Chapter 1 DARK ROMANCE

One

Alice

I dropped the novel I was reading, frustrated. The words just kept flowing into each other and I couldn't seem to concentrate. I grabbed a glass of wine beside me and drank. Wine helped cooled and relaxed my nerves and I was a really nervous person. It has been two months since my parents arranged my marriage to Liam Turner, my rich husband. Father had gotten into some mess in business and Liam's family wanted to get him a wife, so I was the peace offering between two families that were at each other throat.

I stared at the clock; eleven-fifty and Liam was not yet back. I sighed as thoughts of him invaded my head. All he had done since our marriage was eat, drink, have sex, yell at me and go away for a long time. He seems to hate me and I am scared of him.

The front door pinged and Liam walked in looking handsome and tall as ever, his dark eyes met mine.

"Welcome" I said as usual and as usual he ignored me and headed for the room. He stopped and turned.

"Meet me in the room in two minutes" he growled and I gulped, again! Didn't he ever get tired. I nodded and he walked away. I slowly followed and entered the room he was naked and I raised my eyes to the ceiling.

"Strip" he commanded and I glanced at him shakily.

"I...I" I said and he growled.

"You don't want me to tear of that dress" he said and I shakily undid my buttons and as they fell to the floor I covered my breast in my arms. Liam scowled and in two strides, he grabbed me and flung me to the bed, wrenching my arms away from my breasts. I screamed and he scowled again.

"Shut your mouth" he roared and Icowered. He grabbed my breasts and gave it a painful squeeze while I tried hard not to cry out but a whimper escaped my lips and he stopped squeezing he glared at me fiercely.

"Open up" he nudged my legs and I gulped. I shook my head and he squeezed my breasts again and I shrieked.

"Please" I begged but he ignored me and used his waist to spread my legs open. He tore my underwear away and pushed himself between my legs. Suddenly he stopped and rolled away. He looked furious with himself.

"Go" he said and I stared at him surprised. He didn't do anything, this was the first time he didn't take me right then. I nodded quietly and ran off, grateful that he didn't do anything not that I didn't enjoy it sometimes but he was merciless and rough and I had a feeling he does it on purpose. I hurriedly put on my clothes before he changed his mind and walked out to the guest room. He sat there drinking a glass of brandy. He turned when I walked in and scowled.

"I am sorry" I said and he stared at me like I was crazy.

"For what?" He rasped and I wringed my hands nervously.

"That you didn't get to finish what you wanted to do" I said and he stared at me for a moment, his dark eyes hard then he burst into a cruel, mocking laughter.

"Are you kidding me?" He said his face was playful for a moment and she stared at him amazed on how handsome he looked when he smiled then he scowled. "You are the reason I didn't finish. You are too innocent and always whimper like you don't enjoy it" he growled and grabbed my chin forcefully.

"Well let me break it down for you." He said, tightening his grip. "I didn't ask for this stupid marriage but you are here and I have needs which you must satisfy understand me?" He said and I couldn't answer his fingers were starting to hurt in my jaw.

"Understand!" He roared and I flinched in fear and nodded. "Good" he said and pushed my face away, pouring himself another brandy while I stared at him my jaw still hurting.

"Umm you aren't doing anything tonight?" I asked hopefully and his dark eyes observed me they roamed my body and I had to hold myself not to cover my breasts the way he was staring at it.

"No" his voice was deeper, "You've ruined my mood." He added and stood. How did I not notice he was shirtless? The dim lights from the chandelier made his tanned body darker, his rock hard abs stood out. He looked so much handsome that I overstared and he growled.

"Don't stare at me like that" he said. His voice was as cold as ice, quiet and filled with warning and I averted my gaze. He lit a cigar and blew the smoke in my face. The gesture was rude but I sort of felt okay with he doing it, maybe I was getting crazy. He offered me the cigar and I shook my head frantically. He muttered a curse, something about 'fucking innocent bitch' and walked away without another word. I followed slowly wanting to explain why I didn't take the cigar because I knew he will get angry about it later. I knocked the door and he didn't respond so I stepped in. He looked up from a desk beside the bed and frowned.

"What do you want" he snapped and I smiled nervously.

"I....ummm....I" I suddenly was tonguetied and he raised a brow.

"You know I have business to do here." He waved a stack of papers and tossed back his hair. "Or do you want me to rip your clothes off and bang you all night?" He growled and I shook my head. I turned to go then turned back.

"I am sorry for not performing my duties as a wife" I blurted hoping to impress but he barked out a laugh, a very harsh one.

"Who said you were my wife. You are just a plaything, my fuck toy whom I can do anything with" he said cruelly and I shut my eyes not to cry.

"Remember this" he said menancingly. "You will never be what my late wife was. You are here because I respect my family decisions even though I don't like it. Just know this, I. Hate. You" he said and pushed back his chair , grabbing a shirt along the way and stormed off.

I sniffed holding back my tears and walked to the desk, on the desk was a picture of a dark haired lady, very beautiful. On the back of the picture was a name; Janice. Who the hell was Janice I heard footsteps approaching and I turned in fear dropping the photo.

There was Liam scowling, he looked furious and mad, he growled and in two strides lunged for me.