Page 38 of Lamb

I wasn’t holding my breath. But I also wasn’t ashamed to admit Iwaslooking for something I could stab him with. If it came to that. “The same thing you want, Tate.”

“And what’s that?” He took three slow steps in my direction. I didn’t bother turning around to look at him. But I could sense him looking at me. Like a lion hunting a gazelle. Except he failed to realize who was who in this scenario.

I had nothing to lose. I didn’t give a shit if he killed me. But he did. Which also meant I had everything to gain. “For you to be able to fuck whomever you want, whenever you want. Without worrying that your wife might find out,” I explained.

Tate heaved out a loud laugh, closer to a howl, as he threw his head back. He was standing in front of me now. Slowly lowering himself onto the coffee table so that I was trapped between his spread legs and the sofa. “And why would you want that, sweetheart? I mean, I know whyI’dwant that but why would you? What’s the catch?”

He reached out and grabbed my chin, a little too rough for my liking. I tugged it free and shifted back on the cushion. “No catch. I don’t care what you do, Tate. Or who you do it with. And I have no intention of pretending like I do.”

It was the truth. At the very least, it was close enough to the truth that I wasn’t lying.

“No.” One word, and that was it. Tate stood to his full height before strolling back towards the door again. This time I watched him go.

“What do you meanno?”

“I mean, no, I don’t believe you. I don’t give a shit either.” He grinned as he crossed his arms over his chest and leaned a shoulder against the door. “Let’s get one thing straight, MissCruz. I’m going along with this whole thing for one reason and one reason only.”

“Your fath—” I started to say, only to have Tate rush forward and spit in my face.

“Fuckmy father. He’s two steps from his grave and too fucking stubborn to jump in it.” Tate lifted an arm and grabbed my cheek, pinching as he leveled me with a glare. “But don’t you worry your pretty little head about that. When the time’s right, I’ll give him a nice little shove. And then it’s just you and me, my darling bride.”

He dropped his hand and I rubbed the sting away. “If not your father, then what’s the reason? Why me?”

Tate paced across the area rug, stepping over the corner he kicked up with his shoe instead of fixing it. “You know what? You’re right. If we are going through with this whole thing, we should be on the same page. United front and all that. I don’t need to be the enemy, Marisela. In fact…” He closed the distance, shoving me down on the sofa as he slid a knee between my thighs. His mouth closing over mine in asloppy kiss that consisted of too much tongue and not enough toothpaste. “We could even be friends.”

I shoved him off me and wiped the remnants of his saliva from my lips. Secretly hoping some of Adrian’s cum didn’t make it down my throat. The asshole deserved the salty taste of his brother’s backwash.

“I don’t think so,” I grunted, and Tate laughed.

“Suit yourself.” He shrugged. “But these are my terms. Take them or leave them. I will fuck whoever I want, whenever I want. And you’ll keep your mouth shut about it.”

“Those aren’t really ter?—”

Tate lifted a finger. “I’m not done. Now, as I was saying, you’ll keep your mouth shut about what I do. And I’ll go as far as to turn a blind eye at whatever it isyoudo.”

“As in?” I pressed.

“As in, I don’t give a fuck who you fuck, Marisela… as long as it isn’t my brother.” He smirked, watching my face again. Waiting for my reaction.

“I wasn’t aware you had a brother,” I countered, meeting Tate’s seething glare with one of my own.

Hetskedhis tongue. “Come now, we both know that’s a lie, sweetheart. Why do you think you’re here if not because of the special interest he took in you?” When I didn’t respond, he sighed. “It’s simple as this: fuck my brother and I’ll make sure your ass is tossed back in that looney bin quicker than you can saykum…quat. But keep those legs closed and the world is your oyster.”

“One condition,” I countered. “I want a job. A permanent position at Prescott R&D.”

He watchedmy face for a moment.

“And I don’t want to be forced to raise your little bastards. No children outside this marriage.” I took a deep breath before adding, “Push them down the stairs, take a coat hanger to their uteruses—I don’t give a damn what lengths you have to go to. Just ensure it doesn’t happen.”

I could see the wheels spinning in his head, his eyes crinkled at the sides and his jaw set tight. Tate didn’t know if he should be pissed off or impressed. What I did know was that the asshole was turned on again. His poor excuse for a dick pressing against his zipper as he rubbed himself through his pants before one side of his mouth started tugging upwards.

“You want to work? Then work until those boney fingers are nothing but nubs, darling. Make yourself the COO, for all I care. I don’t give two shits about what you do as long as it isn’thim.”

Tate was on his feet again, straightening the seam of his pants and buttoning his jacket before stalking towards the door. I sighed under my breath, more pleased with myself than I should be before he called over a shoulder.

“Oh, and, Marisela? It’s in your best interests not to disappoint me on our wedding night. A groom expects his bride to be…intact. I mean, think about it. What’s more binding than a blood oath?” He took note of the confusion on my face. Probably the disgust too, whether or not he realized it was there was beside the point. Seeing as whatever he was thinking only had him grinning wider. “Make no mistake, dear. Regardless of whereI’m getting my dick wet, you will be performing your wifely duties.”

I schooled my features and steeled my spine. “I’m not sucking you off, Tate.”

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