Free Captured Miracle by Alannah Carbonneau Page A

will not be tested at every turn.”
    “My attitude?” I scoffed incredulously before my temper riled and got carried away. I could almost see it running sporadically as I tried to coax it back into submission. “You think I have an attitude? You stole me from my family you fucking monster !”
    The brilliant blue of his eyes darkened dangerously and his hand at my waist tightened. My heart tore through my chest as though on a rampage as I realized that I’d sworn. I couldn’t take my eyes off his face as I watched his anger swell. He hadn’t been lying when he said he wasn’t a patient man - but how then, had he watched me for two years? If that was anything, it was patience.
    “I told you the next time you used such language that there would be consequences.”
    I was nearly shaking in fear of him, but I spoke words of bravery that shocked me. “Then punish me.”
    The anger in his eyes yielded to something new - something stronger. I didn’t know what it was, but I knew I feared it more than his anger. Whatever this was held the power to destroy me from the inside out.
    “How do you recommend I punish you?” He bowed his head until I could taste his breath.
    “I,” I whimpered, suddenly regretful of my challenge. “I don’t know.”
    His hand moved from my arm to my chin. Placing pressure under my chin with his fingertips, he forced my head back until I was staring up at him. Looking into his eyes made my heart race. I felt as though I were challenging a wild animal.
    I was terrified.
    I felt fear move through my body like wildfire. It spread through my veins and worked its way right up into my heart - poisoning my system - paralyzing me.
    Calix watched me closely as he dipped his head. My heart was pounding so hard in my chest I would have bet money that he could hear it.
    I wanted to push him away from me. I wanted to run. I wanted to hurt him. But I could do none of those things. In every sense of the word, I really was paralyzed.
    And then his lips were on mine.
    My brain must have been fried upon contact, because I didn’t twist my head to the side. I didn’t move at all.
    His lips were soft - like the smoothest silk. I never would have expected such a hard man to kiss so gently, so warmly, so softly. But he did. His mouth covered mine, moving leisurely. I thought for a moment that he was trying to coax me from my paralytic fear, but I couldn’t tell for sure.
    His hand moved slowly from my chin, over the side of my face, to cup the nape of my neck. Thick fingers twined with my hair, fastening his grip on me. Even though my head was tilted back for his taking, he had to bend his knees. His shoulders curved inward, blocking me between his massive form and the unrelenting wall.
    I felt caged.
    I hadn’t moved my lips against his once, but that hadn’t stopped him from taking the kiss deeper. Pressing his lips harder against mine, I felt his tongue press against the crease between my lips. Silently pleading for entrance. And then his hand lowered from my waist, over my hip to my thigh. His fingertips hooked the hem of my dress, tugging it up before I felt the pads of his fingers against my skin.
    His touch was like fire. Every nerve ending came alive at his touch and something foreign to me flared to life. Desire maybe?
    The thought was confirmed as Calix ran his teeth against my bottom lip before sucking it into his mouth. Liquid heat pooled in my lower belly and in response, I cried out pitifully. Before I knew it I was filled with shame and horror.
    How had I let him touch me, kiss me? Pressing my palms flat against his chest, I pushed with everything I had inside of me. He didn’t budge an inch. The colossal man was simply too heavy for me to maneuver so easily. Panic swelled where there should have been anger. I should have bit down on his lip, but I couldn’t. I was afraid of what he was doing to my body and the reactions I couldn’t help but experience in response.
    My panic worked itself