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Cam

The words leave her mouth and I freeze, my entire body going so rock hard I feel that a stiff breeze would shatter me into a million tiny pieces. Sure, maybe I deserve this for treating her like garbage and then allowing my lust to overtake me.

Maybe it’s because I used her to stick it to Lettie. Maybe it’s because instead of telling her that now that I have had her, I can’t envision my life without her, I’ve just told her about the convenience of it all and expect her to blindly accept.

Whatever the case, I feel fate and whatever bitch is working my life laugh her arse off and spit in my eye.
The museum wants her back?

Days ago, I would have laughed at such an innocuous statement and shrugged it off like I do most every problem that arises. I’m a solver. I look at a problem, see how to fix it, and then just go full out to get things exactly the way I want them.

Just look at the way I’d manipulated and maneuvered Shaw.

But this…

I’d looked into it more in-depth if you will, after the impassioned speech she’d given me, and what I’d found was a revelation. Shaw had worked her arse off in high school and earned a full ride to NYU. She’d then spent three and a half years killing herself to graduate early so that she could be a shoo-in for an internship at a very prestigious museum that does not generally hire “fresh meat” right out of the lecture halls.

My baby had earned her spot by the blood and sweat of her brow and been one of the best in her state. The fact that they’d given her a spot almost immediately tells me that she’s not only hard working, but also smart enough to have made a mark even in such a short time.

But that’s not what worries me. No, my angst comes from the fact that she’s getting a second chance at something that was obviously a dream that she’d lost due to these unfortunate circumstances. A dream that she may not walk away from.

A dream that could rip her out of my hands before I’ve fully claimed her.

Gathering myself, I slam the door shut when she opens it and lean in, trapping her between the wood and my naked body.

“You can’t…Mum and Dad would be devastated if you left us now, Shaw.”

And me.
But I don’t say that. I keep that inside because to tell her that it would fell me when the chances of her saying no are so high…emotional suicide.

“This has been something I wanted since I was seventeen. I worked so hard for it that when I lost it I cried for a week,” she whispers, turning in the circle of my arms and leaning back into the door.

Her purple eyes are alight with something I can’t define, but she meets me head on, her expression hard, and yet, I think I see some sort of hope lurking in the depths.

“Please understand.”

“What? That you have a home here with people who love you and all you can think about is some stupid dream that won’t get you anywhere?!” I yell, breathing heavily and leaning down into her face. “Mark me now, Shaw. This will not happen so you may as well get that out of your head.”

Her expression turns mulish, and I realize I’ve only worsened the problem with my stubborn arrogance.

“Yes, it will! You can’t make me stay.”

“Ah, but you’re wrong. Would it surprise you to know that I have a friend on the board of that museum you want to run to? No? Good. Because I do. One phone call and I’ll have you right back where I want you. Without options. Don’t make me do this, Shaw.”

“You’d do that just to save face? Look, I know that you don’t want people talking about…well, I guess I’d be leaving you, or it would seem that way but—”

“Not seem! It would be that way, and they’d be bloody right. I’ve offered you something that many women would die to have. A home. Money. Security. Family. And you’re throwing it back in my face like so much offal. What? You no longer need us so you think we’re disposable.”

Unfair, but I’ll play this game anyway I have to, to come out the winner. She will be my wife, and she will bear me more children. No matter if she hates me or not.

We share a passion that is white hot. Even now, as furious as she is with me, I can feel her shudder when I press my hardened cock into her belly and lean down to breathe into her ear.

“I won’t let you hurt the people I love. You’re ours; I claimed you and told the world that you are mine, and I bloody keep what I claim.”

Her skin pebbles beneath my lips, and I smile through the anger coursing through me when her hips bump involuntarily into mine, her body announcing its arousal even if she won’t.

“You’re a bastard. You’re just like Robert. He saw something he wanted and took it without thought. I am not a piece of meat.”

I despise being lumped into the same category as Rob. He was my brother and I loved him, but he was a liar and a cheat, the worst sort of man because he never once failed to use every charm he possessed to take what he wanted.

