CHAPTER TWENTY
MARRIAGE IS OUT OF THE QUESTION
CATCH
M y woman sat in silence on the ride back to the warehouse. Her beautiful face was turned to the window, her gaze lingering on the passing cars as we rode down the highway.
“You haven’t said a word since we left your parents’ house.”
“What do you want me to say, Catch?” she pinned me with an icy glare, her expression somewhere between anger and amusement.
“My father said, 'Your boyfriend asked me a very important question concerning you,'” she imitated her father's deep voice and raised a single brow. “That’s when I knew what you did. Asked him for my hand in marriage.”
A grin curled my lips. “Well, we are getting married, Bianca.”
Her smile faltered. “Catch, we aren't. I accepted when you told me...” — she put special emphasis on those words — “...I'd be your forever woman. I'm happy with being your forever woman.”
My brows furrowed together and my teeth grit in anger. “You don’t want my last name?” I could feel the intensity of her gaze, but she quickly shifted her attention away from me and looked out the passenger window. A sharp pang of hurt coursed through my chest. “I don’t believe you,” I said, leaning toward her ever so slightly as if to challenge her response.
She whipped her head back towards me, her eyes filled with frustration. “Thanks for the home my family’s living in, the electronics for my brothers, and the private school you’ll bankroll.”
The vein on the side of my neck throbbed defiantly. “What the fuck is that supposed to mean?” I growled, feeling a fire burn inside me.
Her voice was strained when she answered. “That I appreciate what you did for my family, Catch,” she huffed before continuing in a gentler tone. “It’s not that I don’t love you.” She reached for my hand and threaded our fingers. “I just don’t want to discuss marriage again.”
My grip tightened around the steering wheel as I chewed on the corner of my lip. I was beating a dead horse. What was I missing? It was clear I royally fucked up. But I wasn’t a man who backed down from a challenge.
I brushed a soft kiss onto her knuckles while keeping my gaze on the road ahead. “Baby, you'll pay for telling me you don’t want to be my wife,” I warned her playfully as I felt her try to pull away from me. She let out an exasperated sigh, acknowledging defeat before turning away from me to stare out the window again.
***P***
The second I pulled into my parking space behind the warehouse, Bianca tapped the unlock button and jumped out of the SUV.
She stalked to the door like she had the key to get inside. That was something I had to rectify. Because my woman should always have access to her property. Bianca stood at the door with her back to me, arms crossing her chest. I sauntered toward her.
“You’re so angry with me, you didn’t check your surroundings.”
“I should’ve checked,” she muttered.
“Will you move in with your parents when I leave?” I asked as I unlocked the door.
Her lips formed a thin line as she fidgeted from foot to foot. I didn’t think she liked my question.
“No, I’ll probably stay at the playhouse.”
“It’s not safe there,” I stated as I held the door open.
Screaming and moaning filled the warehouse. Our threesome guests were loud as usual.
Bianca placed her laptop bag with the new one inside on the corner table.
After kicking the door closed, I tossed the keys and baseball cap on the dresser. I walked across the room and halted behind Bianca.
Her body went rigid against my chest.
“Catch, I’ve survived this long without you. I’ll be fine.”
I should probably stop pushing her buttons. But where was the fun in that?
“My wife would get this place. And access to my car guy.”
“Catch, that’s good to know.” Her shoulders slumped.
“Again, thank you.” Bianca stepped to the right, trying to break free.
I wrapped my arms around her waist, locking her in my embrace. “Where do you think you’re going?” I growled.
“To the bathroom,” she answered.
“You’re trying to run,” I stated against the crown of her head.
“Catch, I’m not in the mood. If you must punish me, then do so. I won’t be present. Please let me go.”
“Bianca, no. You won’t run off every time you don’t like what I have to say.”
“After I use the bathroom, I’m going to check on my best friend.”
“Go to the bathroom. When you come out, we’ll talk.” I released her.
“There’s nothing to talk about. Just go back to Jersey, Catch,” Bianca sneered as she slammed the door closed.
This was our first real fight. It was a jerk move to prod and poke the cute little kitten. Honestly, my feelings were hurt. She didn’t want to marry me. I sat on the bed and tore off my boots. She was angry with me, but I knew just how to lift her spirits.
I heard the door open as I whipped the t-shirt over my head. She attempted to walk past me dressed in her tiny tank and bed shorts. “Bianca,” I called out as I grabbed her hand, pulling her into my lap.
“Catch, can’t you give me time to calm down?”
“Why are you upset?” Again, I was still pushing her buttons.
“Just because I won’t marry you, you’re acting like an asshole. I’ll have to move in with my family until I find a safe place to live. Since you believe I’m safer somewhere else.”
She stood and walked over to our mini bar. “I’m going to sleep in the living room,” she said as she poured enough vodka in her glass for two people to drink. Bianca gulped the contents, then palmed her head.
