Chapter 12

Chapter Twelve

B elle wasn’t entirely sure what was about to happen, but she knew two things. As long as Michael was up here with her, he couldn’t be downstairs hurting Isaac even more. And she also knew Michael would never hurt her, not physically, at least. But he had broken her heart when he’d attacked Isaac, even though she’d begged him not to. Why wouldn’t he just listen to her?

Michael walked away from her and sat in a chair. He crossed his ankles and rested his clasped hands in his lap, seeming completely at ease, but she knew it was a facade. Try as he might to hide it, his anger settled over the room like a heavy fog. When she didn’t move, he raised a brow. She knew the words without him even having to say them. If he had to repeat himself, there would be consequences. Would he stop even now if she asked him to? Probably. But it was better if she kept him busy until he calmed down a bit.

She removed her coat and draped it over the back of a chair.

“Everything else can just be left on the floor,” he said, when she repeated the same thing with her belt.

“Yes, my lord.” She removed everything down to her chemise and drawers and stood, waiting for his next instructions.

He didn’t give any. He just raised that irksome brow again, as if she should already know what he wanted.

“Do you want me to go to the bedpost?” She was irritated and it came through in her voice.

“No, I want you to finish removing your clothes.”

For some reason, she felt oddly vulnerable as he sat there, fully clothed, watching her every move. She removed her drawers and finally pulled her chemise over her head, allowing it to slither to the floor with the rest.

“How did you get that bruise on your hip?”

She looked down, and he was right, there was a blue mark there. “I don’t know. I didn’t even realize I had a bruise.”

“Raise your arms and turn slowly so that I can see the rest of you.”

He wanted to see if she had any other injuries. If she did, Isaac would undoubtedly pay a price for them even though he hadn’t caused them. She prayed there were no other marks on her body as she slowly turned in a circle, her arms out to her sides. She breathed a sigh of relief when he didn’t mention any.

“He didn’t hurt me, Michael. This is all just a big—” Before she could finish, he was out of the chair and across the room, looming over her.

“This body”—his hands skimmed down her back and wrapped themselves around her bottom, squeezing firmly—”belongs to me.” His head swooped down and heat engulfed her nipple as he drew it roughly into his mouth. Belle nearly choked on a gasp as desire flooded her body. “Understood?” His face was barely an inch from hers.

“Yes, my lord,” she said breathlessly.

Using her backside, he lifted her off the floor. “Wrap your legs around me.”

She quickly obeyed his order, and he carried her to the bed. Placing her on the edge, he immediately turned his attention to her other nipple, laving it relentlessly with his tongue as she squirmed and gasped for breath. What was happening? Why was he doing this instead of punishing her? She didn’t understand.

Suddenly, Michael grabbed her ankles and tipped her backwards with her legs spread wide. Before she could even register what was happening, his mouth was between her thighs. The tip of his tongue spiraled its way toward the place that was already begging for him. Pleasure burned hot within her. What was he doing to her? Why was he pleasuring her while he was angry with her? And why did she not really care? Her body thrummed with need and she didn’t want him to stop.

“Michael!” Her voice was hoarse with need. He continued to circle and her hips bucked of their own accord, trying to force him to the place she wanted him most. She felt his lips turn up in a smile against her flesh. He was purposely teasing her.

“Michael, please!” He wrapped his arms around her thighs and tugged her closer, the searing heat of his mouth finally engulfing her desperate nub.

“Oh God,” she panted. The vibrations of his low growl heightened the incredible sensations even more. His face was not quite smooth, and it prickled against her delicate skin as he moved his mouth.

“Squeeze your nipples,” he ordered, his gaze locking with hers as his tongue continued its exquisite torture.

“Don’t stop,” she begged.

“I will continue just as soon as you do as you were told.”

Without further hesitation, she grasped her nipples and a jolt of pleasure shot through her. She had never touched herself like that.

“Good girl.” With an appreciative growl, he dived back between her thighs. The pleasure that scattered through her was sharp and powerful. Each flick of his tongue had her body twitching and writhing.

Just when she thought the incredible sensations couldn’t grow any stronger, he plunged two fingers into her, forcing a desperate groan from her. The pleasure they created was so forceful, it was nearly too much for her to handle.

“Oh God, Michael.” Her voice was raspy and desperate.

The wave of ecstasy grew until finally it crested, washing over her. A loud moan tore from her throat. Her entire body convulsed, and nothing existed outside of Michael and the pleasure he was bringing her. Nothing could feel better than this moment.