And like a small, spoiled little boy, he always got tired of his toys and discarded them. I, on the other hand, never threw anything away that I liked. My motto is more along the lines of keep what you have and make it fit your life.

Shaw fits into mine. Perfectly. She always will. I appreciate everything about her, least of all her ability to get me harder than hell and drain me to a satisfied lump with nothing more than her pleasure and the knowledge that she is mine.

I always keep what is mine, and this time it will be no different.

I don’t care about her feelings right now. In fact, I want to hurt her just as much as she’s hurt me with yet another rejection.

But first I’m going to show her exactly why I always win. I’m going to turn her desires against her and use her up, drain her to the point of hollowness, and then I will mold her into the perfect mate.

“Cameron.”

I seal my mouth over hers and cut her off, my arms locking around her and lifting her, her struggles and curses no match for me when I carry her to the bed, rip off her robe, and fall on her lush body.

By the time I enter her wet heat, she’s writhing and begging me, her body open and all mine for the taking.

I’ll give her everything she needs, but I will take everything and ensure that she is dependent on me in every way when I am done.

Shaw Mallory is mine, and I will never let her go.

Shaw

“Yes, Mr. Trask. I understand, sir. Thank you so much for calling me. No. I completely understand. These things happen,” I say hollowly, disconnecting the call before the tears I feel brewing can slip out or choke me.

I hate Cameron so much right now that it’s all I can do not to start screaming and stamping my feet in outrage. He did it. He really did it. Trask called today and very apologetically informed me that the position I was being offered back was filled and that someone had made a mistake.

There was no mistake, and we both know it. The only mistake around here is the fact that I’d foolishly believed Cameron was incapable of the things he’d yelled at me last night.

I didn’t want to believe that he would do it, that he’d callously and ruthlessly crush all my dreams, just because I’d refused his pathetic attempt at a proposal.

I mean, really, as if he couldn’t have just thrown an “I do care for you” in there somewhere? And don’t even get me started on the way I feel, knowing that the asshat still doesn’t believe me about the baby!

I refuse to marry a man who thinks I’d spread my legs for a guy and then try to pawn my kid off on the highest bidder. Robert was no angel, but fuck, at least he gave so little of a shit that he would never dream of fucking up my career to keep me.

“Ducky dear, whatever is the matter?”

I look up at Marge, as she comes into the room and gingerly lowers herself to the sofa, her movements cautious and slow.

“Nothing Marge.” I lie, because I don’t want to hurt her, and in this, Cameron is right. If I tell her I was planning to leave, she’ll have a fit.

And then she’ll cry, and Vic will go all weird, and I’ll end up apologizing and promising never to move a muscle out of the house. And that would just be right up his freaking alley!

Bastard.

“Why are you walking around like your pants are a size too small?” I ask, changing the subject before she can ask anything else.

She blushes and looks away, a coy smile playing around her perfectly painted coral pink lips, and I feel my eyes stretch before a giggle of mortification escapes me.

“Marge?” I squeak, and she colors even more.

“Victor was very happy about a certain chamber pot he found yesterday. Let’s just say his good mood lasted. A very, very long time.”

Oh geez!

I giggle again but the sound is more of a choked squeak than anything else, especially when the devil himself strolls into the room with a very self-satisfied smirk and leans down to kiss the heck out of a giggling, blushing Marge.

“Oh, behave yourself, you old reprobate. Ducky is watching.”

Vic grins and rises, his blue eyes coming to rest on me with a wink that is really just…naughty.

“Ducky is no stranger to the inevitable vagaries of heated passion and longing. Cameron almost ran me right off the stairs last night, and I dare say he wasn’t that eager just to get to the bloody loo. Was he, Ducky?”

Oh dang.

Now I’m blushing and trying to look anywhere else but at the knowing, old coot.

“Oh, Victor, stop. You’re embarrassing Ducky,” she chides before slapping his ass and winking at me. “Off with you, old man. We ladies have a few things to discuss, and you’re keeping us from it. Go away.”

