back in time and erase the events that have led us to this moment, but I can't ignore the fact that I'm being held against my will either. I flick my eyes up to see him finally looking at me, his eyes boring into me so deep that I flush.

I swallow my mouthful of food, fighting against the lightheaded feeling hard, wishing he would talk to me.

I continue to flip through memories of all the interactions we've had so far, every monthly meeting, our impromptu lunch date, him avenging my honor against Christopher. Him letting me live out my feminine rage as I acted a complete fool fucking up Christopher's apartment, and then the look on his face when I kicked him in the balls.

I put my fork down and wrap my hands around my torso, fighting against the wave of shame I feel.

Biting back a sob, I push back my seat and stand up. I grab the chair with a hand when I sway hard, but I determinedly push myself between him and the table, squirming my way onto his lap.

King sits back, giving me room and takes me into his arms, hauling me tight against him and rotating me so I drape across his lap. I snuggle my way deeper into him, hearing him cut off a groan as I fist my hands into his shirt and sniff against his neck, pressing my lips against his skin. Wrapping my arms around his chest, I curl my hand around his shoulder and focus on his chest rising and falling under me.

The warmth of him.

King continues to eat and I feel every swallow he takes against my lips, but he doesn't move to touch me other than to make sure I don't topple over and hit the floor. I sniff again, and the next time his hand comes up with his fork I snatch his wrist, making him drop the food back onto his plate messily. He pauses, and I ignore the fact I might have made him even more upset, and continue to focus on the relaxing feel of his chest rising and falling steadily against me.

His heartbeat thrums strongly against my breast.

After a minute he scoops up another bite on his fork, and when he raises his arm, I slap at it again."No,"I say, stubbornly. Pressing my face so hard into him that I can feel his blood beating in the vein in his neck. "No," I soften my voice.

King's head turns as he addresses the staff."Leave us,"he bites out sternly, making me startle in his lap.

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