Chapter 3 Ultimatum

Releasing my arms, he grasped a handful of my hair in his fist winding the other arm savagely around my waist; as I gasped in pain, he brought his head down, kissing me with ferocity, grinding his mouth on mine. There was no love, no gentleness. Only a need to brand me as his.

When he raised his head, I could taste blood. He flung me away, his face mirroring self-disgust.

Breathing hard, wide-eyed with shock and a host of conflicting emotions, I watched him, touching my bruised mouth aware that I would have darkening bruises on my arms where he had sunk his hard fingers into my arms in such a brutish way.

He turned, his eyes glinting almost evilly in the feeble lighting. His eyes dropped to my heavy breasts, the nipples clearly outlined through the coarse cloth of my gown because he still had the power to arouse me, even with his cruelty. With a low growl, he came close, roughly fondled my breasts, his mouth feverishly moving over my throat, nipping, biting like and like a fool, I felt myself responding, surrendering to him. When he reached a hand in through the robes, parting my legs, seeking my womanhood, I suddenly regained a semblance of my wits.

"No, 'I cried in panic struggling as he imprisoned me in his arms, and I realized what he intended to do. "No, Gaston, not here, please!" and I pushed at his iron chest with all my puny might.

Ignoring my urgent pleas, he continued and in sudden desperation, I slapped him hard across the face.

He stopped and as I became aware of what I had done, I shoved him away and moved to safety, standing behind an ornate table in the centre of the room, trembling with shock and fear, hugging myself.

Gaston turned to me slowly, a livid mark on his face where I had slapped him.

"So the kitten has got claws now?" he murmured coolly, eyes glinting savagely, and I quaked at the threat in his voice.

He touched his cheek reflectively and began circling the room, no sign of the aroused man who had attacked me just a few minutes before.

While I stood there, dishevelled, my emotions all over the place, pulling my robes around me tightly, desperately clinging to my sanity.

"You haven't answered me," he went on, stopping before an exquisite sculpture of the Buddha, his back to me. "Whose are those b*****ds?"

I stayed silent for a while, swallowing my humiliation and then,

"You know I did not sleep with anyone else, when I was with you, "I said in an unsteady voice, hurt beyond words, my eyes filling as I looked up at his powerful shoulders, willing him to meet my eyes.

Turning, he came to stand before me, his fists deep in his coat pockets, his eyes boring into my soul as it were and snarled,

"So say it, damn it! I want to hear you say it! '.

"They are your children," I said stiffly, my shoulders held high, mustering all the dignity I could hugging my waist with my arms.

A strange look passed over his face, a look of triumph and I tried to look away as his eyes moved over me, raking my face, my body, a look of ownership, of possession that left me weak at the knees.

"Why...'I babbled, 'Why did you...I mean, why have you come...?'

Gaston moved closer and I shrank, feeling the wall against my back.

"No woman leaves me. I tell the women I fu*k to get the hell out of my life when I tire of them.' He spoke softly but the fury behind his words was apparent.

I stared at him, my breath coming rapidly.

Raising a hand to my face, he touched my cheek, moving a finger to my mouth, tracing the plumpness of my swollen lips tantalisingly, with a slow, igniting touch as he went on in a growl,

"You, a slip of an eighteen-year-old, you tried to run away from me little girl? Did you think I would let you off so easily?'

The threat in his voice was unmistakable and I stared up at him, hypnotised. He loomed closer and I put up my hands, pushing ineffectually at his chest and even in the dimness of the room, I saw the flash of desire on his face before the cold mask came on.

"I'm not going to f*** you in this room." He sneered and went on, conversationally, watching me, "But I don't believe you, you little liar. I need to get a test done. A paternity test."

Shocked, I gazed up at him stupidly as he went on, stepping closer, crowding me in, and his breath coming raggedly as he went on,

"I'm a rich man as you may have discovered. I don't want some b******* landing on my doorstep, claiming to be mine, sometime in the future.' He flicked a finger at my swollen mouth and I winced at the deliberate hurt, frowning in disbelief.

"When you're not so young and desirable' he went on, running his eyes over my body slowly, seeming to undress me, "and there are no takers for this lush body... '

He moved even closer if that was possible, bridging the gap between us, breathing hard; now the tips of my breasts pressed against his chest. (Dear God! He has the power to make me want him even when his hate for me is evident, I thought in despair.); his eyes intent on my hard nipples but with his hands still shoved in his pockets, he rasped,

'You might think of making some easy money. Foisting someone else's dirty b******* on me.", he growled, the menace in his voice evident.

The ugly words, the unjustness of it all, incensed me and without thinking, I raised my hands to claw his face; with a swift movement, he captured my hands easily enough but not before I had scratched his cheek, leaving a small cut on his chin. He laughed in surprise and I felt his arousal as I struggled, while he pinned my arms behind me, my body forced against his again. I was panting and flushed with rage and his eyes travelled leisurely over my face, dropping to my robe that gaped open, revealing my heaving breasts. Memories of how he used to make love to me, sucking, biting me, made me take in a sharp breath.

His heavy-lidded eyes seemed to glimpse my weakness. The resistance that I had shown seemed to intrigue and excite him, I realized with a sinking heart and I bowed my head in dejection.

'You've changed,' he growled softly, breathing harshly,' and I'm going to enjoy taming you."

That brought my head up sharply, and I cried in alarm, "NO!"

Twisting my captive wrists cruelly, his hard chest pressing against my softness, he bent his head to my mouth and whispered." I am going to get a test done. For that, I am taking your b******s with me, NOW. "

I shook my head in protest, my eyes pleading with him.

"No!" I half sobbed. 'Gaston, please, don't do this!'

Breathing heavily, his body touching mine, he said in a harsh whisper,

"You said those kids are mine. So I have the right to take them with me IF I'm their father. Besides, I need to find the truth, are they really mine?"

And then, silkily, his mouth hovering inches away from mine, he added,

' I'm taking them with me. Whether you come or not is your choice. And no one can stop me from doing that.'

And then he stepped back coolly and strode out throwing the words over his shoulders as he went,

'Make the arrangements. Those kids are leaving tonight with me in an hour."

I sagged onto the cool floor as I saw that I had no choice but to go with him...