Page 89 of Lesson In Faith

“Only a wife gets nice things—if she marries an elder who doesn’t kill her on their wedding night or treat her like a slave. There aren’t many elders like that,” she said with a small shrug as though selling women into brutality and murder wasn’t the mother of all sins. “Mainly, they’re all bad men.”

Anger tightened his jaw, but he kept his tone easy. “Yeah, we’re gonna have a discussion on exactly what’s been going on in that community, darlin’. Not tonight,” he reassured her when all the color drained from her face. “We’re not ruining tonight by bringing them into it. This is your night, and I’ll be damned if they’re gonna fuck it up.”

Sadness filtered into her eyes. “I’m yours.”

Goddamn it, the fuckers were already snaking their way in and they weren’t even here. Snatching up the two bottles of bubble bath, Merrick stomped toward her. He tossed the bottles on the counter, clamping his hands on her face. “It’s official, darlin’. You aremine. Every beautiful inch of you is mine. Trust me, if Jedidiah wants to take what’s mine, he’s gonna have the biggest fucking shock of his life before I end it. Okay?”

“Promise?”

The dejection in her voice undid him. The look in her eyes made him savage.

The kiss was primal, a brutal expression of possession that took his breath away with its power. He imagined her father trying to take her away, putting his flesh-peddling hands on her, and there wasn’t a punishment severe enough for the asshole, in Merrick’s mind.

He kissed her until his lungs ached.

Until her arms clung around his neck.

Until the distress he sensed inside her died and rose again as lust.

“Little owl,” he said quietly when their lips parted, a bit battered and bruised, “I promise they won’t get to you. We might play by the rules while they don’t, but make no mistake, we can play dirtier if they push their luck. You’re mine; I’m yours. Okay?”

Breathless, eyes glazed, Tamsyn nodded slowly.

“Good girl.” Merrick eased back. “Now, we’ve more important things to think about.” He picked up a bottle and uncapped it, waving it under her nose. Maybe not the best topic to distract her with, but it was better than the alternative. “This one’s raspberry.”

Tamsyn eyed the bottle, then him, before she sniffed suspiciously. Her eyebrows lifted in surprise; she took another, longer sniff and her smile bloomed again. But it was the second bottle that lit her eyes with delight. “I like this one.”

He bopped her on the nose. “Lavender it is.”

Bottle in hand, he walked over to the half-full tub and poured a generous stream of purple goo into the flow of water. Checking the temperature, he adjusted the taps so the flow was predominantly cold.

“D-Does it hurt when you… you know?”

“Might have to explain that, darlin’.”

“When you get hard?”

Merrick didn’t need to see her face to know she was glowing brighter than a stop sign; he heard the embarrassment in her voice, but he was pleased with her curiosity. “Sometimes. Depends on how aroused I am, and whether I do anything to relieve myself.”

“Do you… a lot?”

Eyebrow raised high, he turned and stared at her. “Well, for the last month or so, it’s been a regular occurrence. Are you fishing for a compliment, little owl, or angling for another ride?”

She just blinked at him.

“For the record, you pushed my buttons from the moment I set eyes on you. Made my mind up I wasn’t gonna touch you—I don’t make a habit of seducing traumatized, mute virgins, but you worked your way under my skin until all I have to do is look at you and my cock tries to bust free.” God, he loved it when she blushed, all that lush color rising into her cheeks and ears like the inside of a dark red rose. “And yes, you’ll have me again if you want me. Might just have to wait a few days until you heal up.”

Was that a pout pursing those lips?

Glutton for punishment came to mind.

He checked the water again, found it perfect, and switched the taps off.

“I-I don’t feel too bad,” she told him.

He crossed over and picked her up, carrying her over to the tub and setting her feet slowly in the water. When she was standing, he grinned at her. “Hate to tell you this, darlin’, but you haven’t sat down yet. Lower yourself in gently—hang on to me.”

“Are you being mean again?”

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