Page 48 of Pride

“What is?” she demands.

“Indian food.”

Her eyes narrow. “Really? I don’t think I’ve ever had Indian food.”

“We’ll have to change that. It’s popular in Britain.”

Her lips curl into a sneer. “I don’t think I’d like it.”

“How do you know if you haven’t tried it?”

Enzo returns then with our drinks, serving them and putting an end to our conversation.

“Thanks,” Bella says, making sure she barely makes eye contact with the boy. Clearly, I’ve scared her with my threat to murder him.

Enzo doesn’t linger, rushing away the moment I glare at him.

“Cheers,” I say, holding my glass up.

All I get in response is a withering glare. “There’s nothing to toast.”

“Did you know you can be very rude at times, love?”

She takes a deliberate sip of her drink and regards me with disdain over the rim of her glass. “I don’t really care.”

I smirk, my lips curving into a sneer. “Oh, I can change that, Bella. I’ll show you just how a real man disciplines a woman.”

Her lips part at the sexual connotations. “Don’t be an asshole.”

“I won’t hesitate to put you over my knee and give you a good spanking,” I reply, noting the husky tone of my voice as my cock hardens at the thought.

She trembles, her cheeks flushed a deep red. “You’re never going to get your hands on me, so don’t even think about trying it.”

I laugh and the cruelness laces my words. “Oh, sweetheart, once we’re married, you won’t have a choice. You’ll simply be my toy to use for my pleasure and nothing more.”

Her nostrils flare and she moves to stand, forcing me to grab her wrist. “Where do you think you’re going?”

“I’m not staying here and listening to this,” she spits.

“Yes, you are Bella.” My voice is like steel, and I hold her gaze in a battle of wills. “So help me God.”

Finally, she relents and sinks back into her seat. “I’ve never held so much dislike for someone before I met you.”

“Is that right?” I ask, narrowing my eyes. “Shame you have to marry me, then, isn’t it?”

Her nostrils flare, but she doesn’t respond. Instead, she just downs the entirety of her glass of wine. “I’m going to need more wine.”

“Alcohol won’t change the fact that you’re mine, Bella.”

“Give it a rest.”

I grab her knee under the table and squeeze. “No. I’ll give it a rest once you submit to me.”

“I’ll submit to you once I’m fucking dead inside.”

It’s amusing how determined she is to resist, when all along there’s been a palpable attraction that neither of us can deny. “You are attracted to me and if you say you aren’t, you’re a liar.”

“Fine,” she grinds out, her cheeks flushing red. “You’re attractive, but you’re also a jerk. I can’t stand your personality.”

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