That’s her father you’ve scandalized in the community.” Desperate to blame others for her guilt? He pitied her. She went on. “How do you think the kids at school will treat her?”
Micah bet his heritage Madison cared little about this incident. “Her schoolmates are of no consequence. They fail to appreciate her magnificence as it is.”
“They’ll make fun of her! Tease her about her Christian father being a pedophile…an adulterer.”
“You would have us believe you care about Madison after the way you’ve conducted yourself?” Elias ran his mouth along her neck. Trembling, Celeste’s eyes closed. “The way you’ve allowed her to be ridiculed by your mockery of a husband?” His fingers noticeably tightened on her throat and relaxed.
Entertained by his brother’s terror tactics, and amused by her very evident fear, he taunted with, “Present me one reason why I shouldn’t give you to Elias?”
His brother’s eyes glowed at the idea. Bottom lip quivering, her eyelids snapped open.
“I will do anything you want, Micah, just do not—”
Elias bit her earlobe and she elicited a tiny squeal. Being his brother’s live entertainment would be a miserable existence.
“You’ve abused my future wife and yet you expect mercy from me.” Sarcasm darkened his voice. “The paradox I find myself in.”
“ Not ,” his brother whispered into her ear. Celeste attempted to strain away, but he detained her with ease.
“You’ve got one chance to redeem yourself.”
“ Anything .”
Elias sulked silkily, “But I wanted to coax screams from her.”
Having firsthand knowledge of his brother’s torture tactics, Celeste grimaced. “What do you wish from me, Micah?”
He held her gaze, allowing a slow smirk to touch his expression. “That’s for you to determine, Celeste.”
I will not hand feed you atonement, you must earn it.
An amused chuckle emerged from his brother. He released Celeste and walked around to face her, perching on the edge of Micah’s desk. Elias toasted her with his goblet. “I’ll enjoy watching you attempt to earn redemption, but I’ll relish plucking scream after scream from you.”
In other words, his brother didn’t believe she could pull it off. I don’t care either way.
Paling, her gaze darted between them. “But—”
“Dismissed.”
Wild-eyed terror surfaced and he thought she’d argue— bad move —instead she nodded, surprising him. “You’ll handle Bruce’s charges, act like his attorney?”
He shrugged. When I get around to it.
“Very well.” Anxiety crinkled the corners of her eyes and pinched her mouth. She refused to meet his brother’s eyes, amusing Micah. “I’ll let myself out.”
Micah said nothing. Elias taunted her with his raised glass. “To us, bitch.”
Life Lesson Twenty-Three
Micah sighed when his phone rang. Not in the mood to be disturbed, he lunged across his bed and snagged it off the hook. Caller I.D. showed the number listed to Bruce Wescott. Still anticipating Madison’s phone call, he hoped it was her. Far from in the mood to deal with Celeste or Bruce, he pressed the talk button as he put the handheld to his ear. “Hello.”
A creak of springs on the other end as if the caller sat up quickly. Maybe surprised I answered?
“Hey.”
Madison . Her voice lulled him into a harmonious mood, even if she did sound a trifle hesitant.
After he’d championed her, it was amusing to think she’d be nervous. But frustrating if she worried over his welcome.
“Evening, kitten. How’s your day been?”
“Are you busy?”
Never too busy for you .
“No. Flipping channels on the television.” He didn’t even own a T.V.
“Mmkay.” He imagined her twirling a lock of hair between her fingers. Too bad his fingers weren’t sifting through the glorious tresses or skimming her soft flesh. “My day’s been okay. I’m sure yours was exciting.” Her voice dropped a tad lower, impish sounding. Adorable.
“My day
Micah bet his heritage Madison cared little about this incident. “Her schoolmates are of no consequence. They fail to appreciate her magnificence as it is.”
“They’ll make fun of her! Tease her about her Christian father being a pedophile…an adulterer.”
“You would have us believe you care about Madison after the way you’ve conducted yourself?” Elias ran his mouth along her neck. Trembling, Celeste’s eyes closed. “The way you’ve allowed her to be ridiculed by your mockery of a husband?” His fingers noticeably tightened on her throat and relaxed.
Entertained by his brother’s terror tactics, and amused by her very evident fear, he taunted with, “Present me one reason why I shouldn’t give you to Elias?”
His brother’s eyes glowed at the idea. Bottom lip quivering, her eyelids snapped open.
“I will do anything you want, Micah, just do not—”
Elias bit her earlobe and she elicited a tiny squeal. Being his brother’s live entertainment would be a miserable existence.
“You’ve abused my future wife and yet you expect mercy from me.” Sarcasm darkened his voice. “The paradox I find myself in.”
“ Not ,” his brother whispered into her ear. Celeste attempted to strain away, but he detained her with ease.
“You’ve got one chance to redeem yourself.”
“ Anything .”
Elias sulked silkily, “But I wanted to coax screams from her.”
Having firsthand knowledge of his brother’s torture tactics, Celeste grimaced. “What do you wish from me, Micah?”
He held her gaze, allowing a slow smirk to touch his expression. “That’s for you to determine, Celeste.”
I will not hand feed you atonement, you must earn it.
An amused chuckle emerged from his brother. He released Celeste and walked around to face her, perching on the edge of Micah’s desk. Elias toasted her with his goblet. “I’ll enjoy watching you attempt to earn redemption, but I’ll relish plucking scream after scream from you.”
In other words, his brother didn’t believe she could pull it off. I don’t care either way.
Paling, her gaze darted between them. “But—”
“Dismissed.”
Wild-eyed terror surfaced and he thought she’d argue— bad move —instead she nodded, surprising him. “You’ll handle Bruce’s charges, act like his attorney?”
He shrugged. When I get around to it.
“Very well.” Anxiety crinkled the corners of her eyes and pinched her mouth. She refused to meet his brother’s eyes, amusing Micah. “I’ll let myself out.”
Micah said nothing. Elias taunted her with his raised glass. “To us, bitch.”
Life Lesson Twenty-Three
Micah sighed when his phone rang. Not in the mood to be disturbed, he lunged across his bed and snagged it off the hook. Caller I.D. showed the number listed to Bruce Wescott. Still anticipating Madison’s phone call, he hoped it was her. Far from in the mood to deal with Celeste or Bruce, he pressed the talk button as he put the handheld to his ear. “Hello.”
A creak of springs on the other end as if the caller sat up quickly. Maybe surprised I answered?
“Hey.”
Madison . Her voice lulled him into a harmonious mood, even if she did sound a trifle hesitant.
After he’d championed her, it was amusing to think she’d be nervous. But frustrating if she worried over his welcome.
“Evening, kitten. How’s your day been?”
“Are you busy?”
Never too busy for you .
“No. Flipping channels on the television.” He didn’t even own a T.V.
“Mmkay.” He imagined her twirling a lock of hair between her fingers. Too bad his fingers weren’t sifting through the glorious tresses or skimming her soft flesh. “My day’s been okay. I’m sure yours was exciting.” Her voice dropped a tad lower, impish sounding. Adorable.
“My day
Similar Books
