Setup: After injuring her knee and spending a few hours in the hospital, Kate ends up sleeping in Peter's bed. He's taken very good care of her and she's torn between allowing him to continue leading the dance they've started, or leaving before she gets hurt again. Her heart is still bruised and tender and she's not entirely sure she trusts her ex-husband not to hurt her again. Though he's warned her to call him before she gets out of bed, Kate decides she needs to be less dependent on him, and more self-reliant. However, she didn't expect to get caught. Though Peter is not above teaching Kate a lesson, he chooses instead to carry her over to the breakfast table set up in their bedroom. Peter waits until she's had her fill before he addresses Kate's disobedience the day before by asking her why she won't simply admit she'd been jealous. Kate admits that she may have acted out on purpose, but that doesn't mean she wants him to punish her for it. Peter disagrees saying her actions were a deliberate challenge, and ignoring it would be doing both of them a disservice, however, Kate still hesitates.
She
shook her head. "We aren't married any longer. Not really. Our divorce
will be final in two days, so my vow to obey you is no longer valid."
Straightening
his shoulders, Peter frowned up at her. "I believe, my love, that you just
lied to me with that statement, and I will require another confession from
you."
Had
she lied? Did she still owe him her obedience even after their divorce? He was
asking, no demanding, that she submit to him in this. Did he have the right to
do that now? Was she still required to submit to his punishments like this?
Peter
had dominated her from the very first day they met. He didn't physically
chastise her until he was no longer teaching at the school she attended, but he
still commanded her respect and obedience. Had any of that changed simply
because they were no longer a couple?
"It
is the truth," she insisted. "But it wasn't my wedding vow that
compelled me to obey you. So, I guess it's also incorrect."
"Thank
you for admitting that. So, the choice, my love, is simple. Do you wish to
re-establish our relationship, or are these delaying tactics meant to convey an
aversion to having me in your life again?"
If you're 18 or older, you can read the first three chapters at Acting Lessons
Buy the book directly from Blushing Books, Amazon, Amazon UK
Great snippet Kathryn, love the interal conflict.
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Roz
I do like knowing the though process. Good snippet.
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