Page 72 of Captive Bride

“I’m doing everything I can to make you happy, but you don’t understand that this is business. It’s war, not personal,” I say.

“Then why don’t you tell me, instead of just shutting me out?” she asks.

“I’m not trying to shut you out, Isobel. But there’s nothing to do. The Capulets know we’re here. There’s no more hiding. We’ll have to face them.”

“Fuck,” she says. “I don’t want to go back to them, Tristan. What if you lose and I have to marry the Governor? What then? If we run away now, we can make it. We can start over, and I don’t know why you won’t even consider that.”

I try to hold her, but she pushes me away.

“Isobel, I promise you, we can’t run from this. They will find us.”

Her eyes fill with tears, and it’s the saddest sight.

“Come here,” I say softly.

And she does.

I envelop her in my arms, and she leans against my chest. Her tears begin to spill.

“I’m scared, Tristan. I don’t want to lose you. I just found you.”

I gently push her back and then kiss her.

It’s a kiss that’s meant to say, You won’t lose me. Not ever.

But I can’t guarantee that, so I don’t say the words. I just hope my meaning is found in the kiss. I hope she knows none of this is meant to hurt her.

I reach my hand out and draw her gaze upwards so that we’re at eye level.

The injury I’ve caused is so raw on her face. I just want to fix it.

I have to make this right. And I have an unbridled need to consume her and to make her see that I’m the one she’s been waiting for.

I’d lay my life down for her. I’d do anything to see her smile again.

I sweep her up in my arms.

“Tristan?” she says, her eyes questioning.

“You don’t trust me, and I need you to,” I say, turning to take her to my own master suite.

I need a proper bed to ravage this beauty, and ravage her I will.

“If my words don’t convince you, then let my body speak. I’m going to fuck you so hard before this night is done,” I say.

My words send a shiver through her body, I can tell. She should be nervous. With the way I’m feeling now, there will be nothing innocent left of Isobel Capulet.

I plan on showing her how the earth can quake and shift beneath her, if only she will submit to me.

My room is just a few feet away. After all, I would never keep her far out of my sight.

I kick the door open and enter. I throw her down on the bed and then I look at her with what can only be described as fire in my eyes.

“I know you’re angry with me, Isobel, but there’s no way around this war, so let me show you how pleasure is done the Montague way. And maybe you’ll come to trust me soon enough.”

Isobel doesn’t react for a moment, but then she nods slightly and in her own way. I suppose she’s giving me the go ahead.

I approach her slowly.

---