I stalked toward her. Bianca stared through me. “When are you leaving?”
“You want me to leave because I only want to give my wife everything she deserves.”
I curled my hand around her neck, forcing her eyes on mine. “You’ll be my wife, Bianca. This place is yours, future wife.”
Her eyes softened for a beat before they switched back to cold stones.
“Tomorrow, I’ll give you a key. As much as I want you to come home to New Jersey with me, I’ll accept that you’ll live here. Temporarily. Forever woman or wife, your place is at my side.” I brushed my lips over hers.
“You don’t have to want to marry me.” A dark chuckle rumbled in my chest.
“Bombshell, you will be my wife.”
She pushed at my chest, growling as she tried to break free.
I crushed her pouty lips as I yanked her bed shorts down her legs. “Don’t you ever leave our room without clothes covering every inch of your bare skin. I don’t want another man staring at my woman’s body.”
“But they wouldn’t look at me,” she breathed.
“I don’t give a fuck,” I grumbled as my hand came down on her soft, plump ass.
Her hands shielded her ass. “Ouch, Catch.”
My large palm smoothed her warm skin.
“I love you, Bianca.”
Silence.
Gripping her chin, I brushed my lips across hers and she moaned in response. My hand roved between her legs, and I could feel the heat radiating from her core.
“Don’t, Catch,” she whispered as she inched her legs apart.
“You’re soaked, Bianca,” I murmured.
She tugged her shirt over her head, flicking it aside. “I want to make love to my forever man. No mention of marriage. Please.” Her tongue swept across my lower lip.
“Ok, baby. Just your forever man here.”
Her eyes lit up. Damn, if I could just be satisfied being her forever man.
Bianca’s hand slipped over mine between her legs. “Nice and slow, Callum. Just like that,” she whimpered.
I swept her up into my arms and felt the desire radiating off of her body.
“Fuck me good, Catch. I’m so mad at you, but at the same time I need to come,” she purred. Her arms locked around my neck.
Guess I brought the worst out of Bianca.
I shuffled us across the room until we were pressed against the wall. An electric current swept through my body. I needed her just as badly as she needed me.
“Take off your pants, Catch,” she ordered softly. Her eyes sparkled with desire and affection, sending a jolt through my veins as I realized just how deeply she really loved me.
With one hand, I unfastened my pants and pushed them down my muscled thighs. Bianca twisted her tongue around mine.
“Catch, make me come, please.”
My pants and boxers hit the floor. I stepped out of them and kicked them aside.
Our warm, naked bodies were pressed against each other.
Bianca broke our kiss and stared between us. “There it is.” Her fingers curled around my shaft.
“Give it to me, baby,” she begged.
“Do you really deserve it?” I arched a brow.
She poked out her lower lip. “I’ve been a bad girl, and you promised to punish me with your dick. Fuck me into the wall, Callum.”
I chuckled. “I’ll give your beautiful ass wall burns.”
She burst into laughter. Her lips pressed against mine as I slid my cock inch by inch inside her warmth.
My thrusts grew more intense as Bianca moaned. “Oh yeah, daddy. Give it all to me,” she begged.
“This dick is all mine.” Bianca worked her hips in a circle as I plunged into her pussy.
The fire of revenge raced through my veins as I whispered in her ear, “Damn, baby, you’ve got me so fucked up. I won’t rest until they’re all dead.”
A single teardrop trickled down her face, merging with our sweat-soaked skin.
Our eyes met and I saw the same desire for vengeance that I felt.
“Together,” she purred.
Bianca grasped my face with an intensity that only seemed to further awaken my thirst to kill. I could almost feel her begging me to make them all pay for what they did to her. She’d tell me all their fucking names. That asshole from earlier would disappear tomorrow.
My promise to take care of all of them was met with another passionate plea from her lips, “Oh fuck, Callum.”
My angry gaze raked over her gingerbread-colored skin as I pumped into her even harder. Every thrust seemed to fuel my bloodlust further until she eventually screamed out in pleasure.
“One night, I’m going to kidnap you,” I admitted against the shell of her ear.
“Catch, shut up.” Her body shook in my arms.
I was so serious. I’d kidnap my woman and lock her in our house in New Jersey. To keep her out of harm’s way. If something happened to her while I was away, I’d burn the city of Chicago to the fucking ground.
Clutching her thigh, I plowed into her pussy. Her body convulsed.
“There’s no fucking way I’ll let you live here too long without me. I mean that shit, Bianca. You can fucking visit,” I bit out as I slammed into her slick walls a final time.
“Fuck,” I yelled as my come coated her walls.
“Now you’ll make love to me,” she breathed as her fingers tangled in my hair.
I laughed. “Yes, I’ll make love to you.”
Her lips inched upwards, pushing her cheeks high. “I’m so happy you’re all mine.”
“Yeah?” I asked, grinning like the fucking crazy man I was for her.