Claimed

Epilogue

However. . .

I lay there, panting, my body trembling with the aftershocks of the orgasm.

Gianni’s weight was heavy on top of me, grounding me, reminding me that this wasn’t just a dream.

This was real.

He had really taken me.

Claimed me.

And there was no going back.

Groaning, Gianni shifted and then rolled off me. “Goddamn it. Now I want to sleep, but we have so much to do.”

I understood how he felt too.

I was surely spent myself.

He released my wrists from the belt that had held me captive, and I immediately brought my hands down to my sides, rubbing at the sore spots where the leather had bitten into my skin.

Then, he rolled onto his back and closed his eyes. “Do you understand now?”

“I’m yours.”

“Always.”

“Yes.” I went to my side, got on him, and rested my head on his chest. “However. . .that doesn’t mean I can’t be in the ballet.”

“What?”

“It just means that we have to compromise .”

This annoyed groan left him. “Princess.”

“Ballet is my passion.”

“ I am now your passion.”

“You both are my passion. Stop being jealous.”

His voice rose with anger. “You will not dance in that ballet!”

I sat up and my body felt sore. “When your cock is out, you can be my daddy, but when it is back in your pants, you are Gianni the stubborn devil, the one that needs to compromise .”

He now had his eyes open as he watched me. “You must understand that I will not let anyone else see you dance. It’s too good. You are fucking enchanting on the stage—”

“That is no excuse to—”

“I don’t need a fucking excuse!” He glared and then lowered his voice. “Okay. I’m sorry for yelling, but. . .you can dance on the stage behind our castle. It will be fully constructed in a few days. If you want, I can rush them to—”

“I don’t give a damn when that stage will be constructed. I would only use it to rehearse on and regardless I want to be in the ballet.”

It was his turn to sit up and glare at me. “We’re done with this conversation, my little bratty princess.”

I raised my voice. “I am your queen right now because this is outside shit!”

He sneered.

I shivered but did my best to keep the confidence in my voice. “And we’re not done with this conversation.”

“We are.”

“I am not one of your men.”

He glanced down at my exposed breasts. “I understand that more than you know.”

“You will not boss me around.”

“I’m fucking seeing that.” He leaned in closer until his face and mine only held an inch of space between them. “We have a busy day. Let’s bring this back up tomorrow. Perhaps, it will be a better conversation then.”

“There’s no need to bring it back up.” I scowled. “I said what I said.”

He blinked.

“And if you kill or hurt my friend, Melanique and anyone else dancing in the ballet, then I will never fucking forgive you.” I pointed at him. “Never!”

“Now listen here, I—”

“ You listen to me.” I stabbed at the air with my finger. “I am falling in love with you. I can feel it in my heart, happening so fast I can’t even grasp any logical thought to stop it.”

His expression softened, and he pursed his lips.

“And. . .I want to make this marriage work, even though I was forced into it out of nowhere, even though I don’t even know why and when you decided to marry me. I’m being patient for those answers, but goddamn it. . .since being with you last night and even now. . .I want to make us work.”

His voice was low now. “Those answers that you want will come.”

“Until then I will wait.” I lowered my hand and fixed my tattered dress so it somewhat covered my breasts. “That is compromise. I read one time in a magazine that compromise makes a marriage stronger.”

“Unfortunately, my queen, I’m not a fan of compromising—”

“I’m sure you’re not, Devil of Shadows, but I am not going to be bullied into giving up my passion. So, ask yourself this. . .and take your time with thinking it over for the rest of the day. . .what do you want?”

He leaned his head to the side. “What do you mean, what do I want?”

“Do you want a wife that loves you with all her heart, all the way down to her soul? One that dedicates her life to not only being loyal to you but making you happy?” I swallowed. “Or do you want a prisoner in your castle? A prisoner in this marriage? A prisoner in your bed? One that begins to lose all hope and starts to plot her escape or. . .”

He widened his eyes.

“Maybe, she begins to plot your death.”

He parted his lips in shock.

And then I got off the bed, before he could grab and wrap my wrists back up in that belt.

To my shock, he remained silent and stayed there.

I hoped to God he was truly thinking about those questions, really mulling them over because I was serious.

If he kept me away from that ballet—my passion—then all that love for him that had been rising in my heart. . .would slowly fall away.

And I would want him dead.

Please, Gianni. . .think about it. Do the right thing.

Not even looking back, I pushed my dress down over my butt and limped away. My pussy was too sore to stomp. And I saw a white door that I hoped was the bathroom.

When I turned the knob and opened it, I confirmed that it was.

Asshole. Sure, he’s sexy and has a great cock. But he can still be a bully asshole too.

I limped into that bathroom, slammed the door behind me, and wondered what was going on in his head.

What will you decide, Devil?