Page 24 of The Empress

“Shh…” The sound so close to my ear sends chills rushing over my skin. I hear him take a deep breath of me, then his voice rumbles against the side of my neck as he says, “Maybe I am insane.” His lips ghost over my skin, causing intense tingles to spread over the area. “Maybe that something I can’t place my finger on makes me insane.”

God.

I let out a whimper as I cling to his wrist, trying my best to ignore how good his woodsy cologne smells and the warmth of his body behind me.

Leo’s grip around my throat lessens, and for a moment, his touch turns tender before he suddenly lets go of me. I dart a safe distance away before I turn to look at him. I place my hand on my throat where I can still feel his touch, my chest heaving from how fast I’m breathing.

His eyes are dark and as cold as dry ice. “At the very least, I’ll have a beautiful woman on my arm. People like me have married for far less.”

With the air unbearably tense between us, I realize no amount of begging is going to change his mind. He’s dead set on marrying me.

He pats the stool. “Come sit. The food is almost ready.”

My voice is still hoarse when I mumble, “I’m not hungry.”

Leo returns to the stove, and as he picks up the pot to drain the water from it, he says, “Out of all the ways you can die, starving yourself won’t be what kills you.” His eyes flick to me. “Sit, Haven!”

I flinch from the danger lurking in his words and cautiously move back to the island. I take a seat and wrap my arms around my middle again.

My eyes drift shut as the realization of how much trouble I’m in settles like heavy stones in my gut.

Leo is going to force me to marry him.

He’ll probably force me to have sex with him.

A sob threatens to burst from me.

He’ll force me to bend to his will, and my life will never be my own again.

After a few very tense minutes, he places a plate down in front of me and pushes a knife and fork my way while he sits down across from me.

“Eat,” he mutters before he shovels a bite of the Alfredo into his mouth.

My hand trembles so badly, I can’t do anything to hide it from Leo as I pick up my fork.

He watches as I take a bite, and after I swallow, he says, “Let’s continue to get to know each other.”

That’s the last thing I want. The less I know about him, the better for me.

“Are you breaking some guy’s heart back in America?”

His question has me staring at the food, which is actually delicious. “What do you mean?”

“Did you have a boyfriend?”

I let out a cynical chuckle, shaking my head. “So, if I had a boyfriend, you would just expect me to break things off?”

“Naturally,” he mutters, his tone unbothered again.

I can’t believe this man!

Even though I’m terrified, anger still rises in my chest, and I mutter with a scornful tone, “No, I don’t have a boyfriend.”

Leo’s eyes drift over my face, the look of warning he’s giving me telling me to watch my tone.

“Are you a virgin?”

His inappropriate question has my eyebrows flying up and my lips parting on a gasp. I stare at him for a few seconds before I set the fork down and stand up.