Read Devoured: Brides of the Kindred 11 for Free Online

she was wearing uncertainly. She had found
it online and for a wonder, it actually fit perfectly. It had a high, square
cut neckline and ended modestly at the knees but it hugged her hourglass curves
nicely—the perfect thing, she’d thought, to wear to their anniversary dinner.
    It was the first time they’d gone out in
months, since Pierce preferred to stay home. He always said he liked her
cooking more than any restaurant and besides, he didn’t want any horny men
staring at his pretty wife.
    But Tess got tired of staying in all the
time—she’d been looking forward to this dinner for months.
    Her husband’s eyes narrowed. “Where did
you even get that? How did you afford it?”
    Tess found herself suddenly tongue-tied.
How could she admit that she’d saved back a little money from the part time job
he allowed her to work at the nursing home? She was supposed to turn her entire
paycheck over to him each week—it was the man’s job, Pierce said, to handle the
money. She wasn’t supposed to worry her pretty little head about it. He would
give her enough for groceries and household expenses.
    But not enough to buy anything nice unless
he approved of it first.
    “I…my mom sent me a little cash,” she said
haltingly. A lie, but the truth would have gotten her into trouble.
    Pierce frowned. “I didn’t see an envelope
from her in the mail.”
    “It was the day you worked late so I got
the mail,” Tess said quickly. “Remember? Last Wednesday?”
    “Oh. All right.” He frowned. “Look, from
now on I don’t want you messing with the mailbox. Even if I work late, just
leave it. I’ll get it myself.”
    “All right.” Tess felt her throat closing
as another little piece of her world was chipped away.
    There was so much Pierce didn’t allow her
to do. He didn’t like her shopping by herself or running errands. He didn’t want
her going back to school even though she had quit in the middle of the nursing
program she’d been in back in North Carolina
to move to Tampa
with him. “Too many horny guys running around a college campus,” he’d said,
even though he had sworn she could finish her RN degree once he got settled in
his new job. He barely let her work part time at the Happy Rest Nursing Home
and he had only approved that place because it was full of old people without
any “horny guys” to worry about. Now she couldn’t even get the mail!
    Tess noticed that her husband was still
staring at her with narrowed eyes and realized that she’d better start defusing
the situation quickly.
    “I saw it online,” she said, letting him
know she hadn’t been out shopping by herself. “And I thought you would like it.
I…I got it just for you.”
    She hated herself for lying again—for
trying to cater to Pierce’s uncertain temper. But if she didn’t she would pay
the price. And really, she just wanted to get out of the house for once and go
somewhere that wasn’t work.
    “Just for me, hmm?” His look of suspicion
softened and he smiled at her, the corners of his green eyes crinkling in the
way she had found so attractive when they first met.
    “Just for you.” Tess breathed an inward
sigh of relief. Maybe everything would be all right after all. Maybe they could
just go out and enjoy a nice dinner together the way they used to when they
were still dating.
    “Well, well…it is a sexy little number…” Pierce grabbed her by the waist and
kissed her neck.
    Tess stiffened but kept the smile fixed on
her face.
    “I’m glad you like it. But we’re going to
miss our reservation if we don’t hurry.”
    “Screw the reservation. How can I
concentrate on food when I’ve got such a sexy little wife?” Pierce muttered,
kissing her again. “Come on, Princess, let’s see what’s under that hot little
dress…”
    Tess bit her lip. This could go one of two
ways. If she gave Pierce what he wanted they might still make the dinner
reservation if he was quick. If she resisted, there would certainly