🌺The Promises That We Keep🌺

Chapter 68

Tingles run up my arm as fingertips lightly swirl around my wrist, my eyes flutter open as I look into Xavier's chocolate gaze. Once again he looks sad and I know that's because of me.

"How do you feel?" His voice is husky as he looks to my lips then back to my eyes.

"Better than I deserve."

He sighs and lays on his back, one arm under his head and the other rubbing lightly on my thigh. It reminds me of when I stroked his manhood with my hand and then tasted his arousal.

"How mad are you, with me?" I whisper.

"Pretty mad."

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean for any of this to happen."

"I know Nova, but it doesn't change the fact it did. The worst is it could have been avoided if you had just listened to me in the first place. You let your anger consume you and acted out against me, by going into town with Oscar. If you would have told me you were going, I would have told you the protocols that you should adhere to. Your my wife and now a Laywood. There are things you can and cannot do. Being over-familiar with an employee for starters isn't proper behaviour, then being over-familiar with a man of colour especially in public..." But he stops and runs his hand down his face. "You've not only managed to tarnish the Laywood name, but you got Oscar hurt and he will wear those scars for the rest of his life."

"I know." I sob. "I've been so stupid, I wasn't thinking."

"No, you weren't. But you also don't listen to me. I said for you to go back to the carriage with Isaac, yet you ignore my request and got hurt. I said for you to stay in bed when you woke up, but you ignored me and went to see Oscar and fainted. I don't tell you these things because I can, it's because I love you, Nova."

"I know! But if you hadn't got Hannah pregnant and kept that information from me, then I would have listened to you more! I'm still upset with you Xavier." I sob, but I'm more upset with myself. My stupidity.

He sits up a little and holds his head in his hands, I already feel bad for bringing up Hannah at a time like this, I haven't even asked about his wound on his chest.

"Why do you think I wanted to marry you so quickly Nova? Especially after what happened with Toby?" He spits, moving to get out of bed.
I watch him walk over to the dresser and pour himself a drink of amber liquid.

"I don't know?" I shrug, watching him get more annoyed as he starts to pace.

"Because after you were assaulted, we didn't know for sure if you were a virgin anymore. He could have raped you and got you pregnant for all we knew! I wanted to marry you as soon as possible, in case that did happen. So regardless of the biological implications. That child would have been ours from marriage, protected and made mine. I would have loved the child like my own. That's why I wanted to marry you so quickly because It didn't matter to me. I wanted you regardless of what could have resulted from the assault."

My heart.

How could he do something so selfless?

"I didn't know that!" I sob, "How could I have known that Xavier!" But my heart beats ferociously, he married me not caring if I could have been carrying Toby's baby. If he had actually raped me. How could I have been so stupid not to see that?

I've been wrapped up in my anger and jealously over Hannah that I didn't even think about the possibility of the reasons why he wanted to marry me so quickly.

"I thought it was obvious Nova. I thought you knew how much I love you, I would do anything for you. So that's why it hurts me when you push me away, and disobey me. Most husbands in my position would be forced to punish you. Even the police officer told me I should give you a good beating for disappearing with Oscar earlier. For embarrassing the Laywood name, for not controlling my wife!" He shouts and slams his fist into the wall.

My mouth goes instantly dry as I try to swallow.

"B..beat me?" I stammer, pulling the covers up to my chin, like that would protect me.

"Yes apparently, you can beat your wife with a stick no thicker than your thumb. Did you know that?" He says absentmindedly taking another sip of his drink.

I did know that and my body is starting to shake from fear.

He wouldn't hit me. Would he?

I try to keep still even though my body is trembling beneath my skin. As I watch him bend to pick up a rod that we use to push the logs back into the fire. He places his glass on the table and inspects the metal rod.

"Would you say this is thinner or thicker than my thumb?" He holds his thumb out comparing it to the rod in his other hand. "Hmm...Definitely thinner." As he starts to walk towards me, with a dark expression on his face.

"Xavier, what are you doing?" As I move back against the headboard of the bed.

"What do you think I'm doing? It's my husband duty to teach you a lesson."

"Xavier, please." I cry as he comes closer. Fear starts to make my breathing hard, as a cold sweat rushes over my body.

"Hands out in front of you." He commands as he smacks the rod in his free hand. "It stings slightly, best do this quickly." His face is deadly serious and I start to feel dizzy.

What have I done?

"Hands out in front of you now!" He spits. "I won't ask again."

My chin wobbles with a cry, but I hold my hands out in front of me with the palms up. I turn my head and squeeze my eyes shut, sobbing while waiting for the impending pain.

The cool metal rod touches my palm lightly making me jump and whimper.

Then it's gone.

Any moment the sting of the metal will smack against my hand and the anticipation is making me cry louder.

I hear the rod slice through the air, and... I scream.

But I immediately realise I feel no pain.

Confused and eyes full of tears and turn and look to Xavier who lightly places the rod in my hands and curls my fingers around it. Then sits next to me on the bed as he wipes a tear off my cheek.

I'm too stunned to speak, too petrified to breathe.

"I'm not your father Nova, I don't hit women. I just wanted you to listen to me. Wasn't so hard was it?" He grins.

I drop the rod on the floor as anger courses through my veins. "You bastard!" I yell and go to slap his cheek but his hand grabs my wrist before any impact.

"Now, now, Mrs Laywood it is not nice to hit or call each other names." His other hand grabs my other wrist as he moves his head towards mine.

"You are rather sexy when you get angry, did I ever tell you that?" He teases, brushing his lips to mine.

The tension is the room is static as my heartbeat accelerates for a whole new reason. Mere seconds I was petrified of this man and now my emotion has changed into something heated. He moves his kisses towards my jaw rubbing his stubble below my ear.

"I want to fuck you, till you tremble with pleasure not fear."

A/N

Surprise Chapter guys! Now who thought Xavier was actually going to hit Nova? 🤣 sorry if I worried you all! Xavier would never do such a thing! Lol

Next Chapter will be a hot one! 💥😉

Thanks for all your support! ❤

Do people prefer shorter or longer chapters?
Also do you like when I write these at the end of the chapter?

Lots of love ❤