Chapter 68-Wrath

Marcus moved back into our room that night.  The tension between us started to melt away and for the first time I started to feel like a married woman.  It felt good.  He kept his word and spoke to Aric.  He still hadn't made a final decision because he was concerned with not being able to be around myself and the boys for a while as he adjusted to his new self.  He didn't know how we would explain his absence to them and he wanted to be around for me and not miss a minute of this pregnancy.

We talked it over and he decided that he wanted to be around but I had to agree to be around with him.  Since any additional children we had would also be vampires, I would be turned once the baby was older and my absence during my adjustment period wouldn't be while he or she were young.  I was feeling excited and hopeful for the first time in a long time.  We had decided not to move.  This was the only home the boys have known so we agreed it was best not to move them.  Marcus wasn't really thrilled with the idea of staying in a house paid for by Mulo, but he said he could manage.  We were moving ahead with plans to remodel, but we would use the money from the sell of his Riverview home.  He didn't want anymore of Mulo in the house so the account remained untouched.

Life was good in the Smith household, and the intimacy had even returned to our relationship. Marcus was officially on medical leave but that didn't stop him from dropping into the office occasionally.  The man was a workaholic so it was tough for him to sit around all day and do essentially nothing. I sometimes wondered if he would run off to the office to avoid be taken to any more furniture stores.

"I'll only be gone for two, three hours tops."
"Can't you just work from home?"
"I could, but some how I feel I would get roped into looking at fabric samples or talking throw pillows." He answered teasingly while pulling me into a kiss.

After he left I went out to check on Wilma who was due to have pups any day.  The shelter was wrong when they said Wilma was spayed and it wouldn't be an issue if Fred wasn't neutered right way.  We took care of that as soon as we learned she was pregnant.  Wilma was due to be spayed after she finished nursing the pups.

"Cute dogs."
I froze when I heard his voice. 
"What are you doing here?"
"I came to see you of course.  We have some unfinished business to discuss."
"You can't be here." I hissed at him.  "We have nothing to discuss, now please leave."
His demeanor held the same cold and calculated attitude he had at his penthouse. 
"Your...husband said he would be gone for two or three hours.  That gives us plenty of time."  The fury that burned in his eyes frightened me and the way he spoke of Marcus sent a shiver down my spine.
"You can't be here regardless.  Please just go."
I was pleading with him although he appeared to not be interested in listening.  Things were finally getting back on track with Marcus and me.  The last thing I wanted or needed was for him to come home and find Mulo here. 
"Yes, you are so concerned about what that annoying husband of yours will think.  I'm growing tired of him."

Sensing my distress, Fred stepped between me and Mulo and started growling at him.  Mulo was unphased as he snarled back which sent Fred whimpering into the dog house.
"Ow! Mulo let go of me!"  I cried as he pulled me into the house leaving the dogs outside.
"If you insist on continuing to push me, you won't like the outcome." He snapped

"I'm not, I'm just happy.  Why can't you just let me be?"
"This sounds very familiar.  You were happy with Jesse also weren't you?  He didn't last, he left you and who was left?  Me.  Marcus won't last either.  I errored in allowing things to get this far, but that can easily be corrected."

I got a sinking feeling in the pit of my stomach as I let his words sink in.  I wanted to get away but he had me pinned against the wall.  I had no where to run.
"What do you mean easily corrected?"
"I told you when you had that infatuation with Jesse, you are only as free as I allow you to be."
I swallowed hard and tried to move but he wouldn't let me. 

"You don't own me."  The words didn't sound as forceful as I had hoped they would.  An evil smile spread across his lips.
"You, my love, still have a lot to learn."  Mulo grabbed me by the back of my neck then gave me an angry forceful kiss.  I struggled to push him off but he was unmovable.  I heard Fred and Wilma barking and scratching at the glass to get in.  As he deepened the kiss, the irony taste of blood filled my mouth.  The fight started to drain out of me and I responded to his kiss.  Only then did he pull away.

"As long as my blood flows through you, I do own you."
"What?  What the hell have you done to me?"
"Call it an insurance policy."
I reached up and slapped him. "There is no end to the ways you will try and use or manipulate me."  He was unphased by my assault.
"I won't be nice for much longer.  Let him die and move on.  You have no other option."
His calm arrogant demeanor annoyed me.  I instantly became angry.

"No!" I screamed pushing against his chest.  "You can threaten me all you want, but I'm not doing that.  Since you walked into my life, nothing has been the same.  How can you claim to love me when all you do is hurt me?  You only want to see me wallowing in misery which forces me to run into your arms for comfort."
Mulo was clenching his jaw tightly and I could see him fighting to control the anger that was laying just beneath the surface.
"This isn't up for discussion."

"Like hell it isn't.  Marcus loves me, he truly loves me.  Every action he's taken proves that!  What do your actions say?  Let's go down the list and see.  You got me pregnant, then left me.  When you do come around you cause me nothing but pain and anguish most of the time.  You threatened Jesse twice to get rid of him because you feared my feelings for him would surpass my feelings for you.  You even went so far as to seduce me into your bed to prove a point.  You schemed and plotted with Marisol to totally destroy my life with this asinine task of having 100 babies.  You turned my little girl without care or thought to what that would do to her or me.  And most recently you wanted me to cheat on my husband when I come to you under the foolish belief you cared enough about me to do something out of the kindness of your heart for me.  I could keep going if you like.  So you tell me how your actions prove you love me?  Hell they don't even prove you remotely like me!"
For a moment it looked like Mulo was hurt by my words but he quickly recovered.
"I don't really care what it may look like.  You are like a child.  I gave you an inch and you took a mile.  No more."

I should have been scared of him but I couldn't see past my own anger and frustration.  I reached out to hit him again but this time he caught my hand and pulled me to him.
"You will do as you are told or face the consequences."  He held me there, his cold fingers gripped tightly around my wrist.  I stared directly into his eyes refusing to allow him to intimidate me any longer.  He held me against his chest and my breathing became more labored.  My body started to feel extremely warm, my senses swirled at my heightened awareness of him.  I bit my lip to fight against the urge that was overcoming me to reach up and kiss him.  I wanted to, needed to break his gaze but I couldn't.   Mulo didn't speak, he just smiled at me then strolled out of the house.


******So I tried not to leave it as a cliffhanger since this will likely be the last update of the year.  I will be spending the next two weeks enjoying the holidays with my in-laws which won't leave me much time for gaming.  I will however probably find time to at least write a few chapters so when I return there should be a small flurry of updates.  Hope you all have a wonderful holiday season!************