Page 68 of Empire of Ache & Ruin

“I thought my answer on that was clear.” She yanks her arm away. “How about you slide a little card under my door, so I can give you my answer?” Her tone is laced with sarcasm. “I would rather starve than eat withyou. I have nothing against Gardenia. You made her believe you loved her.”

“I do love her.” I release a breath. Her jaw clenches, so I clarify. “Like a little sister. Her father is like a father to me. The thought never even crossed my mind.”

“I don’t care.” She makes to leave, but I grab her again.

“You keep acting like a spoiled brat, I will start treating you like one.” Our noses are inches apart.

In my head, I grab her and take her upstairs to my bed. Maybe I’ve been going about this the wrong way. Maybe the answer is to fuck her until I have my fill of her. Maybe then, the void in my chest will be gone and I’ll be able to move on with my fucking life.

“You can’t make me.” She scoffs.

“If a spanking is what you need, I’m more than happy to oblige.” I raise an eyebrow. My hand itches to do just that.

“You wouldn’t dare.” She narrows her eyes at me.

I grip the back of her neck and make her look at me. “If you’re not in the dining room tonight by seven thirty, you will find out how much I would dare.”

“You can’t treat me like that. I’m not your pet.” Her gaze drops to my eyes then my chest and back again.

“I think we’re about to find out.” I release her. “That’s exactly what you need, isn’t it, Little Dove?”

The space between her eyebrows deepens as if she’s actually considering my question. She arrives at a conclusion that I can’t read in her eyes. Whatever it is, it makes her glare at me in horror.

“You’re a beast. A brute,” she blurts out.

“I’m glad you’re catching on.”

She opens and closes her mouth, but she seems to be out of insults for me. After a beat, she bolts toward her bedroom.

A smirk pulls at my lips.

I can’t deny that I wouldn’t mind an excuse to touch her perfectly sculpted ass.

* * *

“That’ll be all, Mary Jane.”I adjust my weight on the chair as I glare at the clock sitting on the credenza along the dining room wall. “I can handle the rest of the dinner service.” I take in the feast she’s prepared for us with all of Paloma’s favorite foods.

“Of course, Mr. Archer.” She offers me a pleasant smile. “I’ll take care of Mrs. Archer’s tray now.”

“No, leave it. She will be joining me tonight.” One way or another, she will dine with me. I slant another glance at the clock. Paloma has ten minutes to show up to dinner.

“Wonderful. I’ll come back later to clean up. But if you need anything before then, I’ll be in the kitchen.” She disappears behind the service door.

I sit back and tap my fingers on the edge of the table. The minutes tick by, and I don’t move a muscle as the realization that she’s not coming washes over me. She would rather starve, then eat with me. Is that it?

Oh, Little Dove, you’re about to learn that I don’t bluff. You still have time.

Pursing my lips, I glare at the minute hand as it strikes at the half-hour mark.

I jerk to my feet and head upstairs.

CHAPTER17

BEG ME FOR IT

Paloma

I lie in bed, eyeing the crystal swan. Since the all-mighty Archer decreed that tonight I can’t eat in my room, I decide it would be best if I just go to sleep. Whenever Dad punished me by sending me to my room with no dinner, I would just make myself go to sleep, so I could wake up early and eat breakfast before he woke up.

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