When she finally calmed, Michael stood and looked down at her, but the smile on his lips was callous and smug. “Did you really think he could pleasure you better than I can?”

What was he talking about? Who could pl… Oh. Suddenly his potent anger toward her made sense. He thought Isaac was her lover. Initially, it was a bit of a relief because the idea was so ridiculously stupid, but then pain began to needle her heart. He thought she was capable of infidelity.

“Michael, it’s not what you think.” She pulled the blanket over herself. Suddenly, she didn’t want him to see her naked body.

He tugged the blanket from her grasp. “You don’t get to hide this body from me. I’ve told you, this body is mine. I will view it, and use it, however and whenever I see fit.” He held her legs wide while he opened his trousers and freed his manhood.

The usual kindness and concern that lived in his eyes had fled. They were instead filled with pain and rage. Her body was perfectly ready for him to take her, and she would no doubt enjoy it physically, but she didn’t want it like this. She didn’t want him to take her out of anger. But he wasn’t stopping. His features were stark, and his eyes glazed, almost as if he weren’t actually conscious.

“Michael, please stop.” Her quiet words seemed to register, and a look of stunned horror filled his eyes as they looked into hers. He stumbled backwards, shock still frozen on his face. He quickly righted his trousers and, without a word of explanation, fled from the room. She heard a key turn in the lock before his footsteps disappeared down the hall.

She climbed off the bed and found one of his robes to wrap around her. She had to stop him. He had locked the bedroom door, so she tried the one in his dressing room. It too was locked. Belle pounded on the door and yelled his name, but of course it was useless. If the master of the house chose to lock up his wife, no one would let her out without his permission. She slammed her palm against the solid surface.

“You stubborn oaf!” she yelled at the door.

But the truth was, this whole mess was her fault. If she hadn’t acted like a petulant child and sent Isaac that stupid letter complaining about how horrible her husband was, none of this would ever have happened. She pulled the offending paper from the pocket in her coat and tore it into pieces, scattering them across the floor before collapsing into a chair. She never wanted to see that letter again. She hated herself for ever thinking of Michael as a beast. The events that had just occurred proved that he was anything but. Her body was there for the taking, and as her husband, he had every right to it, but he hadn’t. And now, because he almost had, he was the one who thought he was a beast.

The irony wasn’t lost on her that she was now locked up, much more like the prisoner she’d thought herself to be when she’d written the stupid letter than she was then. But this time, she wasn’t going to just write a letter or have a temper tantrum. She wasn’t scared of him now. This time, she would fight back. Just as soon as he came back. For now, he’d once again abandoned her.

* * *

Michael made his way through the house in a daze. He’d nearly forced himself on his wife. Jesus. Only a monster would do that. He needed someone to punch him, repeatedly. But first, he needed some answers.

Michael walked outside and around to the side of the house where he could enter the basement. It was dank and dimly lit by lanterns, placed sporadically along the walls. He had no idea why his ancestors had built this into the house when it was erected more than a century ago but was happy to make use of it now. The man sat up as Michael approached the cell in which he was locked. O’Connell sat on a small chair across the room, whittling a piece of wood.

“Leave us,” Michael ordered.

“But Ash said not to.”

“I don’t give a damn what Ash said. This isn’t Raven House. I am the lord of this estate, and you will do as I say while you’re here.”

O’Connell held up his hands. “Yes, boss.” He held out a ring of keys that looked miniature in his oversized hands.

“Take those with you. That way you can assure Ash that I’m not here to kill the man.”

He shrugged. “I’m not sure he’d care if you did.” He tucked the keys into his pocket and made his way to the door at the end.

Michael grabbed the worn chair and placed it in front of the locked cell.

The man spoke quietly. “You didn’t hurt Belle, did you?” Even in the dim light, Michael could see blood dried on his face, and yet he was still more concerned about Belle’s safety.

“Actually, I’ve just brought her the most incredible pleasure she’s ever experienced.” Michael rubbed his fingers over his mouth to make sure his meaning was clear. The man blanched, as if the idea disgusted him.

“Well, I guess she was right. She assured me that you would never hurt her.”

“Did she?” Apparently she'd been wrong.

The man nodded. “And since that seems to be true, I have one request. I know I will likely end up dead at the end of all of this, whether it’s at your hand or at the end of a noose, and I accept that. But please don’t let Belle know. None of this was her fault, but she will blame herself anyway.”

The more the man spoke, the more confusing it all became. He clearly cared for her, and the thought was like a dagger through Michael’s heart. “Do you love her?”

