THE CONTROL: An Arranged Marriage Romance by Elena Monroe (ebook reader android .txt) 📕

cheeks flushed a warm pink, and her eyes were a kind of blue that seemed crystalized. She was practically swooning at the idea of me marking her.

Too bad it was going to be the only time I marked her, as far as I was concerned. 

Her excited voice spoke at the exact moment her mother looked outraged, “Is that allowed? Can it be a tat-” Her words were cut off when her stepdad, King of Denmark, grasped her mom’s hand to take control of the emotions running rampant on his side of the table. “No one is marking her skin like that. She’s pure and innocent. It wasn’t an easy road keeping her desirable.”

My fists balled up under the table from anger at his words. I wanted to kill him right there, and I could already see my plan unfolding in my mind of how easy it would be.

Unlike Khaos, my hands weren’t even close to clean. I wasn’t a stranger to death, hell, I felt like death more than Death himself. I took pleasure in taking the lives I did and I wasn’t ever remorseful.

Eve’s stepdad would just be another notch on my proverbial bedpost. Little demons I create out of dead men who sit on my conscience and await my arrival to hell.

Stretching across the table, my dad’s hand tried to reach me in order to hold me back from the vile spew he knew was coming—unsuccessfully, no doubt. Staring right into the eyes of her deranged King, I made sure my voice was calm, “Desirable? Pure and innocent? Are you so sure I didn’t fuck her halo crooked already?”

None of it was true, but if my cold exterior could convince him that she was no longer an angel then he’d be forced to meet my demands.

The King of Denmark was, dare I say it, biting his brutal tongue when I challenged him to question me. He may be royal somewhere else, but this was my town, my cult, my upper hand that just slapped him in the face. He asked for seconds when his mouth fell open, “Do you think I’m stupid? You're bound by your rules as much as I am.”

Rules. Ironic rules. Overbearing rules.

Rules that claim purity until the vows are exchanged.

Rules that bind us to chosen wives.

Rules that everyone has broken, except me.

Standing up, I maneuvered myself behind Eve’s chair, clasping my hand gently around her throat to hold her wild ideas of fucking me captive as I forced her head back. Bending down, I made her think I was going to kiss her before moving her head to the side at the last second. My lips collided with the delicate skin of her neck while I kept my eyes on his.

Her skin was warm, and I could finally breathe in her scent up close. The strong aroma of cashmere, old books, and a spice of arousal that had my balls in a vice.

I wanted her but not in the same ways. I wanted her to fill parts of me that have been vacant since she left. She just wanted me to fill her—period. 

My hand grazed down her neck lazily when her fingers laced with mine trying to keep me close. Watching her legs rub together and her mouth split wide open, I knew she was awaiting more.

I wanted to whisper that I was protecting her now instead of her protecting me.

“You were saying? Something about rules… I’m making some new ones. Accept the changes to the contract, or good luck finding someone who wants my sloppy seconds.” Vicious undertones didn’t cover it, and I realized that I couldn’t take my hand back now without letting the whole room see just how much I was lying.

Forced to stay behind Eve with my fingers still woven with hers, I barked at the room, “Get the fuck out.”

Her mom looked terrified; I’m sure no one spoke to the King and Queen that way in Denmark.

Terrified or not, she still got up to leave the room with no push back while my parents stayed in their seats, waiting for the room to clear.

Collecting my marked-up contract, my mother spoke, “I’m proud of you, Bowen.” Her hand brushed over my shoulder as her attention focused on the lawyer at the other end of the table, writing down whatever he needed to.

Feeling the sheer force of her eyes to leave, he stood up, fumbling to gather his things before offering a demure, “I’ll have new contracts sent over tomorrow.”

The conference room emptied, and as soon as it did, I ripped my hand from her grasp. My chair had been pushed out crooked and my jacket was barely hanging off the back, bringing my attention to the ring box still waiting in its pocket.

Turning back to Eve, her ass was now planted on the edge of the underused conference table with her palms resting on the surface between her legs. Holding eye contact with me, she slowly spread her legs even further, making me swallow the lump in my throat.

Her dress was pushed up from her legs being so far apart and I could see a small patch of fabric covering her pussy even with her arms in the way.

I’m a prude, but I’m still a guy who can catalog this for later.

“What are you doing?” I knew exactly what she was doing. Somehow asking was the only thing that came to mind.

Removing her hands from their spot between her legs, she leaned back, giving me a perfect view, but I forced my eyes to stay with hers. “That was impressive…”

Taking a big step closer to the corner of the table where she was perched, I caught her chin with my thumb, forcing her face up until every ounce of sexiness drained from the moment. “You want to thank me?