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I don’t deserve this woman, but that’s not going to stop me from keeping her.

I lash out my hand, reaching for her wrist, hoping to tether her to me.

Loni jerks her hand back before I can, tottering on her high heels. “I told you not to touch me.”

I need to, and not only because it’s nearly impossible to resist the urge to grab her, steady her, keep her from falling to the floor…

Through gritted teeth, I remind her. “You aremy wife.”

“Trust me, I know. But you know what else I know? The Order’s rules when it comes to girls like me. You can’t make me love you. You can’t make me sleep with you. I did because I thought…fuck.” She fists her hands, visibly hot and angry, but when her eyes are glossy with a sheen of unshed tears, I go cold. “It doesn’t matter. Because you’re right. I’m your wife. The rules say that I have to spend that one night with you. And I’d say that there’s no way in hell I’m letting you touch me again, but we both know I’m full of shit.”

“I won’t.” My answer is guttural. “Look. We start over.” We have to start over. “I make tonight up to you, and you can put a hold on our Mondays for the next two weeks.” That gives me time. The Claiming ceremony is in four weeks. That gives me two additional weeks to seduce her into choosing me in front of the whole damn Order.

If sex with Loni is the only way to get her to choose me, I’ll use it. And, in the meantime, I’ll work harder. She’s upset that I stayed late for the Order’s meeting? Next time, I’ll tell Jack to stuff it. And, sure, I made a calculated error by dismissing her birthday because I wanted to surprise her with the bracelet—another mistake—dinner—that would be worthless now—and the gift that I can’t pick up until tomorrow… but there has to be a way to fix this?—

“You’re lying.”

Shit.

My jaw tightens. I feel like I’m going to hurl. “I don’t lie to you, Loni.”

“Yeah. I believed that once, too. But maybe that was another lie.” She shakes her head, lifting her hands to knock her hair out of her face. “Your head is spinning, baby.”Baby.I live to hear her call me that, but the way she spits it out right now is so derisive, I stutter-step back as though the two syllables are two fucking bullets to the chest. “Always plotting. Always planning. Look at you! I know you’re already trying to figure out a way to manipulate me into being your good little wife forever.”

Since I can’t tell her that she’s one hundred percent correct, I try to end this conversation before it gets worse.

I surge toward my wife. “Don’t do this?—”

Loni steps away. “I’m going home. Yes, Adrian,” she adds, guessing from the look on my face my biggest worry, “yourhome.”

No.Ourhome.

“I’ll drive you.”

She juts out her chin, pure defiance. “No. I found my way to the Court. I’ll find my way back.”

Another jealous wave crashes into me. “Not with Max, you won’t.”

“Are you serious? Oh my God.No.Why do… I talked to him for like, five minutes, and half of them were him telling me that my childhood best friend is a wreck. Which, I’ll point out again,younever did.”

“It wasn’t my story to tell?—”

“Whatever.” I grit my teeth. Notwhateveragain. “I don’t need a ride from an old friend.” She pulls her phone out of the back pocket of her jeans. “I’ll order one. For me. Don’t try to stop me.”

It hurts me to do this, but I nod. “I won’t.”

“And another thing? I’m pissed, Adrian. I’ll get over it.” Shit, there’s another hollow laugh. “I always do. You know that better than anyone… but I need time. So I’m telling you… don’t try touse sex against me. The next time we fuck? It’ll be because I initiate it, you understand? You don’t touch me.Itouchyou. Got it?”

On one hand, I hate seeing Loni so upset. On the other, it’s so fucking hot to see her take charge like this. Seeing her meek and submissive is fun, but when she tells me she hates me while surrendering to me… I thought that was my favorite facet of Loni’s fascinating personality.

I’ve changed my mind. Seeing her take complete control? Fuck, I shouldn’t be getting hard right now, especially since I’ll have no choice but to follow her lead on this if I ever want her to Claim me. Jack… he’s not bluffing. If he senses any weakness between us, he’ll snatch Loni way from me, and short of shooting him dead in the chest, I won’t be able to stop the King.

Long live the fucking King.

I swallow, trying to keep my composure. “Got it, princess.”

A shadow of barely concealed fury dances crosses her face at the nickname. “I’m leaving. Don’t. Follow. Me.”

Schooling my own features into a look of contrition—don’t smirk, Adrian, and don’t let her figure out that you’re sporting one hell of an erection right now—I promise, “I won’t.”