Chapter 63

Deeper her nails sunk into my chest. “You won’t beat me when I’m done? Or a week from now when you’re over this generous mood you’re in?”

“I gave my word,” I said, letting go of her neck so she could sit up straight. “I will never use this against you. Fist’s only, though, wife. You change the rules and use those nails of yours, my word means nothing.” Whack! Whack! Whack!

There was no hesitation. Not so much as a warning as her fist slammed, repeatedly, right into my mouth. I barely finished talking. The action happened so fast that I didn’t have time to prepare, more or less react to the blur of her coming at me.

“I hate you! I hate you!

Whack! Whack! Whack! Whack!

Lights exploded in my vision as she connected with one eye, and then the other. I gripped the mattress, tightening my jaw through the pain. Regardless of her size, she packed one hell of a punch. And she wasn’t stopping. Blood filled my mouth. It nearly choked me from going down my throat, from my nose. My head turned to the side, but I let her continue, staying true to my word that I wouldn’t stop her.

Whack! Whack! Whack … Whack! Whack!

Deep breaths left her and still she kept trying to swing. I’d lost count of the number of hits. They were so fast and hard. Everything blurred with the surprising pain she’d brought on.

“I … hate you. I …”

My head was turned to the side and the slap cracked through my ears like an explosion. I tried blinking, noticing my left eye was already swelling shut.

“You’ve ruined me. You—”

“Are very surprised at my feisty little wife’s temper. And power.

Fuck.” I spit blood across the sheet, not giving a shit. “Are you done?” Crack!

The following slap had me nodding. “I take it you weren’t. Best hurry, your time is running out.

Crack! … Crack!

I flipped Everleigh over, pinning her beneath me. My vision blurred, but came into focus after a few blinks. She was paler than before, and a sheen of sweat was covering her hairline, again. But it was her wide, yet satisfied eyes that had me smiling.

“Do you love me now?”

“Never.”

“Not even a little?”

“Never.”

I laughed, burying my battered face into her neck. Pain shot through my lip and the stinging had me sucking against her skin harder. When my teeth tugged, she gave her shoulders a toss.

“Look at you still trying to fight it. Does it bother you so much to feel something for me?”

What sounded like a roar tore through the room while she thrashed, wildly. Her hand shot up to my neck, and where I thought she was going to hit or choke me, she didn’t. She held the side tight, pulling me down to crush my lips into hers. The pain was excruciating, and I felt every ounce as I thrust my tongue into her mouth. Blood and happiness. They went hand-in-hand with some of the best moments of my life. This one wasn’t any different.

“I fucking knew it.” I ripped her nightgown up, diving in to kiss her again while I tugged down my pajama pants. The moment hot wetness encircled my cock, I didn’t slam into her like I needed. I let the torture carry on even more as I slowly inched inside her channel.

Blood was smeared on the side of Everleigh’s face, covering her chin. It drove me even crazier. I couldn’t stop my tongue from running over the curve of her jaw as I went back to give her mouth attention. She’d done this to me. She’d fucked me up so good and it was worth it if it meant she’d drop this fake loving attitude toward me. I needed her anger. Her truth. Especially if I was going to be able to read her true motives. Just because I may have been falling in love with her, didn’t mean I trusted her. Not even close.

“Spread your legs wide for me, baby. Give yourself to me.”

A gasp left her as I withdrew and plunged even deeper. Her legs lifted to my hips and I buried myself, holding still while she clung to me.

“Admit it.”

“No.”

I let my length slide out halfway and held. The throbbing was excruciating. All I wanted to do was fuck her, but I couldn’t. Not until she came clean.

“Admit it.”

“There’s nothing to admit.”

My fingers wove through Everleigh’s hair, pushing through to cradle and lift her head so I could make her face me. “Enough,” I said, softly.

“Look at me. At what I took for you. Tell me.”

Tears clouded her eyes, racing along her cheeks as her stare cut over to the side. “You’ve hurt me so much.”

“And I’ll hurt you again. That’s a guarantee. But look at us right now. Look at how we’ve been since the lashing … God, doing that to you. I’ve never loved anything more.”

Horror swept over her face as she jerked it to me and I rolled my eyes. “It’s because you gave it to me. I didn’t have to threaten you. You knew what was coming and you didn’t back down. Even after the first three, you gave me more. You didn’t try to escape or beg me to stop. You’re mine, just as much as I’m yours. Think about how I treated you afterward. Did I not give you extra care? Did I not show you how much it meant to me by stopping the oil? I couldn’t do it knowing how you truly felt. I shouldn’t care, but I do. I think I lost myself to you and maybe I’m a fool for telling

you, but I know you feel something for me. Admit it.”

“I feel …” She sniffled. “Something.”

One of my hands left her head while I moved it around to trace over the still welted lashes. “You’ll always be mine now. This says so right here. These scars, you’ll carry me with you forever. And I’ll never forget it.”