Free Sacrifice by Denise Grover Swank Page B

his mouth parted. “Are you sure you prefer drugs?”
    Biting her lip, she nodded, scared of provoking him. Her body had already begun to react to his touch.
    He poured several pills into her hand. “There you go. You’ve made your choice. You’d rather be drugged than touch me.”
    Her heart thudded in her ears as she counted the pills in her hand. Five. “That’s too many.”
    Leaning forward, he whispered in a loud voice, “We want to make sure you go to sleep.” He gave her a slight push toward the sink. She filled a glass of water, keeping her gaze down.
    Raphael leaned into the doorframe as he watched her. He was going to make her take them all.
    “I’m capable of taking pills on my own, Raphael.” She glared at his reflection. He studied her body and she wished she wasn’t standing in front of him in a clingy nightgown.
    “You’re capable of many things, my love. You just don’t always choose to do them.”
    He referred to her disappointing results over using her power. During dinner, he’d been short and had more alcohol than food. He accused her of purposely trying to sabotage their union by holding back, even when she assured him over and over that she was trying her best. Holding back didn’t help her save Jake.
    She put a pill in her mouth and swallowed it with the water. “There. Happy now?”
    He moved behind her, watching her reflection in the mirror with an unfocused gaze. His breath reeked of alcohol. “Now the others. This was your choice. Unless you’ve changed your mind.”
    Her stomach twisted in knots. He’d promised not to touch her if she took a sleeping pill, not five. She didn’t trust him. Especially drunk.
    “I said, take the pills,” he growled.
    Putting her hand to her mouth, she dumped them in and took the glass of water he held out to her. She swallowed, fear churning her stomach.
    His hand reached out to her hair and he lifted it, leaning over to smell it. “You look like her, did you know that? Exactly like her.”
    She froze, choking on her fear. “I took them, Raphael.”
    “Sometimes I look at you and I forget.” Threading her hair in his fingers, he closed his eyes. “I always loved your hair, Emmanuella.”
    Her body tensed as she waited. Should she move away? Should she let him exorcise his demons?
    “It’s agony to have you so close but so far. I’ve waited so long, so very long.” His voice broke and his other hand skimmed her waist. “I want you.”
    If he used his power over her, she wouldn’t be able to stop him. In fact, she’d probably welcome him. Oh, God . “I’m not her, Raphael.”
    “Emmanuella…” He buried his face in her hair, tightening his grip.
    “Raphael! Stop! I’m not Emmanuella.”
    His hand slid up, stopping underneath her breast. “Do you remember the joining words?”
    Her body was fading, his energy overpowering hers. “No! Remember? I don’t know them. I’m not her.”
    His mouth lowered to her neck, trailing to her shoulder blade.
    “Raphael…stop.”
    Moving to her side, he lifted her chin. “I can make you love me.”
    Her heart beating wildly, she shook her head. “No, not this way.”
    His mouth lowered to hers, hungry and demanding. Her body answered with demands of its own, the pain of her body’s betrayal cutting deep.
    His hands roamed her body, pulling her gown up.
    An ember of anger blazed within her and she latched on to it, feeding it with her indignation. She had to stop him. Stop herself. With a sharp burst of power, she pushed against him and he flew several feet away, tripping as he tried to regain his balance. He landed on the bed, a bewildered look in his eyes.
    “Get. Out,” she seethed. “Get the hell out of here or I’ll kill you.”
    He got to his feet and took a step toward her. “You want me too. I can feel it.”
    “ No . That’s not real. Maybe it was with her, but it’s not with me.” Tears burned her eyes, but she refused to let him see her cry again. She was sick of