Page 41 of Tyrant (The Villetti Chronicles)

“What did you hear, Tink?”

His voice was low and demanding. I had no choice but to give him the truth.

“Gennaro knows I’m missing and… and he wants…”

His hand around my throat tightened.

“Wants what?”

“For you to get married,” I whispered.

The thought of another woman standing by his side was like a punch to the gut. It shouldn’t make a hot wave of jealousy spread down my spine and infect me with a need to claw some imaginary woman’s eyes out. I had no claim to the man currently holding onto me. I had no right to feel any type of way towards him.

Did any of it stop me from wanting to spin around and tell him I wanted him to claim me? No, but I had enough self-control not to act on the urge that would only end in absolute disaster for me.

“And what do you think about that?”

I swallowed past the lump in my throat his question caused.

“Your business has nothing to do with me, so I think nothing of it.”

The chuckle echoing in my ear had me flinching.

“Maybe you have been listening to the rules despite flouting them at every turn.”

“Maybe I like disobeying you.”

I’d muttered the words, but I knew he heard them from the way his body tensed against mine.

“You like our little games,” he whispered, his voice soft against my earlobe.

“Yes.”

There was no point in lying. He knew I couldn’t help myself or the sick need inside me. The one desperate for someone to bend me to their will while I pushed and pushed and pushed back against them.

“My little fairy, such a troublemaker.” His other hand rose and stroked down one of my braids. “Are you bored, Tink? Is that why you keep acting out?”

I nodded, but then shook my head.

“Me being bored isn’t why, and you know it.”

If he hadn’t cottoned onto the fact I wanted to provoke some kind of emotion out of him, then it was his loss. No way I would admit it out loud.

“Ah, but you are bored.”

I nodded.

“And you didn’t tell me. Did you forget who takes care of your needs?”

“I didn’t want to disturb you.”

He expelled a breath as if my comment irritated him.

“It wouldn’t be disturbing me, Ari. I want to take care of you. It’s my responsibility and I take those very seriously.”

“Does that include your responsibilities to your family? You didn’t sound like you had any intention of carrying out your father’s wishes.”

Before I could stop myself, the words were out of my mouth and settling in the air between us. Why the fuck couldn’t I stay silent? Why did I have to push this man? I should know better.

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