Page 37

talie

My heart was beating out of control as Damian carried me back to the bedroom.

No amount of struggling helped me escape his tight hold.

As much fun as I had with him this morning, I was not prepared to be alone with him.

Not when the leverage I had was now at the bottom of the ocean. His teasing would put mine to shame.

“Put me down,” I warned in a last-ditch effort. “Or I won’t give you the key even when we get back to the city.”

“Oh, you’ll give it to me.” He stepped off the last step, pausing to steady himself as I tried to get free. “Stay still, or I’ll start before we even make it to the room by spanking you.”

The confidence in his voice had me wiggling even more. I bit back my cry of surprise when his palm landed hard on my ass. The sting quickly faded, leaving my skin hot.

“Damian.”

His mother’s horrified gasp was music to my ears.

Damian went utterly still before bending over to put me down.

I spun around, giving Gina a wide smile.

Christian was standing next to her, a disapproving frown on his face, but for once I wasn’t bothered.

I didn’t think I’d ever been happier to see my in-laws than I was right now.

“You can’t do that in public,” his mother chastised sternly. “Some things are meant to stay behind closed doors.”

“That’s where we’re going,” Damian answered, interlocking our fingers. “If you’ll excuse us?—”

“Your father is looking for you, Natalia,” Christian cut in. “He’s on the top deck.”

My heart dipped as Damian’s hand squeezed around mine. “I planned on seeing him at dinner.”

“He wants to speak to you now,” Christian replied, his eyes dropping to mine and Damian’s hands. “His patience is worse than mine, so I wouldn’t keep him waiting much longer. You can see your wife later, Damian.”

Surprise flared in my chest when he didn’t move a muscle, keeping my hand tight in his. Usually, he followed every order his father gave. When did that change?

His father’s lips pursed into a line, glaring at Damian expectantly. “Is there a problem?”

“You promised to have brunch with me,” Gina told Damian softly, trying to ease the growing tension. “You don’t mind, do you, Natalia?”

“Of course not,” I said, forcing a smile before tilting my head to meet Damian’s stormy gaze. “I’ll see you later.”

He reluctantly let my hand go as he dropped his lips to my cheek, giving me a quick kiss. “This isn’t over, Talie,” he breathed in my ear before straightening back up and looking at his mother. “I have to shower. I’ll meet you in a while for brunch.”

I bit the inside of my cheek, barely able to suppress my amusement as my gaze went to his slacks.

There was a slight bulge I could notice, only because I knew what was under his pants.

I didn’t realize I was grinning until Damian shot me an irritated glance before striding away.

I wondered how long he’d spend in the shower trying to get the chastity cage off.

Not that it mattered—it wouldn’t budge until I unlocked it with the key.

“Do you need me to show you where the top deck is?” Christian asked, annoyance ringing in his voice.

“No,” I answered, my joy fading rapidly. Now that Damian was gone, I remembered where I was going. A conversation with my father was never good. Especially if he requested to speak with me.

“We expect you at dinner tonight, Natalia.”

I nodded in acknowledgment before slipping past him and Gina. I kept my steps slow, not in a hurry to see my father. Since he was already waiting for me, he would be agitated; a few more minutes wouldn’t change anything. I entered the elevator, leaning against the wall as it began going up.

My mind went back to my husband, and I laughed under my breath, imagining him in the shower right now.

I put the cage on him in retaliation for him leaving me without an orgasm, but he wouldn’t see us as even now.

I was sure he had every intention of paying me back.

I couldn’t be bothered to care. At least while we were on this yacht trip.

I trudged out of the elevator, not making eye contact with anyone I passed. Most were my father’s business associates who paid me no mind. I wandered around the top deck, not spotting my father anywhere.

“Natalia, where have you been?”

My father’s aggravated tone had my stomach plummeting. Plastering a smile on my lips, I turned around, meeting his stare. His eyes traveled over my simple sundress and flip-flops, disapproval blatant on his face.

“I called you,” he continued, checking his gold watch. “I’ve been up here for fifteen minutes.”

“Sorry, Dad,” I said, keeping my voice bright. “I left my phone in my room.”

He strode away, expecting me to follow. I sighed, dropping my pleasant act once his back was turned.

The boat rocked gently as I stayed a couple steps behind him.

He opened the door, waiting for me to enter first. It was the bar area where I spent the first night drinking with Damian and our friends.

But now the atmosphere was completely different, with no music or people.

“Have a seat.” He motioned at the closest couch.

I groaned internally. Whatever he wanted to talk about wasn’t going to be a short conversation.

I sank onto the cushion, keeping my back straight as my father took the plush chair across from me.

His expression gave nothing away, and my heart leaped into my throat.

Did he find out I was playing music at the clubs?

“How is your marriage?”

My lips parted in shock. “It’s…fine.”

“Is he treating you well?”

I stared at him, wondering why he suddenly cared. When Damian and I got married, all my father worried about was how it would affect business. Even before I’d graduated high school, he had been lining up matches for me with men twice my age.

“He always has,” I finally said. “Why?”

