Page 49 of Beautiful Revenge

“Just get it off me!”

I can feel Finn step up behind me. His presence is strong and large and warm. It makes me swallow hard. He has so much power within him. I wish I knew what that was like.

His fingers skim along the exposed parts of my back, making me shiver and gasp.

He touches the buttons I can’t reach but doesn’t do anything about it.

“Well?” I demand. “Get this dress off me. I never want to see it again.”

“That’s a shame. I thought you looked beautiful in it.” Finn’s voice is softer than I’ve ever heard it before.

Finally, he unclasps the buttons I can’t reach and before I can react, shoves my dress down my body so I’m in nothing but my bra and underwear. He’s seen me naked and yet, this feels more vulnerable than that.

He settles his hands on my hips. “You are mine now, princess.” His voice is seductive and makes my stomach flutter with an emotion I never thought I could feel for Finn: desire.

But that’s absurd. I don’t want him. I want nothing to do with him.

And yet, there’s a dark part of me that wants him to bring his hands lower down my body. There’s a dark part of me that wants to let go of the expectations placed on me, even the expectations I’ve placed on myself.

To feel free to live a life as wild as Finn’s. To not worry what others think of me. To not worry about my status.

To just give in.

I find myself leaning back towards him, sinking closer to his body. His hands are so warm on my hips.

I can’t deny that I find Finn distractingly handsome. I hate him, don’t get me wrong, but he’s still good looking. Every time he looks at me makes me nervous but not in the way I should be. I’m not nervous he’ll kill me.

I feel nervous like… like a schoolgirl with her very first crush.

I went to an all girls’ high school so I was never around boys that often and my dad never let me date. God, I would have loved to date someone of my own choosing. To experience more of life like my peers were.

The moment I realize I’m leaning into Finn’s touch, I wrench away from him. “Enough. Thank you for helping me with my dress. Now I’m going into the bedroom and you’re not joining me.”

He quirks his eyebrow and it only makes him look more handsome. “Then where am I going to sleep?”

I point at the couch. “Where do you think?”

“You’re not the boss of me, princess. You don’t get to tell me what to do.”

“We’re married now, Finn, which means I have more power now. You will treat me with the respect that I deserve and nothing less.”

“Fine then. I won’t disturb you tonight. But on one condition.”

I know I’m going to regret asking but… “What condition?”

“You take the rest of your clothes off. It’s the least you can give me since I don’t get to touch my wife on our wedding night.”

“I am not taking my clothes off.”

“Why not? I’ve already seen you naked.”

Because that was different. I was forced to remove my clothes because he made me pee myself. But to take my clothes off now would be different. It would be too vulnerable.

Too intimate.

“I’m not falling for your tricks,” I grumble.

“It’s not a trick. Take your bra and panties off and then I’ll leave you alone for the night. I’ll sleep on the couch like a good husband.”

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