His Marriage Trap (4 page)

"While I have no intention of getting a divorce so you can get that out of your pretty little head right now!" he said fury dancing is his eyes and Gabby thrust her chin up as she continued to glare at the man who had ignored her existence for their entire marriage.

"It's not up to you!" she told him attempting to get to her feet but before she could move he had his arms either side of her effectively caging her in and his nostrils were flaring with anger as he leaned so close she could feel his warm breath against her lips.

"Believe me Gabriella we will not be getting a divorce. You are my wife," he said furiously and she tossed her dark head back with a forced laugh.

"So you noticed you actually have a wife?" she mocked and then realised it had been the wrong thing to say when his brows furrowed.

"Is that is what this is about? If you wanted to change our arrangement all you had to do was ask," he said and before she could say a word he was kissing her again and Gabby was helpless to refuse as her traitorous body responded to his every touch.

"Get away from me," Gabby ordered when he slowly eased back and Nik gave a slow smile as his gaze swept over her slender body making her feel naked beneath it.

"I don't think so Gabriella. You are not happy with our arrangement so it is time we change it. From now on you will be my wife in every sense of the word," Nik informed her and Gabby stared at him in horror as she realised that she had given him completely the wrong impression. And if this new Nik was any indication then she had no chance of ever escaping this marriage.

Gabby stared at him for a full minute before her senses returned and she stiffened her spine and gave him her most autocratic look that made most men quell in their shoes. But Nik was not most men and he merely raised a brow at the fierce look as a smile tugged at the corners of his mouth.

"I will not be your wife in any sense of the word," she snapped making Nik laugh at the vehemence in her tone for he had never known his wife had such a temper. She had always been so quiet and obedient that he had thought he shared his house with a shadow but now she was showing her true colours and he had to admit that he liked this side of his wife.

"But Gabriella you are already my wife," he pointed out and she opened her mouth to reply then closed it again before settling on an angry glare in his direction as she pushed him back with a force he hadn't been expecting and strode out of his room without a backward glance. Nik hesitated for a moment but then decided it would be wise to let her go back to her room, for now. She needed time to get used to the fact that the rules that had led their marriage were about to change and he needed time to get used to the fact that his quiet wife was not as biddable as she appeared.

"Damn him to hell!" Gabby swore as she threw a crystal vase across the room and watched with satisfaction as it shattered in to a thousand pieces. She only wished it were as easy to be rid of her husband but she suspected that it was next to impossible to get rid of him.

Why was life so unfair? After being forced in to marriage she had always behaved as the perfect wife. So why was she being punished now she had decided to walk away? It wasn't as though theirs was a love match so why wouldn't Nik just let her go?

With a groan of frustration Gabby turned and began pacing her small room as she tried to come up with a plan. There was no way that Nik would simply let her walk out on him but she couldn't stay in this loveless marriage. 

What she needed was some fresh air, Gabby decided as she turned and strode from the room with the all-consuming need to just get away for a few moments and be able to breathe. Maybe a long walk would make her feel better. Except that when she entered the code in to the alarm system it didn't turn off but instead flashed red making her frown deepen. Retyping the code she frowned deeper when for a second time it flashed red. What the hell was going on?

"Going somewhere?"

Gabby jumped and spun round at the sound of the dark male voice behind her and found herself facing her husband who did not look amused if his expression was anything to go by.

"The code's not working," she said with a frown and Nik gave that cat got the cream smile that always made her nervous.

"That's because I changed it," he informed her and Gabby could only stare at him.

"What do you mean you changed it?" she demanded furiously unable to believe that he had changed it without informing her.

"I didn't want to wake up and discover you'd gone. Which apparently was exactly your intention," Nik explained and Gabby glared at him.

"I was only going for a walk. Now may I have the code?" Gabby asked, hating that she had to practically beg to be let out of her own home.

"No," Nik replied and her gaze widened at his terse response.

"No?" she repeated as anger swirled inside her. She was tired, she was upset and she was more than a little pissed off.

"It is late Gabriella and it is not safe for you to be out walking at this time of a night," he informed her and her glare intensified as did her anger.

