Page 425 of Hate Mates

He already has an empire, but I guess reigning over this city isn’t enough. And he expects me to help me.

He believes I can help him.

Wow.

His wink drags me out of my astonishment from his confidence in me.

“So you have to let me know what you want so I can have it built for you.”

He’s right – I do want to argue. I feel like fighting him is the only way to keep from losing myself. Until now, the instinct to defy him has never waned. Although with this offer the reflex of self-preservation is starting to waver. “I don’t know.”

“That’s okay. We’ve got time. We’ll be in Belize for at least a month. Can’t have my new wife working on her honeymoon.” He squeezes my ass before turning away and walking toward the front entrance again. “I have something else for you.”

The urge to protest gets steamrolled by him as always. Before I can open my mouth to object, he’s out of sight. I refuse to chase after him since I shouldn’t even be here in the first place.Coming inside, letting him talk about our honeymoon, and even worse our life afterwards, without disputing his version of our relationship, is really dumb on my part.

Lucian returns with a small black box. I have no idea what’s inside the container but never in a million years did I expect him to lift out an engagement ring.

“I want you to wear it when you graduate.”

Disbelief explodes through me that he’s even coming to the ceremony. He’s never acted like he cared or supported my educational pursuits.

“It was my mother’s. I know it’s old-fashioned looking and the diamond’s too small, but I’ll make it up to you with the band.”

God! I hate it when he’s being sweet. But I hate even more that he thinks I’m materialistic and care about the size of the stone. “It’s beautiful. I love it.”

When his face lights up, I feel giddy too. Stupid. Stupid. Stupid.

Quick as always, Lucian has the ring out of the velvet insert and on my finger before I can process the bizarre sensation of being happy because he’s happy. Damn it. “I haven’t agreed to any of this.”

I despise how weak my voice sounds. As if I’ve given up.

As if I will stop fighting.

As if I’m accepting him bulldozing me into submission.

When I start to tug the ring off, his expression hardens and he yanks me to him, smashing my arm between us.

“Don’t.”

Just like at the restaurant, my body responds to his immense power, and I shudder. He drags his hands from my bicep to my neck, wrapping his fingers around my throat.

Desire crackles between us like electricity, and he growls in such a primal way I can barely control myself from moaning in response.

“It never comes off.” He squeezes tighter, stealing my oxygen for a second. “And if you try, I will add a mechanism so it can never be removed.”

Gasping for air, I rail against him. “You don’t control me.”

“That’s all you want Colby. You should just admit it.”

He only calls me by my real name when he’s serious. His grasp loosens, and I let my head fall back to breathe deeper. Taking advantage of the opportunity, he peppers my hot skin with kisses.

Boy is he fucked in the brain if he truly believes I want him to control me. “You’re crazy!”

“Only for you, Hurricane. Only for you.”

His tongue swipes over my racing pulse.

“My mark is going to look good on you.”

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