Page 3 of Throne of Fire

"Clearly. But you could try being less… rigid." My thumb traces a small circle on his shoulder, hoping he’ll relax.

He tightens his grip on my waist, almost painfully. "Don't."

"Don't what? Try to connect with my husband?" What is wrong with him?

"This is a business arrangement. Nothing more."

I laugh, like he said something funny so that my father and Ash’s family don’t get wind of how poorly this is going. I don’t know why. I mean, maybe this could be my chance to escape marriage duty. If Ash is disappointed in me, he could free me.

But no. I know that won’t happen. Ash’s business is likely more important than his disinterest in me.

“I know this isn’t what either of us wanted, but that doesn’t mean we can’t find a way to make it work,” I say, feeling annoyed that he won’t even make an effort.

The song ends, and he steps back, dropping his hands like touching me burns him. “I won’t hurt you. You can do whatever the fuck you want. But this marriage is in name only. It means nothing except for the alliance between our families.”

Without another word, he turns and walks away, leaving me alone on the dance floor.

Tears threaten to come, but I lift my chin. I won’t let him break me. Certainly not in front of a room full of people.

“Being a woman in our world is not easy.” My mother’s arm wraps around my waist and she guides me to the ladies’ room.

“He finds me repulsive.”

“No. I know for sure that he doesn’t.” She pulls out a cosmetic bag from her purse.

“How?”

She takes out a compact and begins to pat powder around my eyes. “Men don’t hide it well when they find a woman attractive. Admittedly, I don’t think he wants to be attracted to you, but he is.”

I purse my lips at her, not believing it. “He can barely stand to be around me.”

She puts the compact away and looks at me. “Hannah, men like to think they’re strong and in some ways, they are. But when it comes to women, they can be easily led.”

“Are you saying I need to seduce my husband?”

“I packed you a pretty negligee. Put that on, and I doubt he’ll be able to resist you.”

I’ve been sheltered all of my life. Last night was the first time my mother told me about sex. Not that I didn’t know about it because my friends have shared their experiences. But I wasn’t supposed to know until now. Until marriage. So, it’s weird to have the taboo topic so freely spoken about now.

“Let me get this straight. I’ve been kept an innocent virgin, but I’m supposed to know how to seduce a man?” The crazy attitudes toward women this world has is so annoying.

“Just wear the negligee. Nature will take care of everything else.” She smiles, her eyes turning misty. “My baby girl is a married woman. Who knows? Before long, I may be a grandmother.”

“One thing at a time, Mom.”

Finally, it’s time to go, and on Ash’s arm, I leave for our honeymoon in a suite of a hotel my father owns.

Once inside, I take my bag to the bathroom to put on the negligee. The more I think about it, the more excited I am about my wedding night. I mean Ash is distant and cold, and yet, there’s a sexy intensity about him. Perhaps Mom is right, and his libido will pull him out of his funk.

As I exit the bathroom, I find him loosening his tie and grabbing a pillow off the bed. He heads to the couch across the suite.

"What are you doing?" Good God, he’s not going to sleep on the couch, is he?

"Getting ready for bed.” Once again, he refuses to look at me. I can’t see how my mother determined that he’s attracted to me.

"On the couch? That's ridiculous. The bed is huge."

"I told you how this was going to be. I’m not going to fuck you.”

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