Forced Love

Chapter 21

‘’No.’’

“What did you say? “

“I said no.”

Drake’s jaw clenched and his eyes narrowed on where I was calmly sitting on the loveseat. Part of him looked surprised at my refusal, the other part just looked down right pissed off.

“Do you know what you’re saying?” he demanded harshly.

I lazily stretched out on my seat, acting like I didn’t have a care in the world, when in reality I was begging to God that my theory was right and this would work.

I smiled coldly at him. “Yes I do my Lord. Let me repeat myself though, I am not returning to Maria today, or tomorrow, or….ever.”

He stepped closer to me and leaned down so that he was up in my face, trying to intimidate me. Although it did work, I was not going to let him see it.

“And what makes you think you have a choice? I could have your father’s head on a pike in here in just a matter of minutes.” He smirked evilly at me thinking he had won.

Instead of cowering away like I usually do in these situations, I stood up causing Drake to stumble backwards at my sudden change.

Please work.

“I might not have a choice, but I do know one thing. You are not going to force me to go.” I said confidently while slowly walking around him, trailing one finger across his chest and back.

Drake shuddered at my touch but asked,“What makes you think that?”

“Because if you harm my family… I will hate you.” I stopped behind him and placed my hands on his shoulders. I leaned in to him and whispered into his ear. ”And although you act like it doesn’t hurt you that I hate you, I know you secretly wish I didn’t. I know that you crave for someone to love you, because you have never been loved by anyone in your entire life. Not your parents, not your brother, not your kingdom…And now you have me here. I was forced into this marriage, forced to be intimate with you, forced to watch people die. Even though you know I have hated even minute of it, you still hope that I will love you like a real wife should, don’t you?”

Drake didn’t answer, but I could tell my words affected him. His shoulders were tense and for once he didn’t have any smart comeback. I walked back in front of him and looked into his eyes. In them was such a sadness that I almost felt bad for him. Almost.

“And if you hurt my family I will hate you forever.”

We stood there for a couple of minutes, him just staring down at me. Finally he raised his hand and cupped my cheek. He stroked it gently, a complete opposite from when he slapped me yesterday.

“It’s true.” he finally admitted. “I do want you to love me. As much as I love you.”