“Well, yes, but not in the way you’re thinking. She’s like a sister to me.” A sad smile turned up one corner of his swollen lips. “She’s like my sister.”

Michael settled onto the chair. If they were so close, why didn’t he know anything about this man? But should that really come as such a surprise? He didn’t know much of anything about her life before they wed.

“You obviously know Belle from before she came here.”

Isaac nodded. “I began working and living at the neighboring farm about four years ago.”

“None of this makes any goddamn sense. How did you go from being a worker at the neighboring farm to crossing an ocean to, I don’t even know… Kill me, and run off with her? It was you who shot me, correct?”

Isaac blew out a long breath as he nodded. “It was. But to be fair, that was partly your own fault.”

Michael snorted. “By all means, enlighten me. How was it my fault that you shot me?”

“I had actually decided not to shoot you, but then you clipped that clay pigeon, sending it crashing down on top of me, and the gun accidentally went off.”

“But why did you want to shoot me in the first place?”

He closed his eyes for a moment, looking as exhausted as Michael felt. “I thought you were hurting her.”

Michael groaned. “You were the source of the rumors.”

Isaac nodded in confirmation.

“Jesus Christ, man. You have caused me so much headache.”

“I know. And now that I realize the truth, I am sorry.” At least the man had the decency to look penitent.

“I don’t understand. Why all the subterfuge? Why didn’t you just ask her? Belle could have simply told you she wasn’t being abused.”

“If you really were abusing her, and you saw her with me or knew that she had told me, it would have put her in danger. That’s why I took the position in your household during your house party. I thought I was being diligent.”

“So why had you decided not to shoot me?”

Isaac shrugged. “I was afraid that might just cause more trauma for Belle. Or perhaps I was just too much of a coward.”

“But if you’re not her lover, then why did you lure her to that cottage?”

“I am not her lover. I was going to get her away from here. Away from you. But when she came, she told me the truth of it.”

Every answer just brought more questions to the fore. “Why did you come back with her rather than just sending her home on her own? You easily could have escaped without being caught.”

“Of course I could have. I grew up on the streets of Boston. I’ve dealt with worse than the likes of you and your muscle.” He shrugged. “She didn’t actually know I was following her, but I needed to make sure she was safe.”

But then suddenly, Michael understood. “You came with her so that if she was caught sneaking back, I’d focus my anger on you, rather than her.”

Isaac didn’t say anything. Michael closed his eyes and let out a long sigh. “Why are you here, Isaac? Why did you cross an ocean to come and save her?”

“I made her a promise,” he said. “She came to me that night. You had just appeared and, well, turned her whole life upside down. She was scared and begged me to take her away. She even suggested I could marry her. But I could never see her as my wife, and I could never provide her the kind of life she deserves. Certainly not the lavish lifestyle a nobleman could. So I sent her back to you with the promise that if she was unhappy with you, I would come and rescue her.”

“That’s an impressive level of loyalty you have to some girl from the neighboring property.”

“Yes, well, like I said, she reminds me of my sister.”

“What happened to your sister?” Michael heard the man’s swallow even from feet away.

“I failed her. We were orphaned young, and I tried to take care of us on the streets of Boston. But clearly, I didn’t try hard enough. After—” He slowly inhaled a shaky breath and didn’t finish the sentence, but he didn’t have to. “I left Boston. Then one day, Belle appeared in my life. A happy kid with an infectious smile and a need for adventure.” A small smile tried to grow on his injured lips. “I swore I wouldn’t fail her the way I had Alena.” He looked Michael in the eye then. “For what it’s worth, my lord, I am sorry for all the trouble I’ve caused.”

It had cost him to use the words my lord, but it had served its purpose. “I think you probably are. Which leaves me with quite a conundrum. What am I going to do with you?”

“If you could see your way to not killing me, I’d be ever so grateful.” Isaac laughed cynically, a hand shooting to his ribs from the pain.

“I’m not going to kill you, Isaac. And I’m not going to have you sent to the gallows for shooting me, either. We’ll call it even.” Michael waved his hand at the injuries he’d given him.

Isaac’s breath whooshed out in a rush of relief. “Truly?”

Michael nodded. The man had crossed an ocean and condemned himself to death all to keep Belle safe. There had to be some value in that. “Unfortunately, until I figure out what I am going to do, you’re going to have to stay in there. I will have some food brought down for you, though.”

“Did I mention I grew up on the streets of Boston? This is positively luxurious compared to that.”