“I cried and screamed, but my pain didn’t matter to you.”
“It mattered –”
I shove at his chest. “You kept going! You hammered that screw into me over a hundred times. You shaved off my fingers. So don’t tell me you cared –”
“Of course I cared, but I thought you were Antonio’s whore,” he explains.
“Fuck you.”
“Yeah, fuck me,” he snaps. “I fucked up. I know that, but dammit, monster, I amtrying.I am trying so fucking hard to apologize. I spent days researching the best wand for you instead of looking for Talon despite the secrets he had on this Family.”
“You didn’t do that for me. You were procrastinating because you didn’t want to kill him.”
“Of course I didn’t want to kill him! He was my brother. I loved him!” He clenches his jaw. “Fuck, Micha. I promised to protect him when Caden walked out on us. He supported me in the moments I doubted my ability to lead this Family. He took a bullet for me when he was only sixteen. So no, I didn’t want him dead. He was my brother.
“But I ordered the hit on him anyway because of what he did to you. I didn’t try to hunt him down becauseyouwere more important.” He presses his forehead to mine. “Fuck, little monster. I got married the day after he died for you –”
“Youmarried me for yourself. Becauseyouwanted to feel safe that I could never leave you.” My anger flares as I turn my head from him until he lifts his.
“That’s not –”
“And you didn’t even vow to do anything other than take me as your wife, so fuck off.I’mthe one who had to vow to worship you and cherish you and become your slave.”
“You’re not a slave –”
“Then what am I?”
“You’re my wife!” he roars.
I stare at him as he breathes heavily above me.
“Fucking hel, Micha. You’re my wife,” he rasps. “I told you I am yours as much as you are mine.”
“So not at all.”
His dark eyes grow cold. Then he’s rolling out of bed and yanking me with him. “Since you’re clearly not in the mood to talk like an adult –”
My spine stiffens.
“– we’re going to go downstairs, dance the first song, and then talk to our guests so they don’t ditch us for Antonio. You are going to stay by my side, act every inch my fucking wife, and then I’m taking you upstairs to fuck you until you are ready to forgive me.”
“The hel –”
“Youare.”
My nostrils flare with the force of my anger, but even I’m not stubborn enough to refuse him right now. He isn’t my guilt-heavy husband who’s trying to convince me he loves me. He’s Varius fucking Shadow, the Boss of the Shadow Domain, a man who’s to beobeyed.
“But first, little monster, you’re going to sit on my face because we could both use a fucking stress reliever.”
My jaw clenches, but it isn’t just rage coursing through me anymore. It’s arousal over being dominated, and I know the asshole can smell it.
“Now sit on the edge of the bed and hike up your dress,” he demands. His eyes are piercing and too damn hot.
I resist for a second, but then I sit my ass down and pull up my dress.
“Good girl.” His tone softens, and a thrill shoots through me. “Now spread your legs.” He loosens the black tie around his neck, though leaves the pink collar on. Then he shrugs off his dark-red jacquard jacket.
I tense the muscles in my legs so I don’t squirm while watching him. But when his stare turns even more intense and punishing, I part my thighs as my mouth waters. He nods in approval, then steps towards me.
