Page 23 of Vow of Darkness
I might have to give my body to him if it means saving my father’s life.
My eyes flick to Gabriel as he shakes hands with his other guests. I don’t have the courage to ask him about Ginevra’s comment. The last thing I want is for it to be true.
Once we finish greeting our guests, Gabriel and I get into the backseat of a car and we’re driven back to his mansion.
“Are we not having a reception?” I ask. “A first dance? Any of it?”
“You want a first dance with me?”
I flush. “No. I just meant… isn’t that customary? What all weddings include.”
“We’re not having a party to celebrate. I don’t like those kinds of parties.”
“You like parties where people get naked.”
His eyes linger on me until it becomes too much and I drop my gaze. “You saw that?”
“I looked out the window. I saw people getting naked in your backyard. It was shocking to say the least.”
“It’s a little bit of fun in a world of darkness.”
“I didn’t see you join in.”
“How long did you watch for? Before you went snooping for my bedroom?”
I can’t help but flinch. “Just a moment.”
He’s quiet as he stares out the window, giving me a reprieve from his eyes. “I let my guests have fun in my maze. It helps promote my alliances with them. But I don’t need to join in.”
“Why?”
“Because I have my own outlets.”
“Ones that include having sex with women and leaving them bloody.” The words are out before I can stop them.
Gabriel tenses. “Why would you say that?”
“Is it true?”
“Do you want to find out?”
I scoot away from him but there’s only so much space in the car. “I don’t want to be raped in our marriage.”
“I don’t intend to rape you. I haven’t yet, have I?”
“Yet. You haven’tyet.”
His eyes narrow. “You didn’t seem to have a problem with me putting my hand between your legs the other day. You didn’t push me away at all.”
“I’m not in a position to push you away.”
“You can always fight. You’ve been fighting from the moment I met you. And yet, you didn’t fight me when I spanked you. Or when I put my hand on your pussy. Why didn’t you?”
My face is on fire from his words. I’ve never had someone speak to me like this before. “I don’t have to explain myself to you.”
“Then we’re in agreement. I don’t have to explain myself to you either.” He pauses, looking me over. “And I don’t intend to rape you tonight. When you come to my bed, itwill be because you’re begging me to touch you. You don’t even know all the pleasure I can show another person.”
He places his hand on my knee and I don’t push it away. “I could touch your pretty little pussy right now if I wanted to.” I press my legs together but it’s not out of fear. It’s from the strange sense of… arousal that hits me. None of it makes sense. “I could show you pleasure, Aurora.”
