Page 76 of Red Retaliation

His other hand skims down my side and around the front, his fingers on the button of my jeans...

I tug harder at his shirt. How many more buttons are there? The whooshing and ringing in my head grows louder as he unzips my jeans.

I undo the last button on Red’s shirt I’m running my fingers over the inked scorpion on his chest when he drops his hold of me and steps back. I blink in confusion as he gently removes my hand.

“I think I’ve made my point, princess,” he smirks, casually doing his buttons back up. “The lesson is: never say things you don’t mean.”

My feeling of loss is replaced with humiliation and then anger.Was that it? Another one of his games? Dear God, I walked straight into it.

My eyes narrow. I can protest all I like, but I can’t deny I didn’t reciprocate.Damn, damn and fuck it. What is this shit?

Red nonchalantly pulls the long hair I’ve tugged from his ponytail back into order. “We’ll go out for dinner tonight.” His eyes drift up and down my body with contempt. “Be ready at seven and wear something classy.”

Clawing back my dignity, I do up the button of my jeans, hating theflush of lust coloring my cheeks and that my hard nipples still pushing against the material of my top show Redexactlyhow much he heats me. “What makes you think I’ll go to dinner with a psychopathic murderer?”

Laughing, he tucks his shirt back in. “Because you’re my wife. Plus, you need reminding of the ground rules where my business is concerned.”

I can’t stop myself from eyeing the huge bulge in his trousers. “There’s no way I’ll...”

“You’ll do exactly what I say, Arianna.” Red’s eyes grow cold. “You accuse me of wanting to control you, so I will and you’ll be grateful for it. And, just for your information, if you ever decide you want to change the rules of our ‘personal arrangement’, you’ll have to convince me you’re worth it and fucking beg!”

CHAPTER

54

Red

FUCK ME, that was difficult! I stride towards my brothers’ office. I don’t need to go there for anything. I don’t need to goanywhere, but I can’t return to my own office until Arianna has gone.

I achieved my objective, but it was hard. I almost forgot -verynearly forgot - that I was making a point: Arianna will no longer control my lust for her. I’ll controlherlust forme.

At least that’s what needs to happen.

Because her lust for me is there - strong and clear. She started this shit by kissing me the other day, and now I’ve turned the tables. I know now, without any shadow of a doubt, that she wants me as much as I want her. The difference is I won’t allow myself to have her. Even when she begs me.

Because eventually, shewillbeg me. I’ll make sure of it.

But, by Christ, it was difficult keeping a lid on myself just then.

Reaching Oscar and Liam’s shared office, I check that all obvious signs of my arousal have gone, then dig my fingernails into my palms. However much Arianna turns me on, the conniving Italian mare’s words about Lorna have rattled me. Rattled me badly.

If Arianna knew the truth, she’d hate me even more that she already does because she’d realize, regardless of my temporary “truce” between me and her bastard father, the man was always lined up to die by my hand.

That won’t change for her or anyone.

But, like I promised myself when I decided to marry Arianna, being stuck with someone I desperately want more than I’ve ever wanted anyonewho’s walked this earth, but refusing to act on it, even when she begs, will be my purgatory.

In the interim, I’ll chip away at her conceited armor bit by bit, and when she’s fully ready to give herself willingly to me, begging for me to take her body, I’ll reject her. For what she’s brought down on me and my firm, she needs punishing as much as I do.

It will be the ultimate repentance forbothof us.

Opening the office door, I stride in, ignoring Liam’s irritation. I don’t need to knock on doors to gain entry. ‘Any news about the hotel?’

“As it happens, they have a cancellation, but...”

“When for?” I cut in, pulling up a chair.

Oscar and Liam exchange glances. “Well, this Friday, but...”