Humor tugs at the corners of my lips, and I rise slowly to lean across the table toward her. “I wouldn’t dream of questioning the hold you have on any man, but I’m not above tying you to our bed and keeping you there until you’re ready to listen,” I warn darkly, keeping my voice low.
Tatiana’s breath catches, and her eyes darken at the suggestion before she narrows them. “You wouldn’t dare,” she hisses, leaning closer until her lips are just inches from mine.
I love it when she tells me what I won’t do—I love the excuse to prove her wrong.
Grinning wickedly, I grasp her wrist and round the corner of the table, stopping her from stepping back with my hold on her arm. Her eyes widen, her tongue nervously darting out to wet her lips as she seems to realize her error in judgment.
“Lucian…” she says slowly, her eyes flashing with uncertainty.
And before she can pull away, I dip low to scoop her up. Tatiana squeals, her legs kicking out as I hoist her up at the bend of her hips, slinging her over my shoulder. Her hands slap fruitlessly at my back as she squirms.
“Put me down,ty ublyudok!” she shrieks.
I give her round ass a firm slap for good measure, and Tatiana gives another enraged squeal. And as I carry her back up the stairs to our bedroom, she protests loudly, screaming what I can safely assume is Russian profanity.
Her noisy objections turn the servants’ heads as we pass—their eyes growing wide at Tatiana’s shouting before they see what’s happening.
“You’re being completely ridiculous,” I state as I reach the second floor and turn down the hall toward our room.
At the sight of our approach, Gabriella and one of the other maids scurry from the master suite, taking their cleaning supplies with them.
“You’re being an insufferablemudak!” Tatiana bites back, earning another sharp spank.
She growls in frustration, her elbows digging into my shoulder blade as she stops actively fighting me, and I can see her fuming, her chin resting against her palms as I pass the floor-length mirror I fucked her against on our wedding night.
Turning, I close the bedroom door behind us and throw her down on the bed. Tatiana gasps, her hands flying wide to catch herself, and she watches me with narrowed eyes.
“You should know better than to doubt me by now,tesoro,” I purr, kneeling to collect a length of rope from beneath our bed.
Her eyes widen as she takes in what I’m holding, and I catch the spark of excitement in her blue gaze before she shifts on the mattress as if she plans to run away.
“Agree to the meeting, and this can all stop right now,” I tease, looping the rope expertly around the post of our headboard.
Instead, Tatiana makes a break for it, rushing toward the door. Dropping the rope onto the bed, I catch her around the waist, using her own momentum to bring her back onto the mattress. Before she can slip away again, I loop the rope around her wrist then quickly make a second knot around her other hand. She gasps, tugging against the sudden restraint as I tie it across to the other post of our headboard. She tests the rope, looking up at where it’s tied as she jerks against it, but it holds tight.
“You didnot,” she gasps, her fury rising. “Untie me right now, Lucian!”
“I’ll untie you once you tell me what I want to hear,” I tease, shrugging out of my suit jacket and tossing it onto the reading chair near me.
Tatiana stares at me as I slowly start to roll up my sleeves, watching her with amusement.
“I’m going to be late for work,” she states, jerking at her bindings fruitlessly.
“Hmm,” I say. I’m already late for a meeting, but they can wait. Right now, it’s time to teach my wife a lesson—that she won’t be winning this battle, even if I have to keep her here all day.
I sink onto the bed, kneeling by her feet, and Tatiana stills, her eyes shifting to me.
“What are you doing?”
“Well, if you’re going to be difficult, I might just have to break you,” I promise darkly, sliding the hem of her dress slowly up her thighs.
I’m rock-hard in an instant at the sight of her black satin panties. Tatiana has the sexiest underwear, and I can’t help butwonder if she thinks of me before she chooses what to wear. Hooking my fingers around the elastic waist, I drag the soft fabric down her milky flesh, stripping her of her panties. I can tell she’s aroused by our argument because, even as her eyes flash defiantly, the black fabric between her thighs is already soaked with excitement.
Holding them to my nose, I inhale her scent and relish the way Tatiana flushes a delicate shade of pink. She swallows hard, her tongue darting out to wet her lips.
“I’m starting to think you enjoy provoking me,” I tease. “If I touched you right now, would you be wet for me?”
Tatiana presses her lips together, refusing to answer me.
