His hands move to my hips and he pulls me back against him whilst holding me firm.
And not for the first time, I find myself wishing that we had met in a different way. That it had been my actual choice to be with him. That we had been able to experience that first meeting, the butterflies and the nerves.
He trails his lips up my ear and whispers, “Do you trust me, Kat?”
And isn’t that the most loaded question I have ever been asked.
Do I?
“Yes,” I reply without much hesitation. Because as much as what he did is wrong, I do find myself trusting him. I know that he will protect me. I know that he won’t hurt me. And I know that I have to fight daily to keep reminding myself of how he used me to settle a debt.
He could have married anyone, and he chose me, so whilst we’re all alone in the dark, I ask him the question that has been bugging me since he walked into my office––with his marry him or die ultimatum––nearly seven months ago.
“Why me?”
He stills behind me, and my heartbeat kicks up a notch. I don’t expect him to answer as the silence stretches on, and I find myself becoming disappointed, but then he startles me by speaking.
“From the moment that you first walked into my office; I knew. I knew that I wanted you, that I wouldn’t be able to stop thinking about tasting you, worshipping you and ultimately, making you mine.
“And I knew you would challenge me, make me work and wouldn’t take any shit. So, I saw my opportunity and I took it. I made you my wife, and I will never apologise for that.”
His words have me breathing deep. I never expected such honesty, and I know that this is honesty. I’ve spent enough time with Nate to know when he’s bullshitting and when he’s being serious.
“How do you know that we wouldn’t have worked out if you had just asked me on a date?” I say, needing to keep a clear head even as his scent swirls around me, enticing me, his very presence making me want to crumble like some love-struck fool.
He chuckles quietly and the sound sends shivers running down my spine.
“I don’t do dates, Kat. And I never wait for what I want,” he says, no apologies in his words.
I get it, he’s a man that takes what he wants and doesn’t let anything stand in his way, but I’m not an object to be won.
“The thing is, Nate, you can’t buy me. I’m not some precious jewel that can be sold to the highest bidder.”
“But you are.”
“Excuse me?” I say, irritation lacing my tone.
“You are a jewel, Kat, you just don’t know it. You’re my jewel, and I’ll be damned if I am going to let anything change that,” he says, and I can’t help the sadness that laces my next words.
“But it could have been different. We could have been different.”
Silence ensues once again, and all of a sudden, he’s stepping away from me and bright lights are coming to life, blinding me, making me squint after being in the darkness.
I blink a few times to clear the blurriness, and when the room comes into focus, I see that this is another gym, except this one holds a boxing ring as well as all the boxing equipment you could want.
“You wanna unleash some anger, Kat? Have at it,” Nate says as he holds his hands out either side of him.
“And how is this meant to help exactly?” I enquire, because there is a boxing bag in the gym in the house, but it never helps to fully release my pent-up frustration.
Nate smirks and walks over to the ring and gets in. “You wanted to work some stuff out, so come on in here.”
“And do what exactly?” I say as I stroll over and climb up the side, joining Nate in the middle.
“There’s some gloves in the corner, put them on,” he instructs.
“Why?”
“Just do it, Kat.”
