Page 90 of Thorns of Death

A squeal escaped me at the sudden movement.

“What are you doing?” I screamed, my fists pounding on his sculpted back. “Put me down!”

He didn’t even bother answering. Not unless you counted the hard slap on my ass as an answer. I yelped, mortified that his sons and Manuel might have heard it. I dug my nails into his jacket, even went as far as attempting to bite him.

“You can’t possibly be mad at me for talking to my friends during the wedding dinner thatyouinvited them to,” I hissed.

He carried me up the steps and down the hall as if I weighed nothing, before kicking open the door to the bedroom. He threw me down on the bed, my ass bouncing off the mattress like a ragdoll.

Then as if he had not a care in the world, he strode back to the door and slammed it shut.

“What in the fuck is your problem?” I grumbled, pissed off. “First you give me little choice but to marry you, and now you’re pissed off about who knows what. Are you hormonal or something?”

He’d turned my life upside down in the matter of a single month.Oh my gosh, it’s our one-month anniversary. The corny side of me beamed. I had to immediately kill that side of me, because this was very far from any kind of anniversary bliss.

“Do you know what today is?” His deep voice sent goose bumps rolling over my skin. He yanked his jacket free and threw it onto the lounge chair. My eyes followed the movement as flames ignited through me. It was the very same chair that wethoroughlyused that first night. He must have read my thoughts because a smug smirk played around his lips. “Want to get bent over that chair again?”

Yes.“No.”

He shrugged. “On your hands and knees, then.” Jesus, this conversation was giving me whiplash. “Back to my question. Do you know what today is?”

I peered at him from under my lashes. Why did it feel like a trick question? “The day we got married?” I answered with my own question.

“Our one-month anniversary.”Looked like it wasn’t just me with a corny side.Without pausing to catch my reaction to his words, he continued removing his tie, his strong fingers gripping it. He took a step, like a jaguar eyeing its prey.

I lifted my chin and pursed my lips. “And you’re mad because”—I waggled my eyebrows cockily—“I gave you the best sex of your life?”

He chuckled darkly. “I’ve had a lot of women in my life.” To my own horror, a growl vibrated in my throat. I had to learn to control some of my impulses around this man. “Not to worry,dolcezza, none of them hold a candle to you. I knew you were the one the moment you blew me that kiss, and once the first tune sounded from your violin, it was game over for me.”

He stalked toward me, his eyes burning with something I wasn’t sure I wanted to be the object of. Oh, who was I trying to kid. The sight of him liquified my insides in anticipation. The hot buzz beneath my skin flared through me, heating me from the inside out and vibrating with the need for a release that I’d learned only he could give me.

He reached for me, and I held my breath as I watched him, my heart beating out of my chest. He slowly lowered the zipper of my dress. I hadn’t even realized I’d lifted my butt to give him better access until he had it off, tossing it on the floor, the white silk a puddle by the bed.

He sat next to me, his fingers trailing up my leg so slowly that shivers broke out on my skin.

“What secrets are you keeping?” he purred so sweetly that I was tempted to open my mouth.

“Tell me your secrets first,” I breathed, my legs parting slightly as his hand came to rest between my thighs.

His jaw tightened and a shadow crossed his face.

“I’m going to learn all your secrets, wife. Sooner or later.”

I smiled, showing him my teeth. I hoped it was a menacing grin and not the cute one that my girlfriends always teased me about. “And I will learn all of yours, husband. Be warned.”

I held his darkening gaze with determination. I wouldn’t shrink away. Not from him. Not from anyone.

“Maybe you do crave punishment.”

I rolled my eyes. “Bring. It. On.”With your dick.Because anything with his cock would be pleasure before it ever became pain. I refused to cower in front of anyone. It only gave them ammunition to stomp all over you, and I knew my husband thrived on a challenge. Well, so did I!

A dark chuckle filled the electrified space between us as his hand ventured deeper between my thighs. He brushed his fingers over my soaked panties and a soft moan slipped through my lips without my permission.

“I think you crave the idea of being owned,” he remarked darkly.

“Maybe, but don’t forget, I’ll own you too.” His fingers slipped beneath my panties and my head fell back.

My hips arched into his touch. “You said we’d talk.”