as we approach my section of the estate. The next morning after bashing Darby’s face in, I left and chose to travel rather than fester and submit myself to the mental abuses from the terrible twosome that are my brother and father.
“In here,” I say gruffly as I open the double doors that lead to the wing that solely belongs to me. I have a grand living area with high ceilings and a stocked bar. Several rooms and washrooms line the hallways. And my favorite part of it all is the study. Of course, it remains locked and nothing of business goes on in there. But it contains everything that makes me happy.
Weights.
Gloves.
A bag for hitting.
“This is all yours?” Edith questions. “It’s stunning.”
“Ours,” I remind her as I usher her into the master bedroom.
“Right,” she says breathily.
The comforts of my room envelop me. It’s been awhile and I’ve missed this damn place. Especially my bed.
After shrugging out of my waistcoat, I toss it onto the folded blanket on the end of the bed and then unbutton my dress shirt. When Edith sees me undressing, her eyes widen.
“What are you doing?” she asks.
I let my shirt fall to the floor and smirk at her. “We have a bit of time before supper. I thought you could pleasure me until then.”
The look on her face is downright comical as she goes from pleasant to fucking insane. “Did you not hear a damn thing I said on the train?” she snarls. “Behind these doors, nothing happens. Got it, mister?”
I chuckle darkly at her. “If I wanted to force the issue, I would. Luckily for you, I’m not fucking interested.”
Now, her brown eyes moisten, and she looks away from me. “You’re an arse.”
“An arse who, despite your words, you wish lavished you with praise. I’m sorry, Edith, but if I wanted to fuck you, it would be out of your control. You’re lucky to have someone like me to have chosen you. Lest you forget that, just six months ago, you were wreaking havoc on the lives of all of those around you? I chose you because of your lack of morals. Not your beauty. Not your body. Not your wits or your fucking education. I chose you because you’re as ruthless as I am.”
Her head whips over to me, and she loses her damn mind. After rushing toward me with both fists balled, she attempts to beat me with them as if they could actually exact damage on my muscled frame. Easily, I seize her wrists and twist them behind her. A yelp bursts from her as she meets my eyes with a glare that could obliterate anything in their path.
“I’ll be worth something to someone. You may think I’m scum, but I’m not. Someone will love me one day.” Her words carry a vulnerable edge as tears well in her eyes.
I should comfort her and apologize for having said words I didn’t really mean. But my stubborn arse won’t let me. No, I only add fuel to the fire.
“It won’t matter. You belong to me, and therefore, I won’t allow anyone to love you. I’ll kill anyone who tries.”
Her mouth pops open in shock, and I feel the urge to kiss those lips.
“Does that mean you plan on loving me?” she questions, hope lacing her words.
I drop my mouth to hers but hesitate before our lips touch. Her breaths come out hard and fast. She’s so close I can almost taste her.
“I’ll never love you. I don’t have that ability. But, nevertheless, you belong to me, so I won’t be letting some other fool have you, either.”
She struggles to escape my grasp, but I grip her tight enough to bruise her wrists. We both gasp when the door to my master bedroom flies open and Alcott bursts in as if the chump were actually going to bust us out. Not wasting a second, I smash my lips to hers and release her wrists. My wife knows the rules of the game, because her hands slide up my bare chest and around my neck. Even though our kiss is for show, there is truth to it.
Gripping her curvy arse, I pull her to me. I let her feel the reaction our kiss has on me. The needy moan that