He studied me thoughtfully, clasping his hands together as he leaned forward. “I’m going to tell you something I expect you to keep to yourself. That includes not telling your husband.”

My gut churned anxiously. “What is it?”

He took his time answering. “Christian has been acting questionable lately. I have a feeling he’s planning something behind my back.”

Shock engulfed me as I remained silent. My father had never spoken to me about serious matters before.

“Has Damian mentioned anything to you?” he questioned.

I shook my head. “He doesn’t speak to me about business.”

He heaved out a heavy sigh. “When we drafted your marriage contracts, we were careful about everything we added. To make sure neither of our families could do anything to undercut the other.”

“I’m aware.” My words were somewhat a lie, since I’d barely read the contracts before signing them.

“But there are ways they can be voided even now, years later.” He met my eyes, his piercing stare turning hard. “If Damian has done anything we disapprove of, you can request a divorce. Then the majority of our business shares stay in my name.”

A shiver tore down my spine. He was about to pull me into his world that I wanted nothing to do with.

“Does your husband have his hands in things he shouldn’t, Natalia?” he asked in a low voice. “Business we don’t know about? Or affairs? Either of those things would void your marriage contract.”

My pulse thudded as I maintained eye contact with him.

Club Facade was definitely a business that wouldn’t be considered acceptable.

Especially if they found out Damian was a dancer.

A weight fell on my chest. It was his one slice of happiness in this life.

My father would ruin everything if I told him about it.

“I’m giving you an out,” he murmured softly. “Do you really love him?”

“You didn’t ask me that five years ago when you realized our marriage would benefit you.” The words were out of my mouth before I could stop myself, and I regretted it immediately when anger flared in his eyes. “I mean?—”

“You know what I expect from you,” he interrupted me sharply. “Our family empire comes before everything . Maybe you’ve forgotten while you were gone, so let me remind you. You’re married to a Valentin, but your loyalty is to me and our family.”

“Damian treats me well,” I stated flatly. “He hasn’t cheated. I’m not aware of any businesses outside of yours.”

He leaned back in his chair, his suspicious stare burning through me.

I didn’t care if he didn’t believe my words.

I wasn’t about to wreck the one thing Damian enjoyed.

Something he built for himself. I also wasn’t stupid.

If I divorced him, then my father would waste no time finding another suitable match for me.

At least I knew where I stood with Damian.

“If that changes, you’ll tell me.” His tone was cold. “The contract would also be void if you are in any unacceptable activities. Christian is no doubt digging like I am. I expect you to behave. You want to stay at Damian’s side, then you do what a wife in your position is supposed to.”

“I understand,” I forced out through clenched teeth. If I wanted to continue to play music, I was going to have to be careful.

“Your mother is the only reason you went to school,” he reminded me, warning lacing his voice. “I was fully against it. There is no reason for you to leave home again. If I find out you’re disobeying what I want, there will be consequences.”

“Like what, Dad?” I asked, anger bubbling through me. “I am not a child anymore. I’m married. You can’t dictate my life like you used to.”

His calmness unnerved me more than his usual yelling. “I can and I will if I find out my daughter isn’t behaving. The little bubble of freedom you have? It can disappear. Your livelihood, along with your husband’s, comes from our business. Our money. Not yours.”

I didn’t move a muscle, fury sliding through my veins. I didn’t give a shit about money. I would leave with the clothes on my back. But my father knew that—which was why his next words didn’t come as a surprise.

“Charlotte loves you. Don’t do anything that could hurt her.” His threat had my eyes narrowing as he sighed. “I can still see the fight in you. I don’t know why you rebel against a life that can give you everything you desire.”

“I want freedom,” I blurted out. “To do what I want.”

His eyes darkened. “In our life, that’s not an option. It never will be.”

Tense silence blanketed the room. I bit my tongue, forcing myself to remain quiet. He drummed his fingers on the leather armrests of the chair, his gaze never leaving mine.

“Let me make this perfectly clear,” he spoke slowly, as if making sure I would listen to every word.

“Whether you are married to Damian or not, there is no leaving this family. You try to leave, and I’ll drag you back kicking and screaming.

Our name is known in all the important circles in this country.

I will not have you ruin it by running off and making a fool of me.

If you don’t think I have the resources to do just that, then you’ll learn the hard way. Understood?”

Tears of frustration threatened to fall, and I blinked a few times, refusing to give him a reaction.

While I’d always known this was the case, hearing him vocalize it made it so much worse.

I already had half a mind to buy a plane ticket and flee back to Asia.

He had power here, but across the ocean?

I could more than likely live my quiet life.

But then there was Charlotte. I would never get to see my sister.

My heart tugged slightly when Damian’s face slid into my mind. Damn it. Even he’d gotten under my skin since I’d come back. A piece of me would miss him too. And he’d be stuck dealing with my father if I ran off again.

“If you find anything out about Damian, you’ll let me know,” he said, cutting into my thoughts.

“Yes,” I said tightly. “Can I go now?”

“I’ll see you at dinner.”