"You have no right to keep me here against my will," she shouted furiously unaware of the way her eyes darkened and flashed with fire.

"I have every right. You are my wife and it is my right to be concerned for your safety," he said ignoring the dirty looks she was giving him.

"This is ridiculous. Shut off the alarm Nik," she instructed unprepared for his dark grin.

"No. Gabriella you are the one who is being ridiculous. It is the middle of the night and anyone could be out on those streets," he said making Gabby give a frustrated sigh as she realised she really was a prisoner in her own home.

"Surely it is my choice if I want to take that risk?" she said folding her arms and glaring up at him but Nik remained unmoved.

"No. You are my wife and it is my responsibility to ensure that no harm comes to you even if that means preventing your own foolish actions," he calmly informed her and Gabby gaped up at him. Foolish actions? All she wanted was to go for a damn walk.

"Let me out of here, right now!" she all but screamed and when he still refused she made a move to open the door anyway at the risk of setting off the damn alarm but her fingers barely grazed the lock before she was bodily lifted away.

"Calm yourself, Gabriella. You are getting yourself worked up over nothing," Nik said but instead of calming her it had the opposite effect and she gave a scream of frustration as she tried to jerk herself free of his grip only to be spun in his arms so she was crushed against his hard chest and completely at his mercy.

"Let me go," she demanded and instead he lowered his dark head and pressed his firm lips against hers in a soft kiss that was both gentle and passionate and as he deepened the kiss Gabby couldn't help the sigh that escaped her. She may hate Nik but even she had to admit that he was exceptionally good at the whole kissing thing.

"I suggest you go to bed, before I put you in mine," Nik said when he finally pulled away and as she turned and raced to her room she was aware of his husky chuckle following her the whole way.

How unfair was it that she could count the amount of passionate kisses Nik had given her through their marriage on one hand yet in the space of one night he had kissed her more than in their entire marriage so far. It didn’t escape her notice that he hadn’t even bothered to notice her until she had made waves in his calm waters. Obviously this little act of his was just his way of making sure that she knew her place and that his life remained in perfect order. It simply didn’t matter to Gabby though because she had no intention of staying in a loveless marriage no matter how good Nik was at kissing. As soon as the opportunity arose she would be out of here for good!

Opening her eyes Gabby groaned at the sight of her clock which read just five am. It had taken her hours to fall in to a fitful sleep and now she was wide awake but feeling exhausted and washed out. She didn't know if it was the stress of the day before or the thought of what the day would bring but she had a pounding headache and it didn't feel like it was going away any time soon so with a deep weary sigh she dragged herself from the bed and slipped her silk robe on before quietly opening the door. Hesitating outside her room she listened for any sound of movement and breathed a sigh of relief when all remained silent. Padding silently down the stairs she entered the kitchen and searched through the cupboard for some painkillers, cursing when she came up empty handed. She was feeling worse by the second and even her eyes were starting to hurt.

“Here!”

Gabby jumped at the voice behind her and spun round to find that Nik had managed to creep up on her once again. But at least this time he came bearing gifts. Painkillers had never looked so good and she knew her headache must be bad if she was actually grateful to Nik.

"Thank you," she murmured as she gratefully accepted the proffered pills and swallowed them down with some water hoping that they kicked in soon.

"Couldn't sleep?" he asked and she shook her head slowly wincing slightly at the pain it caused. Seeing her pain Nik placed a hand at the small of her back and propelled her in to the nearest chair and she went without complaint.

"What are you....?” Gabby began only to trail off as he tilted her head back and began to gently massage her temples.

"Shh. Just relax," Nik told her as his fingers began working their magic and Gabby couldn't help but do as he said.

"Mm," she murmured as she leaned her head back and let her eyes drift closed. She hated to admit it but he was actually helping the pain and she was feeling more relaxed already.

Gabby opened her eyes to find bright sunlight filtering through the large windows and she slowly stretched and then frowned at the realisation that she wasn't in her room and she didn't remember how she got here.

