Chapter 8
Chapter Eight
Bruno
She’s closed off and quiet the whole way back to the cabin. We never discussed how tonight would go. We were both so caught up in the actual marriage that the wedding night never came up.
After that kiss earlier, I thought for sure it would be a traditional night of us consummating the union.
God, that sounds awful.
Fucking, mating, breeding all seem like better terms for what I want to do to her, but as I glance at her again, my libido goes cold. I’ve already taken too much from her, and no matter how attracted we are to one another, this is being forced on us both.
I hate that I can’t change this for her.
Sighing, I turn onto the service road that runs up the mountain to my property. The snow is starting to fall again, and the weather forecast is bleak. We’re going to be snowed in the entire weekend together.
I won’t have my usual escapes like chopping wood, checking the fences and cameras, or hunting with this much snow on the ground. Other than keeping the generator running, which only takes a few minutes, I won’t be able to avoid her.
I sigh as I run my hand through my hair infrustration.
“I’m sorry.” I grind my teeth at her apology.
“You have no reason to be sorry, sweetheart. None of this is your fault. If anything, I should be sorry.” I shake my head as I maneuver the truck into the carport.
“But you’re not.” Her words take me off guard.
I’m sorry she’s in this situation, but not that she’s here with me.
“No, I guess I’m not. A better man would be, and you deserve way better than this.” I keep the more serious and important part of what I’m thinking silent.
You deserve better than me.
“I doubt that. You’ve been kind and patient. Those aren’t two qualities that anyone raised in your lifestyle seems to keep into adulthood. I’ve seen my abuelo’s men get it beaten out of them. Somehow, you managed to stay decent.” I chuckle at her choice of words.
“I’m not a good man, Rosario.” She smiles at me, and it feels like the sun warming my skin after the longest winter ever.
“Oh, I know that. But you’re not evil either. I don’t need a good man, Bruno.” I take her hand in mine and roll the wedding ring around her finger.
“What do you need?” I glance up at her, waiting for an answer.
“I don’t know.” Her words sound shy and timid, but the look of determination in her eyes, plus the way she grips my hand firmly, lets me know she’s willing to figure it out with me.
It’s honestly the best answer I’ve ever heard.
“Let’s get inside before you catch a cold. I’ll get dinner started while you change into something more comfortable.” I pat her thigh and jump out of the truck, landing on a sheet of ice that sends me sliding down the side of the truck.
“Wow,” I shake off the sudden boost of adrenaline and chuckle as I get my feet under me.
“Bruno, are you alright?” I put my hands up to stop her, but it’s too late.
She hits the ice in her heels and tumbles into me causeing us both to fall into the snowbank. Our thin clothes are soaked instantly, and I try to help her up but end up falling all over again.
“Hahaha!” Rosario belly laughs as I struggle to right us.
I get us up with no help from her, and hate the way she shivers not only from the laughing. It brings back memories from when she arrived that I would much rather forget.
“Look! We made snow angels.” She giggles as I help her into the house.
“Looks more like demons to me. I can see the horns from here. See, it’s even smoking.” I point at the steam rising from the two indents we left in the snow and damn near make us fall again, causing another burst of laughter from us both as we finally get inside the house.
I flip the lights on and curse.
The dining room table is set with fine china. Candles are set but not lit. The house smells of a perfectly seasoned beef, and I want to murder whoever has broken into my fucking house.
I edge over to where I have a gun hidden and take it out before turning to Rosario with my finger over my lips. But she’s not where I left her.
“Shit. Rosario!” I whisper-hiss as I go in search of my wayward wife.
“They left a trail of rose petals to the bedroom.” She drops the box of roses that were delivered to the church at her feet.
“Let me check the house, then we can get out of these wet clothes.” She lets out a laugh I don’t recognize.
“They want to make sure we, that we’ve…Oh God, did they put cameras up?” Her mind jumps from one bad conclusion to the worst as I grab the throw off the couch and wrap her in it.
“Stay here. Don’t move until I call you.” She nods as I watch her face morph from disgust to anger.
Kitten’s got claws, I see.
I check the house twice to make sure we’re alone and then retrieve my bug detector to check for listening devices.
I find none. The house seems free of cameras as well.
When I walk back into the living room, I’m pulling my tie free and undoing the buttons of my shirt as I enter, letting the words I was about to say die in my throat.
“Why are you naked?” The words come out garbled like I’m choking on them.
“They want us to,” she pauses, looking for the words, and I take a step slower to her, wanting to touch her so damn badly.
“Fuck?” I prove, and she shakes her head.
“Don’t curse.” I grin at her inability to understand my love for foul language.
“Make love?” I try again as I sircle her once to take her all in.
“Perform. Like cattle. They want me pregnant so they can have their precious heir.” I nod at her as I stop in front of her so close we could touch, but I hold back.
“Mmm, they want me to breed you.” I agree with her assessment.
“It’s not what I want.” I tilt my head and lift my hand to hover over her shoulder close enough so she can feel my warmth, but still not touching her skin.
I run my hand all the way down her arm and then back up so it’s posed at the nape of her neck.
“What do you want?” My voice hasn’t improved; if anything, it’s gotten deeper, huskier.
“To live my life the way I want to. To be free to love whom I choose. To start a family when I’m ready, without having a gullotine over my head.
I want to be normal, but I’m not. So I need you to promise me one thing and keep it, no matter what happens.
I can’t do this if you don’t,” I grab her neck and pull her forward into my chest.
“Just say it,” I growl as I drag my nose up her neck to her ear before biting the lobe and sighing at the way she shivers for me.
“Don’t let them take the baby. You protect our child at all costs. They will not know of this life. Promise.” She grabs my shirt and shakes it as she begs me.
“I promise.” I nod as she sighs in relief.
It’s the reason I’ve been living in exile. The hold point is why I faked my death, so that I wouldn’t reproduce and give them the one thing they always needed from me.
“Show me what to do.”