Page 71 of Hate You Forever (Hate 1)

“Yes,” I breathe, feeling my orgasm building.

“Fucking come. Come for me while I watch you, peasant.” His words are sharp, punctuated, and full of lust.

“Fuck.” His words set me off, detonating my built-up tension. My screams and moans fill the room. My back arches off the bed as I explode, but I never break eye contact with him. I let him watch me ride out the high and see what happens when I fall over the edge. He doesn’t take his eyes off me, even for a second.

My legs shake uncontrollably as I try to catch my breath. His jaw ticks, and he flexes his hands at his sides. He’s trying to control himself, acting like this isn’t getting to him. He either wants to touch me, or relieve that massive bulge he couldn’t hide even if he tried.

But he doesn’t even try.

Marnix Taylor is never fazed.

He always presents the image of being someone unaffected by the outside world. The type who controls the room, never letting it control him.

I finally break our staredown and let my head fall back against the pillow, my eyes closing as I enjoy the lingering ecstasy. Fuck, that was hot as hell, but dangerous. I’m afraid of what will happen when the tension between Marnix and I finally snaps. When we finally get thrust together, detonating in the inevitable explosion.

Marnix’s commanding voice pulls me from my bliss. “Now that you’re done with your little show, I have two things to tell you.”

And the real Marnix is back. Sitting up, I roll my eyes and grab my panties from the foot of the bed, sliding them on. I eye my tank top on the floor, but decide against reaching for it. He’s already gotten a detailed showing of the goods, so it hardly matters now.

“I’m surprised I even got off, with your moody ass watching me,” I scoff. That’s definitely a lie. Having him watch just made it ten times hotter. “The angry vibes you brought in here, combined with the sour look on your face, were almost enough to dry me up.”

The smirk on his face tells me he knows I’m lying. “From where I’m standing, you loved it.”

“Love, hate, all the same thing. There’s a fine line between both. Anyway, to what do I owe the pleasure of your gracious presence, Your Highness?” He’s the one who barged into my room without knocking; he better get to explaining.

“I just got a call from my associate, Kate. The firm landed the largest construction company in Craibridge as a client.”

“Congratu-fucking-lations,” I spit. Did he just come in here to gloat or something? Probably—he’s a self-obsessed ass. “And I care why?” Maybe I’m being too much of a snob, but I’m still feeling the sting from his rejection last night.

“If you’d let me finish,” he growls, his blue eyes glinting with anger, “I’d tell you. We’re having a party at the office to celebrate our big contract, and you’re coming with me.”

So he just came in here to make demands and boss me around? Fuck no.

“Like hell I am. Hard pass.”

Marnix takes a step toward me. “You’re my wife now. You’ll do as I say. If I tell you to jump off a bridge, you ask which one.”

He must be fucking dreaming. Does he remember who he married? I’m no push-over.

I look at him thoughtfully. “You’ve got a flaw in your theory.”

“And what would that be?” His eyes narrow at me.

“I’d push you off the bridge first.”

His brow raises. “Do you want to keep getting money for your dingy little restaurant?”

I huff at him. “We have a deal. You can’t cut me off.”

Marnix smiles. He actually fucking smiles. It’s one that looks so real, but I can see the malice behind it. “I know you had a lawyer look over the contract, peasant. I’m sure they were good, just not as good as me. It was worded very carefully—I can cut off your money if you don’t perform your wifely duties, which includes attending important corporate events. You’ve already signed the contract; there’s no point arguing. You were just so desperate for money that you’d let me control you.”

Fuck. I’d been meaning to discuss the wording of that condition before signing the contract.I feel the blood drain from my face as I remember how I ended up signing in a hurry that night, flustered over Zayan calling me.

I rise to my knees on the bed, putting me at eye level with his smug face. “Are you really that much of an asshole, Marnix? What, did Daddy not love you enough? And now you think you have to belittle and threaten me to get what you want?” The words slip from my mouth before I can stop them. Marnix’s smile falls, his expression turning to stone.

“You do what I fucking say or I don’t pay each month to keep you afloat, little peasant. Easy as that.”

I can feel anger rising in my body, heating my cheeks. A low growl escapes me, and I don’t miss the way his cock jumps in his pants.

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