Page 88 of Cruel Vows

“We can talk about what a marriage should and shouldn’t be after you’ve cooled off and had time to think about what you’re saying.”

I stop in front of the gym and yank open the door. Though the thought of tossing her in the pool is appealing, we’re both splattered with mud.

As I carry her to the shower, she pounds her fist against my back. It doesn’t get her anywhere.

I put her down in the shower, enjoying the feeling of her body sliding against mine as I push her back and pin her to the wall.

When I turn on the cold water, she glares at me and slicks her hair back from her face.

Ellie sputters as I splash more water at her. “We’re going to get a divorce. There’s nothing left to talk about. It’s clear that this isn’t working, and we should both get to move on with our lives.”

I spin with her in my arms so she’s fully under the water. “You’re delusional if you think that I’m going to agree to a divorce. It’s not happening. Especially not when I know as well as you do that you care for me.”

She rolls her bottom lip between her teeth. Her gaze becomes distant and unreadable, like she’s looking through me rather than at me. “I don’t see what that has to do with anything when you don’t care about me.”

“You’d be an idiot to think that, and I know you’ve never been an idiot, Ellie.”

Her eyes flicker back to mine and I cup the back of her head, guiding her mouth back to mine.

If she thinks that I don’t care about her, then she hasn’t been paying attention the past few weeks. She’s been taking two steps back for every step I take forward and it ends now.

She’s mine in every sense of the word and it’s time she knew that without a doubt.

The kiss is soft and slow, our mouths moving together as my hand slides down her back. Her fingers crawl up my chest and over my shoulders, sinking into the hair at the nape of my neck.

A little moan drawn from her lips has me throbbing, desperate to be in her and showing her how much I do care.

This time, though, I want to take things slow with her, worshipping every inch of her body until we’re both spent. Iwant to leave her in my bed, waiting for me to get back just so I can taste her again.

And when she finally thinks we’re done, I’m going to prove to her that we’re never going to be done.

At least, that’s my plan until she pulls away gasping, just as the lights go out.

“Ellie, stay close.”

I turn off the shower and take her hand, wondering if the winds were enough outside the property to knock out the power.

Ellie follows behind me, her footsteps whispering through the building.

Until I realize they’re not her footsteps, but by then it’s too late.

Something heavy collides with the back of my head, sending me pitching forward, as Ellie’s scream fills the gym.

25

ELLIE

Sean nearly gagson the stained fabric stuffed in his mouth, his body jerking as the van we’re in comes skidding to a stop.

I brace myself, trying not to go flying as drool escapes the corner of my mouth, dripping down my chin.

My hands jerk, held in place by the rough rope biting into them as I try to wipe the drool without thinking about the fact that I’m bound to a bench seat in the back of the van.

Though Sean tries to sit upright, he’s tied too tight to do much. He rolls onto his side and looks up at me, blinking rapidly as he looks around, glancing at the rusted red toolbox secured to the far corner of our temporary prison.

I shake my head, jerking my chin in the direction of the sliding door as the driver’s door opens and slams shut.

There’s a piece of graffiti-covered plywood blocking my view to the front of the van, but the footsteps as whoever is driving circles the vehicle are audible.

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