November Harlequin Presents 2(209)

‘Like what?’

‘Like consummating this marriage.’

‘Hunter…’ She opened her mouth to protest, wanted so badly for him to talk to her, to reveal a bit more of himself to her, but, as always, when she ventured too far into his guarded thoughts Hunter shot her away with a silver bullet.

‘No arguments,’ he said softly. ‘You’re my wife now and you’ll do as I say.’

‘Joking,’ he added, as Lily stiffened in his arms, her eyes narrowing at his choice of words.

‘Well, it wasn’t very funny,’ Lily responded. ‘Because if you think—’ He didn’t let her finish, stopping her protest with his mouth. But nothing, not even his skilful kisses, could completely hush the incessant voice that told her Hunter hadn’t been joking. Nothing, not even the mastery of his touch, could completely obliterate the troubled thoughts that tumbled through her mind.

That by stepping into Hunter’s world, by becoming his wife, somehow she’d lost control. That no matter how willing a participant she was in this relationship, it was Hunter calling all the shots.





CHAPTER NINE




‘SHOULD we go to Emma’s dressing room and wish her luck?’ Clutching a glass of champagne, hemmed in by the masses having a pre-performance drink, Lily suddenly felt claustrophobic.

‘Why?’ Hunter shot her a cool stare. Since he’d come from work he’d been at his bloodiest, snapping for her to hurry up and get ready then proceeding to spend half an hour on his phone to Abigail as Lily stood, dressed to the nines, waiting to leave for Emma’s return to the stage.

‘How was work?’ Hunter asked, a seemingly normal question, but with indescribable connotations. Her need to assert herself, to keep a link with her temporary past and inevitable future was a niggling bone of contention.

‘Difficult,’ Lily bristled. ‘It’s hard, showing you can relate to people when you arrive in a chauffer-driven car.’

‘Don’t go, then.’ Hunter shrugged, deliberately missing the point. She wanted to work, wanted to keep that part of herself that was so vital to her soul. No matter how big the donation Hunter had made for the centre she worked at, no matter how easy it would be for them to find another counsellor, hell, maybe even a real psychologist now—still it didn’t sit right with Lily, and no matter how many times she attempted to explain, quite simply Hunter didn’t get it. But she knew with certainty that he didn’t need to be quite so poisonous.

He was undoubtedly nervous, Lily told herself. Emma’s return to performing was such a momentous leap that it wasn’t any wonder he was on edge—but Hunter on edge was like no other. In fact, Lily decided, marriage to Hunter was like struggling through a thesaurus without a dictionary.

Easy to describe—impossible to define.

In the weeks since their wedding, every emotion in her had been triggered—every second spent with Hunter a roller-coaster ride—intoxicating highs, followed by devastating lows. His easy wit, his engaging company, his voracious appetite for sex countered with black moods that no longer blew in from nowhere. Instead, they were tiny whirlwinds that danced endlessly on the horizon, merging unpredictably, and each time their impact was more devastating.

‘Anyway.’ Hunter reverted back to the original topic. ‘The dressing room’s no doubt a bit crowded. Your cousin Jim’s down with her, no doubt fawning all over her.’

‘Good,’ Lily shot back. ‘She deserves a bit of tenderness.’

He didn’t reply, the ringing of his phone beating the undoubted barb on the tip of his tongue, and Lily felt her own teeth grinding together as Abigail somehow managed to invade yet again. Hunter turned his wide shoulders on the crowd to take the call as Lily took a sip from her glass, and promptly felt as if she might throw it up, the crowd, the heavy clash of perfumes, the rather toxic atmosphere all combining to make her feel thoroughly miserable.

‘What’s wrong?’ Hunter asked when finally the call ended and the bell went for everyone to take their seats.

‘I’m just a bit hot.’

‘That was just Abigail, confirming that Emma’s flowers had been delivered—if that’s what’s worrying you.’

‘It isn’t.’ Lily shook her head and wished she hadn’t. The room was spinning mercilessly, not that Hunter noticed. He was taking her arm to guide her in as the crowed surged forward, and for an appalling moment Lily thought she might pass out, right there in front of everyone, and, worse still, right there in front of Hunter. ‘I’m just going to the ladies’ room.’