Page 65 of The Heir

We split, and I make the longer journey to my office. I consider moving it as I'm probably going to want to expand it to include space for Isobel.

I'm quickly lost in thoughts of us merging our businesses as a team, flicking through my files to find the architectural drawings I did for a home I just designed for Micah when it hits me. Maybe she could take him on as a client to decorate it. Finding what I need I slap the folderagainst my smarting hand, happy to give Isobel something that I hope will appease her and soothe the sting of the spanking I gave her earlier this morning.

Even if she deserves it, I want to let her know that my anger can cool just as quickly as it rises.

Chapter fourteen

Escapism

Igo to the bathroom, ignoring the smarting in my ass and stand at the vanity, seeing as I'm too tender to sit. I turn, trying to see the state of my hair from how he grabbed the back of it. He doesn't just snatch me up, he slides his fingers up the back of my scalp, through the strands andthengrips.

And King's grip is hard, no nonsense.

Moving the robe aside, my eyes widen at the sight of several handprints layered over each other all across my flesh. My face burns as hot as my ass at the the realization that I liked him taking control like that. I shake my head, letting my robe fall back into place in favor of brushing an unruly lock of hair behind my ear.

As soon as I get out of here I need to enroll myself in therapy.

Seeing how disheveled the back of my hair is I pick up a brush, intent on fixing myself up. I work on getting the little kinks out, smear on some gloss, and attempt to fix the back of my hair in a fit of vanity.It's only then that I see the diamond on my ring finger. I freeze, the strands between my fingers whisper soft as they flow over the pear shaped diamond when I pull my hand slowly away to hold it in front of me.

It's huge, glittery, and has a band with nothing but diamonds nestled underneath.

My eyes widen in recognition as to why the servants kept calling me Mrs. King but I think hard, trying to remember when thehellwe got married.

I'm coming up blank.

Honestly, I'm pissed, feeling robbed at what every little girl dreams of. I didn't get to pick a wedding dress, plan a tasting menu, pick a band, or a venue. He stole all my important firsts right from under me. Freshly irritated, my heart begins to hammer and I turn, making my way determinedly out the bedroom. Xavier is right there, of course, looking stoic and unapproachable as usual. I hold up my hand, wiggling my fingers.

"Did you know about this?" I accuse, narrowing my eyes at him.

His eyes flick to my shimmering diamond, then back to mine. "Yes, Mrs. King." His nonchalant tone sets me on fire and I pivot quickly.

"Where's he at then? He can't get away with this,I won't let him!"

I'm rushing down the stairs before I know it with Xavier behind me. "Mrs. King, Mr. King requested you behave."

"Yeah, and that might have happenedbeforeI found out he drugged me and married me without my input on a single goddamn thing." I'm looking this way and that way trying to find him, when I suddenly pass an expansive library and see someone new.

My eyes widen as I take in the sight of a tall, slightly muscular African American man picking a book off a shelf. I stumble to a stop, my heart pounding when I see my chance.

This man isn't staff, he'll help me!

Just as I open my mouth to scream, the man's eyes widen as he gets a good look at my face. I get out a"hel-"before Xavier bands his hand across my mouth and drags me back the way we came. I flail, kicking in his hold all the way up the stairs and back down the hallway."NO!"I yell, my mouth muffled by his broad hand barely gets a word out.

Gustavo stands outside King's door, watching us carefully as Xavier keeps going, dragging me through the doorway. I push off the floor with all my might, jerk my head back and then headbutt him as hard as I can.

He curses, we stumble, and suddenly we're falling through the air, having tripped on the leg of the bench in front of King's bed.

We hit the floor hard, landing in the middle of our chaos with him on top of me and my robe parted at my waist. I twist and nail him with an elbow to his shoulder, pulling a foot up against his chest and pushing hard."Help! Somebody help me!"I scream, praying that the man downstairs will hear me and notice something is wrong.

Xavier lays heavily on top of me, puts his hand over my mouth and lifts me up quickly, turning me and placing my back against his front, holding one of my arms tight behind my back. We're panting heavily, our labored breathing breaking the silence in the room as Marianne comes through the threshold with wide eyes. She flits shocked eyes from him to me, and then back to Xavier again before lowering her gaze down my body seeing the rumpled state of my dress and his black uniform.

I become painfully aware of my nakedness exposed to the room. However Gustavo respectfully keeps his eyes averted.

She walks up to me and pulls my gaping robe together, reties the sash, and leaves without a word. I wait for Xavier to let me go but he doesn't. He doesn't say anything. And neither does Gustavo, who'sadopted a rather worried expression on his face. A couple long minutes pass as we just stand there silently. But I'm quieting, the anger giving way to anxiety because something's going on that I'm not aware of.

And it gets worst the longer we wait.

The tightness of Xavier's body doesn't feel right. The energy doesn't feel right.

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