\[Denali’s POV\]
“Right, the agreement.”
Disappointment rushes through me as my moment of delusion fades. Of course that was his reasoning—nothing more, nothing less.
“What?” Rosco asks, reaching out and gently grabbing my chin. “Were you expecting something more?”
Jerking backwards, I slam my head into the window and then hiss. Shit, that smarts.
“I thought we were past this skittish phase.”
Sighing, Rosco revs the car to life, and we set off for home, or at least Rosco’s home and my temporary dwelling.
When we arrive, I begin to head upstairs but stop as Rosco grabs me. Turning, I eye him curiously, waiting for him to say something.
“The day's still young,” he begins, looking toward the back of the large mansion. “Would you like to go for a swim?”
“Swim?” I repeat, trying to remember the last time I actually went to the beach or pool. “Swim where?”
“Our pool, clearly,” Rosco chuckles. “Unless you were planning on pool hopping.”
“Pool hopping?”
For a moment, he stares at me as if I sprouted a second head, and then a look of anger flashes in his eyes.
“You really didn’t have much of a childhood or teenage phase, did you?”
“No.”
The only thing I was truly allowed to do that a child and teenager did was attend school, and even then, I went to a local public school while Anastasia went to the best private school there was. While I was fighting to seem normal amongst the humans, she mingled with our kind.
“You really were deprived, weren’t you?”
Letting out a huff of frustration, he begins to lead me upstairs, and when we are in our room, he sits me down on the bed before heading to the dresser.
“I had my maid prepare these for you,” he begins, pulling out a black string bikini. “Why don’t you try it on and see how it fits?"
Frowning, I take the tiny fabric from him and examine it. Was he really expecting me to wear something so revealing in front of him?
As this thought flashes in my mind, memories of his fingers forcefully entering me appear, and I feel the need to cover my body more than it already is.
“Something wrong?”
Was something wrong? Of course, something was wrong! He was acting like nothing ever happened between us and that we were the best of friends.
“Are you embarrassed to wear something like that in front of me?” He continues, giving me a look of amusement. “I assure you that you don’t have anything that I haven’t already seen.”
At his words, a blush rushes up my cheeks, and I feel like being swallowed up by the floor. Of course he already saw it all, because he cut off my clothes! He has seen everything!
“Would it make you feel better if I show you mine?” As he speaks, he pulls his shirt over his head, allowing me the perfect view of his muscular chest, which is covered in tattoos. “Speak now, or I’ll take your silence as a yes.”
Opening my mouth, I prepare to protest, but when he begins to pull his pants and I get to see the dark tuft of hair that leads down to whatever he is packing, I find myself frozen.
Keeping his gaze fixed on me, Rosco continues to pull until the top of his dick shows, and I’m finally able to snap out of it.
“Stop!” I gasp, covering my eyes. “What the hell is wrong with you?”
"Ouch!" Rosco chuckles, moving forward and wrapping a hand around my wrist so he can pull my hand away. “You’re going to hurt my feelings by doing that, princess. You should really get used to seeing your husband's body. It’s all yours to do with what you want. You have every right to take in the goods.”
“We aren’t…”
“We are,” he counters, leaning forward, so I’m pinned beneath him. “We are legally husband and wife. And as such, there are things that we will eventually naturally do, like husband and wife. I’m more than willing to wait for you to accept me, but know that I’m a man, and a man does have his needs.”
“So this was your plan,” I say quietly, feeling that sting of betrayal again.
“Pardon?”
“You’re being kind to me and even defending me in front of Anastasia and Alexander. It is all an act to try to get me to warm up to you so that I’ll sleep with you. Well, you’re not going…”
"Wrong!" Rosco growls, his eyes flashing.
“Then why?” I push, not wanting to back down. “What other reason is there?”
“Didn’t I say it before?” He huffs. “We are allies, and because of that..."
“We need to stick up for each other,” I finish for him. “But is that all? You mentioned sleeping together and having an heir, but is that what allies do? I’m sorry, but I’m not one of those women who can sleep with someone when there feelings involved. I’m sure that you’re just fine with it, but I…”
I don’t get to finish the rest of my words before Rosco’s mouth is slamming against mine. For a moment, I remain speechless as I try to process what is happening, and when his tongue presses against my lips, I’m biting it.
"Fuck!" he snarls, pulling back. “What was that for?”
“For kissing me without permission!” I growl, unable to control the anger I feel. “NOW GET OFF OF ME!”
As I speak, I press my hands against his chest and push, though I know it won’t do any good.
“Why do you think I kissed you?” He snaps, not moving.
Why? Because he was a damn psychopath who did what he wanted when he felt the whim? Or because he wanted to try to force himself on me? What other reason could there possibly be?
“I’m going to set one thing straight right here and now, princess,” he continues, narrowing his gaze. “I don’t just fuck around for the sake of fucking around, and I’ll be damned if I let you lump me in with scum like your ex-boyfriend.”
“Alexander?” I snap, eyes growing wide. “What does he have to do with this?”
“EVERYTHING!” Rosco roars, shooting up. “You’re still in love with him, aren’t you? That’s why you’re being so fucking reserved!”
“Is that what you think?”
I couldn’t believe what I was hearing right now. Did he truly think that I still held any feelings for the bastard that used me and then fucked my sister? Did he truly think I was that fickle?
“Am I wrong?”
“You couldn’t be more wrong,” I say quietly, trying to keep the hurt I’m feeling at bay. “If anything, it’s because of your actions when we first met! How am I supposed to put my faith and trust in a man who forcefully undressed me and then violated me?”
Dammit, why was I even bringing this up? It didn’t matter what my reason was! He was a bastard, and I wouldn’t let him hurt me like Alexander did. I learned my lesson and didn’t want to ever be hurt that badly again.
“I said sorry." Rosco sighs. “How many more times do I need to say it for you to believe me?”
“Until the doubt disappears.”