All The Ways To Ruin A Rogue(58)

            Oh, the gall! She blew out an angry breath. “I’m sick unto death of men . . . you being able to live the life you want . . . and if I step even a fraction outside my mandatory box—”

            “Sodom is only a fraction?” he cut in.

            She ignored him. “If I want even a fraction of the freedom you enjoy, I’m bullied and threatened. By you more than anyone else! Go ahead. Do your worst. While you’re at it, tell him about my caricatures, too. Tell him everything!” She pushed the door open and stepped down before he could stop her. Outside at the door, she turned to glare at him. “Do it.” Her chin lifted. “I dare you . . .”

            “Aurelia . . .” he said warningly, moving to climb down after her.

            She didn’t linger. She was too angry. Lifting her skirts, she started down the walk, opening the gate and passing through it, hastening when she heard him behind her. She didn’t make it very far. His tread quickened, hard footfalls that matched the pounding of her heart. His hand clamped on her arm and whirled her around.

            Her head fell back to look up at his shadowed features. She didn’t give him time to say anything before charging ahead. “You think you shall remain unscathed in all this if you tell him? You forget you were there with me both times I went to Sodom. Each of those ruinous times. And you did not even tell him about the first time a year ago. How will he view you after that? You, his supposed closest friend?”

            She was grasping at straws. She knew it. Will would be furious with Max, no doubt, but it would take something far greater to ruin their friendship.

            “That’s a risk I’ll take,” he said.

            “I’ll tell him,” she vowed.

            For a moment he said nothing. She tasted his breath so very close to her own, but she was not certain he heard her or understood her meaning until he said, “About us?”

            She nodded. “Last week . . . behind the house.”

            “He . . .” His voice faded.

            “Would be very upset,” she finished. “A man’s sister is off limits, no?”

            His hand came around the back of her neck, hauling her up on her tiptoes. Nearly covering her mouth with his, he growled, “Are you trying to rope me into marriage, Aurelia? Is that what you want?”

            His words struck a blow to her heart—and shook her to the core. “N-No! I—”

            “Because that is what would happen if you did such a thing. And I promise you, marriage to me . . . you would regret it every day of your life.”

            A small shiver rolled through her at the threat. He meant it. The notion of being married to her was so very repellent to him that he would punish her if it came to pass. She swallowed against the lump in her throat. “I’m certain you would make sure of that.”

            “It would not be so difficult a feat. I’m not made for matrimony, Aurelia. Even if I find you tempting—” He stopped abruptly, as if he had said too much. More than he intended.

            “You find me . . . tempting?”

            A long beat of silence ensued before he ignored her question and said, “You must promise me not to go back to Sodom.”

            She narrowed her gaze, not liking his tone. “I must?”

            “Yes. I forbid it.”

            “You forbid it?” She inhaled sharply, everything inside her tightening with affront. She stepped back, severing the contact of their bodies.

            He clamped one hand on her wrist, stopping her from completely fleeing. “I will have that promise from you or—”