This time she didn’t need to read his expression. She could hear the fierce determination in his voice, the intent lurking beneath the words. “You mean, you want me tied up.”
“If that’s how you prefer we do it next time.” A blatantly sexual undertone rippled through his dark voice. “I’m sure I can accommodate you.”
“Cut it out, Lucius.”
“I don’t think I can.” He approached, his movements as sleek and graceful as a lion on the prowl. “I want you tied up, tied down, tied to me. I don’t want to give you room to escape.”
She stared at him in bewilderment. “Who said I planned to escape?”
“I’m committed, Angie. We’re committed. We just made the big announcement to the Ridgeways. There’s no going back now and I can’t take the risk that you might change your mind.”
What in the world was going on? “I understand that, and I have no intention of going back or changing my mind.”
“I intend to make certain of it. Tomorrow the ring. Monday, we’ll apply for a marriage license. I have no idea if there’s a waiting period. If so, we wait. If not…” He shrugged. “No point in wasting the opportunity. We can have it over and done with right then and there.”
“Over and done with?” She felt her temper slip and slowly stood. Mikey had fallen asleep once again, and without a word, she set the bottle aside and carried him to his crib. She sensed Lucius following, and turning, found him leaning against the doorjamb. “Lights on or off?” she asked crisply.
“Off. There’s a night-light that comes on automatically when the sensor registers the darkness.”
Sure enough, it flickered to life, a cute little teddy bear, holding its paw to its muzzle in a shh gesture. Without a word Angie brushed past Lucius and returned to the living room. There, she spun around to face him.
“I realize I entered this devil’s bargain with my eyes wide open when I agreed to take on this new job.” She used the final word deliberately, because despite everything he’d said, that’s really how he saw it. “And that our marriage isn’t what anyone would remotely consider normal. But it isn’t something I plan to get over and done with. I won’t be rushed. Nor will I be treated with such casual indifference.”
“So you do want a few ribbons and bows, despite what you claimed.”
It hurt. His callous disregard hurt more than she could possibly express. And it was her own fault. He’d been totally up-front about what he wanted from their marriage. He hadn’t pretended to love her or have any feelings for her other than pure sexual desire.
Anger warred with hurt. “I need you to back off and stop rushing me. I need time to get used to this crazy idea I’ve agreed to. It hasn’t even been twenty-four hours since you asked me to marry you. I’m not sure it’s even been six! It’s all happening too quickly. I need you to slow down, give me time to adjust.”
Frustration flashed across his expression and he paced the length of the room. “Benjamin isn’t well. Fortunately, it’s not his heart, but it’s clear the stress of losing Geoff is affecting him. Affecting them both. If we marry—soon—they may realize they can’t argue I’m unfit or that Mikey won’t have a stable home life. In addition, they like you. They may conclude that, although it’s not what they originally wanted, they can live with our retaining custody if I grant them liberal visitation rights. Maybe they’ll finally realize trying to take on a baby at this stage in their life would be too much for them, particularly after Benjamin’s anxiety attack.”
“All excellent points. That doesn’t mean we need to marry first thing Monday. We have time.”
“No.” He cut her off with a slashing jerk of his arm. “I don’t want to give them that time. I want to push forward while—”
“While what, Lucius? While they’re weak? Hurting?”
He swore. “Damn it, Angie. I have my reasons for moving up the timeline and they’re sound. I expect you to respect my decision without arguing.” He thrust a hand through his hair, regarding her with open frustration. “You never gave me this much trouble when you were my PA. Stop fighting me on this.”
“Stop pushing.” She planted her hands on her hips. “I’m warning you, Lucius Devlin. If you don’t want your apprentice/wife to become your ex-fiancée before you even have a chance to buy an engagement ring, I suggest you give me a little breathing room.”