Page 193 of Risks of Temptation

Malin reaches to my neck, and I spin.

"What are you doing?"

"Taking this off."

"No. It stays on."

"Ma belle, it's time to take it off."

"No. You can take it off in the bedroom."

Malin growls, "Ma belle, it's coming off."

I freeze. Malin never speaks to me like that.

He moves his hands around my neck. He calms his voice and repeats, "No more tonight." The clasp opens, and he slides it off my neck, then palms my head. "Make peace with your sister. You have spent months worried about her. She has a reason to be upset."

"She doesn't."

His lips twitch. He lightly kisses me. "She does. Go talk. Be nice to each other."

I exhale and point at Andre. "If anyone gets a gun out or tries to harm my husband in any way, you'll have me to deal with."

Andre's eyes widen. "Noted."

I glance at Blaise. He holds his hands in the air. "My Glock's upstairs in my safe. I don't have any plans to take it out tonight."

"Good. Keep it that way."

I go out to the deck and shut the door. Naomi is pacing. She sees me and stops, staring at my neck with disdain. "I see your owner removed your leash," she says snidely.

"It would be helpful if you would stop being nasty."

She steps toward me, and tears fall from her eyes. She holds my face. "Emilia, what has he done to you?"

"Protected me. Loved me. Made me feel worthy and like I had a purpose in life."

She traces my neck where the collar was. "That is not love."

I shake my head. "You have everything wrong, Naomi."

"Did he force you to marry him?"

"No. I begged him to marry me."

"Why would you do that?"

"I love him. He's my soul."

Confusion and hurt fill her face. She quietly says, "You wanted to get married without me present?"

"Yes. And he asked me several times, including right before we took our vows, if I was sure I didn't want you there. And I said I was sure. It was about Malin and me, not you."

She closes her eyes. "What has he made you do, Emilia?"

I step away from her. "No one makes me do anything."

She furrows her eyebrows.