"Morning," 

Gabby frowned at the sight of her husband entering the room and then reality hit hard as she finally realised just whose room she was in and as events from earlier returned process of elimination left her with the conclusion that Nik must have carried her up here. 

"Morning," she replied with a frown wondering just how she was supposed to act. She felt like an awkward teenager unsure of what she was supposed to be doing or feeling. She could hardly act her usual cool aloof self and anger didn't seem to have any place in the mornings activities but nor did she want to be grateful to him.

"Feeling better?" he asked and Gabby offered a weak smile.

"Much. Thank you," she replied and he offered a grin that had the ability to melt her insides.

"I have to go out but I have instructed Luisa to move your things," Nik informed her and Gabby stiffened at his words.

"Why have you instructed the housekeeper to move my things?" she demanded and Nik's grin morphed in to a frown as he observed her pale features.

"I told you last night. I have every intention of making our marriage a real one," he reminded her and Gabby glared at him.

"And I have no intention of staying with you. Not in this house and certainly not in this room," she informed him watching as his expression steadily darkened.

"We will talk about this when I get back," he said as he turned to leave and Gabby took the time to stick her tongue out at his retreating back.

“I can think of better uses for that tongue,” Nik told her without turning back and she winced.

"We have nothing to talk about," she muttered only to trail off as her husband paused at the door and turned back to face her.

"And don't get any foolish ideas Gabriella. If you think you can leave me while I am not here think again. I will bring you back," he warned and on that note he disappeared from sight leaving Gabby to stare after him in shock. The arrogance of the man, to think for a second that he could control her. Well, she would most definitely not be here when he came back. Though she wasn't quite brave enough to try and leave him altogether just yet. But she was damned if she was going to meekly sit about the house like a grounded child waiting for him to come home and order her around some more. With that in mind she dragged herself from his bed and cast it a disgusted look at the thought that she hadn't even realised he had put her there. Then she stalked back to her own room and got herself ready for the day.

Dressed in her favourite jeans and black blouse Gabby slid her feet in to her heels then collected her bag and stormed from the room. Pausing only long enough to inform Louisa that she was not to move her things, and declining to answer to her plans for the day or commit to a time when she would be back, Gabby swept from the house and then cursed as she remembered that she had no transport. With a furious sigh she stormed down the driveway and out in to the street where she selected her phone and made a call to a local taxi company. Thankfully Nik’s blacklisting seemed to have worn off and five minutes later they arrived. With a sigh of relief Gabby climbed in only to realise that she had no destination in mind and no plans for the day. 

"Where to?" asked the balding driver and Gabby flashed him a quick smile before she selected a shopping centre at random. She didn't particularly want to go shopping but it would get her out and give her something to do.

Several hours later Gabby found herself in possession of several boutique bags and yet she didn't feel any better. In fact she felt almost bored and with a sigh she decided it was time to change activity. Spotting a cinema she decided it wouldn't hurt to spend a few hours losing herself in a movie about someone else's troubles. Mind made up she bought a ticket and settled down to enjoy a romantic comedy that had her laughing in parts and wincing at the heroines naivety in others. It wasn't until the lights were going up that she realised some friends of hers were also in the cinema and as they waved her over Gabby summoned a polite smile and ambled over.

"Peter, Susan. So wonderful to see you," she acknowledged as she drew close and the couple embraced her briefly with big grins. They were not close friends but they had known each other for years and occasionally got together for dinner.

“Gabby! What a surprise. I must say we really enjoyed your party the other night,” Susan said and Gabby offered her a faint smile.

“I’m glad you had a good time,” Gabby acknowledged.

"How about we go for dinner?" Peter suggested and Gabby gladly agreed though she made a quick stop in the bathroom to get changed in to one of her new dresses. The places Peter and Susan tended to frequent would frown upon jeans and she knew better than to try her luck.

On her way out to Peter's car Gabby turned her phone back on and was not surprised to see that there were several missed calls, voice mails and texts. All most likely from Nik, though she had no intention of checking to see. It wasn't as though he had cared much about where she was before this sudden idea of his.