Page 89 of Corrupted By You

And while I wanted her again, I respected her decision, even if it gutted me.

This marriage was meant to be a pretense. I needed to be grateful that Darla had flipped our book to the right page.

My wife’s eyes drilled into my profile and I suddenly felt antsy. Hating that she could potentially see past my exterior and realize that her words affected me in ways I was still trying to grasp.

I didn’t want to be the fool who pined over his wife while she was indifferent.

Wanting to savemyself-respect, I stood up and assumed a mask of calm as I rounded the bed to come to her side. Brown eyes tracked my movements, flickering with a hint of last night’s passion. Proving that my wife was still attracted to me despite her statement.

I cupped her chin and forced her to meet my stare.

“Let’s get one thing straight: you do not know me. You think because I fucked you like a slut last night that means anything, Darla?” I said coldly, and her eyes grew in size at my crude words. I hated it, but I continued on, “I married you for one thing and that’s your image. Whether you want to fuck me or not, I don’t care. As long as you act like a trophy wife and play by my rules, you’re free to do as you please.”

“You’re an asshole,” she seethed, trying to jerk out of my hold.

No. I’m only giving you the version ofme that you can handle because you’re not readyto face the side of me that’s capable ofmorejust for you.

“I told you I was a monster. Time to get with the program.” I stroked her cheek. “Now that we’re married, the rules are simple. No snooping through my stuff. No arguments when you’re asked to attend an event. And no men. If I catch you with a lover, it’ll be the last day he lives.”

Anger sparked in her eyes and her balled fists pushed at my chest in a vain attempt.

“You’re crazy,” she snarled. “People who talk like that usually belong behind bars.”

“I never share what’s mine. For all intents and purposes, that’s what you are.Mine.”

“Just how far do these criminal tendencies of yours extend?”

I once cut a man’s cock and shoved it down his throat when he got a little frisky with Céline and Éva. And I would do just the same for Darla, if not more. “Why, are you already planning conjugal visits?”

She glared at me.

I was done sugarcoating myself so it was easier for Darla to stomach me. I already had half a foot in hell, and I wasn’t above dragging my sweet, flowery wife down to my dominion.

“I can skin a man alive in minutes,” I whispered. “And if anyone dares to touchmywife, I will personally deliver their head on a platter to you. I’m not to be trifled with, so remember that the next time you decide to flirt with another man. You don’t want blood on your conscience, Darla. You will never recover from that.”

She flinched again and I took that as my cue to step away, already missing the feel of her body against mine.

“I want separate rooms,” she said despondently. “The less I have to see you, the better.”

My muscles tensed and I halted. Those words struck me like the lash of a belt against broken skin.

My biological father used to say that all the time before shoving me into a closet the size of a matchbox.

Useless. Get out of mysight, Zeno. The less I have to see you, thebetter.

Before she could see that she’d ripped open an old wound, I bent down to pick up my discarded clothes from last night. “You can stay here. The room is already stocked with all your amenities. I’ll take a spare guest room in the wing.”

“You know what the worst part is?” she mumbled with a faraway quality. “All you had to do was ask me out on a date. Court me with kindness. I would have fallen for you, Zeno. You were the first man in years to show genuine interest in me. But I guess you didn’t want feelings or love. You wanted a puppet to control.”

I drew to a stop at the threshold without turning around.

The pressure in my chest refused to alleviate.

“You have no idea what I wanted, Darla,” I said hoarsely then walked out the door.

The best way to cure obsession was to distance yourself.

No woman should have this much control over me.