didn’t sound convincing, even to myself.
His nostrils flared and the frown was back. “Are you trying to back out?”
I could hardly breathe. Fear gripped my insides. I’d always been able to reason with Nolan in the past, but in his present mindset he wasn’t leaving any room for negotiation or compromise.
Moving my head from side to side, I spoke softly. “No, of course not. It’s just that I always wanted a fairytale wedding. The dress, the flowers, Daddy to walk me down the aisle . . . the whole thing.”
Nolan’s eyes softened for a few moments, and he almost seemed like the man I used to adore. “I’ll see what I can do to make it the best I can. But it’s going to happen tomorrow, Eva.” His jaw clamped tight. “That part is not negotiable.”
Holding back the urge to scream and cry and lash out like a crazy woman at a fate that seemed worse than death, my chest heaved as I sucked at air.
Harrison. I’m doing this for him.
As long as I repeated that over and over in my head, I’d be fine, even though my insides rattled and I wanted to run as far away as my legs would carry me. Maybe Nolan suspected as much, because I was still tied to the damn bed, and my wrists were hurting from the friction, as I’d been trying to subtly wrangle them free without success.
I was stuck. This was the way my life was going to be, and there wasn’t much I could do about it, given the circumstances. Resistance only fueled his temper, and I was afraid if I pushed too hard, he’d renege on his side of the bargain. Not that I had much of a guarantee that he wouldn’t revoke his promise anyway.
I didn’t trust Nolan Parker. Not for a second.
Moving closer to me, Nolan’s hand slipped under my clothing, and he caressed my ribs and chest until they came to my breasts. Kneading and squeezing the naked flesh, the look of arousal that flashed across his face caused me to brace myself for what was coming. I’d agreed to marry him, so nothing I said at this point would stop him from forcing himself on me. I gritted my teeth together as he pinched and rolled my nipples—something that he loved doing and which had always turned me on in the past filled me with repulsion now.
With his mouth on my breast, he sucked on a nipple and sighed with satisfaction. “At fucking last, babe. I’ve been waiting for this for days.”
Flinching as his hand drifted lower toward the space between my thighs, I pressed my legs together to ward him off. His hand slipped between my thighs and pushed them apart just enough to gain access to my pussy.
Oh Lord.
His finger pressed against my clit and he rubbed in small circles, causing the blood to rush to the nerve-filled nub. Heat rose to my cheeks as I felt my arousal grow against my will. I hadn’t had sex in a while, yet I hated that my body reacted like that.
Of course it was exactly what Nolan wanted. Three fingers plunged inside me, sudden and harsh, invading my most private parts with brutal force. He moved faster and faster, hurting me as his fingers fucked me relentlessly. There was nothing remotely sexy about the experience. At least, not to me. Nolan’s face had an expression I’d never witnessed before, and it frightened the hell out of me. He was a man on a mission.
If I begged him to stop, it would only spur him on. My whole body tensed as I squirmed and gripped the sheets beneath my fingertips for something to ground me. Something to hold on to.
If only I wasn’t tied down. Fighting him was exhausting and futile.
Nolan pushed my thighs apart and pressed down hard. His face disappeared between my legs, and I gasped as he latched on to my clit. Every bit of arousal I’d felt earlier dissipated as I dissociated my mind and heart from my body.
It was almost like an out-of-body experience; I was simply an observer to what was happening to me. Nolan stopped and lifted his head. Gripping my upper arms, he shook me violently until my teeth clattered.
“Get some life into you, woman. What happened to the lioness?”
“Fuck you,” I spat out, against my better judgment.
“No. I’m going to fuck you.” His teeth gnashed at my ear, his face only inches from mine.
His cock slammed