Page 18 of The Growly Outcast’s Promise

“Really, you want to fight about the state of our union more than you want to fuck me in your bed?”

I step away from her so I can’t touch her perfect tits and the rest of her curves. “There are some fundamental truths you need to understand. First, this is a real marriage. End of story, no qualifications, no stipulations, just you and me, husband and wife.”

She sits down on the bed and watches me pace.

“Second, there will be no annulment and no divorce. I don’t care what plan you had with Devon. This is me and you. We made a pact when we were teenagers, and I’m sticking with that. You asked me to marry you, I married you. Now you are stuck with me as your husband. I’ll try to keep my beard hairs out of the sink.”

She folds her lips in, trying not to smile.

“Third, we will be having sex in that bed. Often.”

“Finally!”

“But not until you agree to these truths.”

“Are you legitimately withholding sex right now?”

I cross my arms over my chest. “Damn straight I am.”

She raises her brows. “That’s very Greek tragedy of you.”

“Technically, Lysistrata was a Greek comedy.”

She throws her arms up in the air. “Stop being so sexy!”

That makes me laugh. “I’m serious, darlin’. I want you; do not mistake that. But I will not be a temporary solution for you, no matter how altruistic your motives. I am in this marriage, for better or worse. Remember those vows?”

“Yes, I remember the vows. But⁠—”

I put a finger to her lips. “You ready to be all-in with me?”

“I can’t, Grey.”

I want more information. I want to know why she refuses to commit to me. But I won’t ask. I’m too damn nervous about her answer. So, I simply nod. “Let me know when you’re ready.”

chapter

nine

Annabelle

“Yeah, and then he just walked out of the house,” I say to my sister.

“What are you going to do?”

“Wait him out. I brought my toys with me. I can torment him with them. He’ll crack in a day.”

Lizzie hums into the phone.

“What?”

“Did you hear anything that man said to you?”

“Yes. He’s withholding sex until I agree to his terms of this marriage.”

“And you can’t simply agree with those terms?”

“Stay married to him? Forever?” I blow out a breath. “Lizzie, I’m strong, but I’m not so strong that I could be married to Greyson Hendricks for forever without him loving me. I mean I know he loves me. But I want him to be in love with me. Without that, I can’t stay married to him. It will break me.”