Je Suis a Toi (Monsters in the Dark #3.5)(51)

She’d kept my beast alive and in control of me. And now that I’d shackled that part, she acted as if I’d broken something perfect between us.

Daily, she tried to undermine my control, doing her best to coerce me into letting go. She couldn’t be trusted anymore, and if I couldn’t trust her, how the hell could I trust myself?

I wanted more. I wanted to drive deep inside her and do what I hadn’t been able to do. That animalistic craving of making her pregnant consumed my thoughts. She made me feel less like a man. Unworthy. Not the man I knew. And I hated it.

If she wanted to talk about our issues on unknown territory in Paris, then fine.

Maybe it was for the best.

Pressing the intercom to my secretary outside, I snarled, “Call the helicopter. Je veux être au Ritz immédiatement.” I want to be at the Ritz immediately.

*

“Welcome to the Ritz, Mr. Mercer.”

My temper was about to snap. I couldn’t be around anyone other than my wife. And even then, I needed a room between us, so I didn’t raise my hand in discipline. What if she’d been taken from me again? What if any number of things happened while I was at work and not able to protect her?

Damn her.

Fuck her.

She was going to get a spanking. Multiple. Screw my vow to keep her safe from me.

“The key to the presidential suite.”

The manager handed it over, well trained in recognizing the needs of clients and knowing when to shut the hell up. The moment the key hit my palm, I strode toward the bank of elevators and the private one reserved for the suite on the top floor.

Stepping inside the silver box, I punched the button to ascend.

I had no luggage. No belongings.

But I didn’t need anything because my wife was waiting for me and I would cart her home even if it meant the public saw me dragging her by her hair.

I wouldn’t tolerate such things.

Not when it made me so f*cking worried about her.

The elevator opened. I stormed out, slamming the keycard into the ornate double-breasted door, and entering the suite.

Stalking through the opulent space with marbled living room, kitchen, and games room, I found Tess coming out of the bathroom.

A towel wrapped around her head showed off her swan neck with the silvery brand. Her willowy body was covered with an oversized hotel towel, hiding so much of her from view.

The moment her eyes met mine, she froze. “Wow, that was fast.”

Instead of doing what I wanted—bolting toward her and slamming her on the bed—I took a step back, locking my hands on the doorjamb of the bedroom. “You’re coming home with me. Now.”

Her chin tilted. “No, I’m not. I want to spend the night with you here. I miss you, Q. I want what we used to share.” Her fingers went to the towel on her head, unwrapping it and letting damp blonde curls cascade over her milky skin. Boldly, she tugged at the knot on her chest, stepping from the second towel and revealing her stunningly naked figure.

My fingernails stabbed into the doorframe, holding me back with strained willpower. “Tess, put some f*cking clothes on.”

Her lips curved. “Make me.”

“I’m not coming near you.”

“Why?”

“You know why.”

Her gaze hooded as she stepped toward me, bringing temptation directly to my door. “I do know why and I want it. I want it so much, Q. I need you. Please, we both know vanilla isn’t working. It’s not satisfying either of us.”

“Reste loin.” Stay away.

Tess ignored me. Her hands landed on my belt, quickly undoing it and yanking it from the belt loops.

I saw red. I saw pleasure. I saw damnation.

“Tess…”

“Yes, ma?tre.”

“Get away from me.”

Instead of obeying, she kneeled at my feet, holding my belt in outstretched hands. “Make me.”

Oh, my f*cking God.

I swayed as the animal inside sprang and snarled, demanding to maul her and take what I’d wanted to take for weeks.

My teeth almost cracked I clenched so hard. “I can’t.”

“You can.” Her eyes narrowed with grey-blue fire. “And do you know why?”

I didn’t reply, focusing too much on fighting her temptation.

“Because that night five weeks ago, when you took me drunk and bare, was the night you achieved what you wanted. The past month of mollycoddling and chaste kisses have been for nothing.”

I froze.

I couldn’t speak.

But Tess didn’t need prompting. Swatting her own thigh with my belt, I hissed at the pink welt left on her perfect skin. “I have a secret.”

My frustration deepened as she ran the belt between her thighs. “I’ve been keeping something from you.”

The insane need to punish her for such a thing overtook me. I struggled to bite the words. “What? What have you been keeping secret?”

Was she sick?

Unhappy?

Because right now, I was both those things. Sick with want and desperately unhappy for not having the freedom I adored between us.

She smiled coyly. “I’m fine. However, I do have some information you might want to know.”

I trembled in place. “Spit it out, Tess.”

Raising her eyebrow, she whispered, “I’m pregnant.”