Page 22 of Coercion

When the food is laid out, her eyes widen. She looks up at me in alarm. “I, I can’t eat all this.” She stammers.

I let my lips curl. “You wouldn’t say what you liked so I decided to give you options.”

She blanches. “I didn’t mean…”

I get up, moving to sit in the chair next to hers and she immediately stiffens. “Eat as much as you want.” I say before reaching over and piling up some bacon onto my plate. I’d put some on hers too but if she doesn’t want it then I know she’d eat it to be polite and that’s the exact opposite of what I’m trying to achieve.

She waits until I’m done and then starts doing the same, taking some bacon, some waffles, and some other bits. I note it all. Clearly this girl has been conditioned into just accepting whatever scraps are thrown her way but I’m not going to let her live like that from now on.

I’ll give her a cage far bigger than the one she was locked in. I’ll let her spread her wings but only so far. Afterall, she’s still my wife, and that puts a target on her back.

I tuck in quickly. As much as I’d like to spend the day here, things are already piling up my to do list.

My phone buzzes loudly and I pick it up to hear Noah issuing commands in the background.

“What is it?” I ask.

“Sorry, boss. This Tang shipment has gone to shit.” He says.

“How?”

“Half the stock has been quarantined.”

“What?” I snarl. Beside me, Ruby flinches and I get up, stepping away, cursing myself for my reaction.

“Apparently it’s contaminated.” Noah states.

“Contaminated with what?”

“That’s just it, boss. Can’t seem to get the answer to that.”

“For fucksake.” I growl. This is the last thing I need right now. More government bureaucracy. I glance at Ruby and she’s sat, no longer eating, instead she’s staring at her plate like she’s ready to be held responsible for whatever the fuck is going on. “Give me ten and I’ll be there.”

I hang up before I get a reply.

“I have to go.” I say, like my wife hasn’t heard it.

She gives me a small nod but she doesn’t look at me. The anger I feel is unfounded, but I want those eyes on me, I want her towantto look at me, to want her to devour me the way I almost did her last night.

Without thinking I grab her jaw, jerking her head up and those frightened eyes go so wide.

I can practically hear the hammering of her heart. I can see the pulse at her neck thumping so quickly with a burst of adrenaline.

“Explore the house. Take a bath if you want.” I state, easing my grip. She’s not meaning to be disrespectful and I need to remember that. “There’s a library if you’d like to read.”

“Okay.”

“The staff can get you whatever you want, just ask them and they will oblige.”

She nods again with the tiniest of movements but already I know she won’t ask for shit. She’ll probably hide away, pretend she doesn’t exist rather than be noticed for even a second.

“Will you be back later?” She says quietly, like she’s petrified of whatever answer I give.

“I’ll try.” I say, planting a kiss on her forehead before I can think not to.

She shuts her eyes, her body jolting like she wants to pull away but is too afraid of pissing me off more.

Maybe it’s better if I’m not back.

---