Maya’s wrist burned as Keenan dragged her down the stairs. He pulled hard enough that it felt like her wrist might tear apart. Her eyes swelled with tears as she rushed after him, nearly losing her footing multiple tis on the stairs.
He didn’t look back, not once. He just kept dragging her onward. Maya didn’t know where he was leading her, and she was too scared to speak, let alone ask. She couldn’t dare, not after what happened in the dark hallway.
She knew she was about to be punished, and it worsened her fear. She dreaded the cellar, but it could be worse than that. The fact that he didn’t say anything made her feel worse.
She frowned as she realized he was not leading her to the cellar as she had feared. Quite unexpected. Perhaps there was sowhere worse past this path, but when he stopped in front of the familiar doors, Maya was unsure how to feel.
He pushed open the doors of his bedroom. He pulled her in forcefully and then let her go so the montum slamd her against the ground.
She winced as her hands hit the ground first, an attempt to break her fall. She pulled her legs toward her, trying to put so space between them, as if that were possible when they were in the sa room.
She didn’t dare lift her fearful eyes to look at him. She couldn’t begin to guess why he had brought her here, but she knew it couldn’t be good.
"Get on your feet," he ordered as he closed the gap between them. His boots made a loud noise across the hard floor as he walked closer to her.
Maya, utterly startled, tried to scramble to her feet but failed. Her palms didn’t have the strength to lift her body off the ground. Perhaps it was the pain from hitting her hands on the ground or that she was just absolutely terrified but her limbs weren’t listening to her.
Suddenly, Keenan bent and grabbed her by the shoulder and easily pulled her upward. She slamd her teeth against each other to stop from crying out in pain.
Would he ever touch her without inflicting pain?
She was standing, but he didn’t let go of her shoulder, nor did his tight grip ease. Pain shot from her shoulders to the tip of her fingers.
Maya didn’t even want to guess what she looked like. She was doing her best to hold back her tears, but she knew she didn’t have much left before she burst into tears.
She could feel his gaze on her face, but she couldn’t lift her head to look at him. She didn’t know what to expect; she didn’t know what to do and she was convinced anything she did would only worsen this situation.
"You will sleep here," he said and pushed her so she lost her footing and fell against the bed.
Maya landed headfirst. She bounced against the bed, and horror mixed with sothing else filled her eyes. Were they going to spend the night together?
Keenan stood over her, and for the first ti since he appeared in the dark hallway, she forced herself to look up at him. Maya froze at what she found in the depths of his eyes.
She shut her eyes. She had underestimated his anger. Whatever she had thought wasn’t even close. He stood by the foot of the bed, his pants brushing her exposed legs. Her dress had hitched a little as she was pushed against the bed.
Maya’s heart sank while beating loudly. His scent filled the room, but she wasn’t sure if it was coming from him or the fact that she was in his room.
She shut her eyes even tighter. Maya knew she was distracting herself. His scent was irrelevant in this situation. She should be happy, right? Wasn’t this what she wanted? But why did she feel sick to her stomach?
Keenan dug his nails into his palm. He was so angry his vision blurred; the pain in his palm was the only way he could get a hold of himself.
He wanted to scrub her lips hard until they bled. He wanted to rip her clothes, since she could so easily throw herself at Claude.
Her fear made him mad. She didn’t need to put on this show. Shutting her eyes so tightly as though he was the devil in front of her, when she had openly accepted Claude’s advances.
What would have happened had he not had his suspicions and appeared when he did? Keenan dug his nails deeper. There was a ringing in his ears that he couldn’t ignore.
Take her away?
He would never allow that. Perhaps he should consummate the marriage after all? He took a step closer, standing between her open legs.
His movents hitched her dress higher, exposing her fair thighs—not a single scar was to be seen. Keenan felt all his blood rush downward, and he felt lightheaded. Her sll invaded his nostrils, and Keenan felt his self-control wither.
He bit the corner of his lip to snap out of it. He would be playing right into Claude’s hands. He didn’t like that. He would do as he liked in his own ti.
He turned around, not caring that he hit her leg a little too hard as he marched toward the connecting door. The door led to his study; he would spend the night there.
Maya heard a door open and only saw his back before the door slamd shut. She sat upright, confused and slightly disappointed.
"What just happened?" She asked aloud.
He was angry at her—there was no denying it. She had been certain he would hurt her. This was better, wasn’t it? But why did it leave her empty? Would she have preferred if he had taken his anger out on her?
Is that what I want?
Maya sat on the bed for a long ti as her thoughts churned, but Keenan never walked through the doors again.
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