Page 155 of Jensen

“Leland,” I manage.

“Della,” he says, voice dropping. “The only thing keeping you alive is the fact that you are the mother of our son. Otherwise, I would break your neck right here on our bed.”

My blood goes cold.“I’m sorry. Please let me stay.Please don’t take Landis away.”

His brows go even lower, shadowing his eyes. “Tell me the truth about what you did with that man,” he says.

My lower lip trembles. A tear etches out.

“He fucked me in exchange for getting me back to Kentucky,” I say. “I’m sorry about what I said.It wasn’t true. I was just angry with you.”

His jaw ripples as he clenches it. Then,he comes close and kneels in front of me, looking up into my tearstained face. His mouth is a thin line. His eyes burn into me, trying to dig the truth from my face.

“Is that the truth, Della?” he says softly.

I nod, mouth dry.

“Then tell me what he did to you.”

My lips crack open. “What?”

“When he fucked you,” he says, cocking his head. “Tell me exactly what he did to you. How did he do it?”

“Oh,” Iwhisper. “Leland, you don’t want to hear that.”

His brows rise, forehead creasing. “Yes, I do. Whatever he did to you, I want to hear it. Tonight,this waiting bullshit is over. You will sleep in my bed, as my wife, and you will fucking like it.”

My jaw is slack.

“Talk to me,” he barks.

I jump, the bourbon sloshing. He notices the glass and takes it, rising to his feet so he’s towering over me. The waistband of his pants wavers before my eyes.

“I…I ran away,and he offered to help me get back, but he said I had to pay up for it,” I say.

“Talk faster, Della, or I might think you’re lying,” he drawls, composed again. He lifts the glass and has a sip. I tense, but he doesn’t make a face.

Maybe this could work.

Bolstered, I clear my throat. “He took me to his house, a ranch out in the country,” I burst out, trying my best to make this sound real. “I said he had to get me a plane ticket first, so he did. Then, he took me back to the bedroom and…had sex with me.”

His jaw ripples.“How?” he says, tone brittle.

“Leland,” I beg.

“How, Della?” he roars.

Myhands shakeso badly,my wine spatters down my arm. The tear that etches out is very real. Leland’s chest rises and falls, like he’s trying to get ahold of himself. I’ve seen him like this many times with other men. He’s all calm, collected. Then,he strikes.

“He laid down and had me on top of him,” I burst out.

“Jesus,” he breathes, turning away.

“It wasn’t the same,” Igasp. “Not like you and me.”

He freezes, staring into the hearth. Then, he turns his head slowly to face me again.“He said you liked it, that you…came from it.”

“It’s not true.”