Chapter 22

Cassie

The last thing I wanted to do was eat with him but I was trapped in this marriage now and I had to make an effort. It was the only thing that would make it liveable. We had to learn to live together or at least learn to be civil to each other. Especially in public.

Not that the privacy of our home was public but it would be good practice.

It took me ten minutes of sitting on the sofa and staring at nothing before I felt strong enough to stand and go and find him.

It had taken me that long to get over the tingly feeling in my hands where I had touched his naked skin. Such a strange feeling. Like static electricity was flowing through me anytime I was near him.

Probably just my dislike for him. I chuckled to myself as I wandered through our too big house. He wasn't in the kitchen which was where I usually ate my meals.

"I am in here Cassie." His voice called to me and I turned towards the formal dining room. Pushing open the door I took in the sight in front of me. He'd had the table set.

There were so many knives and forks laid out by my plate that the lights made them sparkle and I had to squint against the glare.

"You didn't change." He studied me from his place as I took my seat.

"I didn't know I was meant to. Are we expecting company?" Ignoring his pointed look I picked up one of the spoons and began to eat the soup. Which was delicious. But then again everything I had eaten here had been delicious.

Julian watched me with raised eyebrows. "Are you not going to ask me what spoon you should use? I noticed you struggled with good table etiquette when we were at the palace." Julian's handsome face creased into a cruel smile. He was trying to get a rise out of me.

"No." I sipped at the spoon and closed my eyes. "This food is meant to be enjoyed. So I am going to enjoy it." I slurped loudly and his eyes blazed.

"You are eating like an animal." He growled out as I slurped away. "How do you expect people to like you, if you can't even act like a lady?"

"Would acting prim and proper make you like me?" I dropped the spoon to the table and stared at him.

"Maybe."

I picked up the spoon again with a laugh and wolfed down the last of the soup in my bowl. If he thought the possibility of him liking me was going to get me to change my eating habits he was in for a shock. I liked food. Julian had already meddled in every aspect of my life. I wasn't going to let him take away my love of eating.

He stared at me but instead of blowing up like I expected him to, he threw his head back and laughed.

"You really are something else Cassie." He said, shaking his head. "I was warned you were."

I froze. "What do you mean you were warned?" My voice shook with nerves.

"I spent the day speaking to your acquaintances." He answered smoothly and my anger replaced the nerves.

"How dare you." The chair fell back with a crash I stood up so quickly. "How dare you-"

"Forrest was very informative." His smile grew wider and wider and my heart fell. If he knew about Forrest and I meeting for breakfast then things were going to go really badly for me. He would presume the worst.

"You haven't hurt him have you?"

Julian moved so quickly that his arm was a blur. Catching me around the waist he drew me between his thighs. So I was trapped there.

"Why would I hurt him, Cassie?" His fingers squeezed at my hips. It was uncomfortable but not painful. The discomfort came because his touch was again doing weird things to my body.

"Because you care for him?" He taunted. "Would I do such a thing?" His voice was mocking.

"Yes, I can't believe you. You're an asshole and -" I tried to tear myself away from his hands but it was impossible. I may as well have been trapped in a vice.

"Easy now." Julian growled and pulled me in closer. Even sitting down , he seemed to tower over me. He filled every space

Even the space in my lungs. It was like his scent filled me and it was hard to breathe. He was suffocating me just with his presence.

"Be careful Cassie." He warned. "I am your husband." Reaching up he pressed his finger to my lips. "Now I know that means nothing to you so maybe try and remember I am your boss as well." Back and forth he rubbed his finger across my lips and the dark look in his eyes was unreadable. "You should make more of an effort to be nice to me."

My lips parted and the tip of one finger slipped into my mouth.

My heart stopped.

His sped up, I could hear it so clearly. Thundering against his chest.

"Your friend is fine. We just spoke. He cares about you a lot." He said finally and I let out a sigh of relief. My hot breath blew over his hand and he trembled.

"I would like you to join me at a party this weekend." He was breathing as heavily as I was. His finger still pressed against me.

God I hated him. Just like I knew he hated me but the attraction between us was out of the world. Maybe because we hated each other so much.

"I have-"

"No you don't." He slipped his finger fully into my mouth and my lips closed around it before I could think about it. "Maybe I wasn't clear. You will be accompanying me. Remember what I just said Cassie. It will be better for you if you are nice to me."

I swallowed hard, not because of his words which were bad enough but because a wave of nausea rushed up my throat.

"I'm going to-" I tore myself out of his arms and ran. I had never run so fast in my entire life but I barely got to the bathroom in time.

The soup came back up in a rush , and it wasn't so nice coming back up. Gagging and retching, I finally fell backwards. Resting my sweaty cheek against the cool sink.

The soup must have been bad? Or maybe it had been my disgusting husbands finger in my mouth.

Or maybe-

My eyes found my toiletries. And the blue box that stood unopened.

I frowned at it.

Oh no.

Oh please goddess no.