Page 14 of Bones

She picks up her fork and eats the roast my chef made yesterday. I watch her eat and attempt to ignore the satisfaction in my chest. This ridiculous fucking feeling of wanting to take care of her. It’s fucking stupid, so I shove it away. There’s no room for any emotional bullshit. There’s no room in my life for weakness, and I simply will not allow it.

“This is good. Did you cook it?”

I laugh as I take a seat across from her. “No. I probably couldn’t cook toast without burning it. My chef made it.”

Glancing up at me, she giggles. “Of course you have a chef.”

I nod in agreement, because there is nothing good in this life I don’t have.

She smirks at me. “Although you should know, they make these things called toasters. The bread automatically pops up when it’s done. No risk of burning it. You should look into them. I’m pretty sure you could afford one.”

“Smartass.”

Athena glances up at me, and flashes me the first genuine smile I’ve seen on her face. “Always.”

Her eyes change when she smiles, and I’ve seen some truly beautiful women, but nothing like this. It reminds me of seeing the mural on my ceiling for the first time. The way the colors all come together with absolute perfection. Like the Goddess Athena, she has a strength to her I didn’t expect. My future wife has vulnerabilities like any other person, but also a fight that I’ll enjoy. One she’ll need to survive me.

After she helps me clean up for dinner, I glance at the time and notice how late it is.

“It’s ten o’clock. You need to rest before tomorrow.”

CHAPTER TEN

BONES

“What are we doing?” She asks when I take her up to the bedroom.

I glance at her and smirk at her nervous energy. She thinks I’m going to fuck her and I plan on it, but not tonight.

“Going to bed.”

Her eyes widen to the point of her looking like the most adorable cartoon character, and I chuckle. “To sleep, Butterfly.”

Athena folds her arms over her chest defiantly. “You have a billion rooms in this mansion. There’s no reason I should need to sleep in here.”

Oh, there are many reasons I want her in my bed. I want to smell that sweet vanilla scent of her skin. Feel her soft body against mine. Listen to whatever sounds she makes in her sleep. I want it all, but I won’t tell her that.

“There are not a billion rooms, Butterfly. There are eight bedrooms, but this is where you’ll be sleeping, unless you prefer the comfort of your cage. I cannot trust you. Keep your friends close, keep your enemies closer.”

Athena gasps loudly, almost as if she’s offended. “Maybe you shouldn’t marry your enemies, and you wouldn’t have to worry about it.”

The angry little scowl on her face makes my dick hard as a rock. It would be so easy to hold her down and shove my cock deep inside her pussy. I bet it would wipe that angry fucking look from her face.

“There are toiletries in the bathroom. Go use them, and get your ass into bed.”

She stomps her feet and slams the door behind her like a little brat, which is exactly what she is. I should go in there, bend her overthe sink and spank her ass, but if I do that, I’m going to fuck her. I only have so much restraint, and seeing red marks from my hand on her skin would destroy it.

Athena steps out of the bathroom and notices I’ve taken my pants off. She stares at my cock with surprise. “No,” she breathes.

Chuckling, I say, “Yes. I always sleep naked, and you will too once we’re married.”

I get into bed and pat the mattress beside me. “Come on.”

She grumbles to herself, “How is this my life?”

Walking over to the bed, she gets in beside me and instantly turns away from me, which is just fine. It’s her ass I want, anyway.

Brushing her hair from her neck, I press my nose against her skin and inhale. Fuck. She smells amazing. Feminine. I wrap my arm around her waist, and run my fingers under her shirt so I can touch her skin.

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