“That’s not what you said last night, Margie love. Or this morning for that matter,” he drawls, strolling out with a grin and a whistle while his wife colors and pats at her red cheeks with a huffed laugh.

“Incorrigible git! Now Ducky, I wanted to talk to you about the arrangements for the wedding. Millie called, and I think we both agree that a double wedding would be far more convenient than two weddings a few weeks apart. The whole clan is already showing up for Kent and Molly, and they’re so difficult to round up as it is—”

“But, what’s the rush?” I ask, stalling the inevitable.

I know this will happen, I just hoped that I could keep it on the backburner long enough to come up with some sort of plan. Anything really to buy time so that I don’t have to marry that, that ogre.

“Well, really, Ducky, I should think that’s quite obvious,” she trills, giving my stomach a pointed look while smiling cheerily.

“But, you weren’t worried about it before.”

“Because we didn’t have any choice dearest, but now that Cameron has claimed you and the babe, well, I would like my grandson to be born in wedlock.”

Shit, that is totally reasonable.

I can’t argue with that unless I tell her that I despise her seducing douche of a son and I’d like nothing more than to kick him in the balls so hard he won’t be making sperm for the next year at least.

“And anyway, that vile Letitia is going around telling people that Cameron can’t have children and that he’s only marrying you to get his hands on the babe. We need to put up a united front to save face against the speculation.”

That no good snake! When I get my hands on her, I’ll make her eat her freaking tongue for embarrassing like Cameron this—

Oh shit. Do not defend him Shaw; he deserves whatever he gets. He is using you. He is trying to get his hands on the next Stone heir.

But no matter how pissed I am at him, because duh, he’s totally ruining my life, I can’t stomach that bitch winning. In any way.

“I don’t think the wedding is going to go that far in settling things, Marge.”

“No dearest, but you and Cameron being seen out and about, obviously in love, will do the trick very nicely,” she says, clapping excitedly. “I’ve accepted an invitation to the Lords and Ladies tea. Dearest Millie has taken it upon herself to throw together a week-long event in your and Molly’s honor. There will be hunting and croquet and riding and oh so many activities. We’re off to Wales tomorrow to put things to rights.”

“What?”

Oh God.
I can’t spend an entire week with Cameron constantly breathing down my neck. It’s bad enough I can’t control myself long enough not to respond to him, and now they expect me to sleep beside him and spend the daylight hours swooning all over him like a lovesick fool?

“A whole week. Why, I am so excited, Ducky. Millie is almost green with envy that I’ll be a grandmamma first and, of course, she’s gone into hysterics about Cameron opening the family’s vault to retrieve his grandmamma’s engagement ring. This is all just so wonderful.”

I have to say something. I can’t keep lying to these wonderful people about everything. It’ll hurt her a little, but I know that this is the only way if I am ever to get away from my controlling…what is he to me?! I can’t say. Lover? Yeah. But that’s about it.

I’d thought for the space of a breath that we could even be friends before he’d gone all hard and cold on me, and if I’m honest, it still hurts that he went from warm, cuddly, joking Cameron to Mr. Beastly so quickly. And all because I wanted to maybe consider finishing out the internship.

“Marge—?”

“You know, Ducky, I was so inconsolable before you arrived. I felt as if there would never be another day of happiness for me, and I spent my days sitting in my room and staring off into nothing, just waiting for it all to be done. Nothing hurts like losing a child. Or seeing them harmed.”

“Marge.”

“I miss Robbie, every day, and I always will, but you have given my life light again. Not just because of the babe, though he is a precious gift I will always cherish, but because you are truly one of the best things to happen to me. Why, I love you so much I can’t bear the thought of not having you with us every day. Cameron assured me that you would stay on even after your marriage and why not…but I digress. I wanted to thank you for being my savior at such a dark time. You’re…you’re my very own child now.”

All I can do is smile through my tears and hug her. There’s no way I could ever leave her now, and I know it. She’s my mum, my biggest defender, and the only love I’ve known besides Alec.

Do I have to love her son to give her what she wants? No.

But I fully intend to make him pay for being such a prick. I just have to figure out how to do that.