Evangeline sat in the dark on her bed staring at the door. Terribly shaking and trying her best to get rid of the annoying lump in her neck.
She can't believe she did this.
Her heart ached with the thought that she ruined what ever closeness she had with Adrian.
She curled up on the bed and turned her face into her pillow to drown out her crying.
~·~·~·~·~~
Sleep just could not claim him.
Haunted by what happened between he and Evangeline. He was taken completely by surprise of the passionate look in her eyes. Although she doesn't know of the full force of her sensuality, she was every bit the enchantress before him. They trembled with want for each other and it frightened him and with that he awoke with the awareness of her innocence.  He could do nothing but wait for his desire to pass. He hated himself for the wounded look on her sweet face when he rejected her.
It wasn't for her sake. But his own.

*~*~*~*~*
The day Caroline returned she had felt the tension in the air between them.
They avoided one another throughout the day and ate supper in silence. Very few light airy words were spoken but that was when she began the conversation.
She had confronted her brother about her concerns and wanted to know what happened but his tortured look brushed it off with a small smile that it was a "small disagreement "they had. Nothing to worry about.
Evangeline on her end would say nothing as well.

Caroline never realized the severity of this "small disagreement" until Alicia showed up one day.
And what little contact Evangeline did have with Adrian or Alicia had severed for good.

Ever since Alicia arrived to spend time with Adrian, Evangeline would disappear. She spent most of her days out in the barn busying herself with the stable hand and helping out. She worked to get him off her mind.
But it did not work.

She nuzzled her mares neck and sadly closed her eyes. The days were so lonely she sighed. Feeling hungry she decided to call it a day and go in for supper.

Exhaustion had the best of her as she trudged through the back entrance towards the foyer.
She barely made the stairs when the shrill annoying voice of Alicia stopped her.
"Where have you been?" She asked.

"The barn," she replied.

"All day?" Alicia scoffed in disbelief.

Turning to face Alicia, Evangeline spoke with as much politeness as she could muster up.

"Yes, I have been helping the stable hand," she breathed.

With a taunting laugh, Alicia began to belittle her.

Evangeline could not take anymore and decided it's best to leave while the waters were still bearable.
But, Alicia would have none of it.

Immediately she grabbed Evangeline's arm and stopped her from leaving.

"I'm not done talking you little chit," Alicia grit  her teeth.

Frustrated Evangeline yanked her arm away.

"I've noticed you and Adrian   have barely been speaking, why is that? What did you do?"

"That is none of your business," Evangeline said angrily.

"Everything that pertains to my fiancé is my business,"

"Then ask him and leave me the hell alone" Evangeline shot back.

Their heated words and physical scuffle escalated and gained the witness of one person by the library that saw it from the beginning.

"You insolent bitch," Alicia spat.

"No, you're  the bitch Alicia," Evangeline shouted.

Immediately she was aware of the hand that lifted and painfully crossed her cheek. Evangeline was stunned and mortified. Anger over took the best of her and Adrian entered from the front entrance just in time to see the slap being returned just as fast if not harder that Alicia slightly tumble from the blow to the floor.

"Evangeline!"  Adrian shouted.

He was by Alicia's side hugging her as she played the innocent victim.
He glared up at her.
"Apologize," he said through his clenched teeth.

She gasped and looked at the smug smile on Alicia's face.

Shaking her head, she refused.

Backing away, Evangeline walked towards the steps. But she didn't get far before Adrian caught her arm and turned her around to face him.

She pulled away from him as if his touch burned. They stood staring at each other as a silent storm began to brew between them. His heart hammered in his chest of the view before him. She stood with a determined stare, She was defying him. Something she never did.

He stepped closer and as he did he was thunderstruck by her fury. Her nose and eyes red. The faint sensation of guilt and remorse pulled at his heart. But her disobedient stance and defiance angered him to no end. He glared at her and repeated his words slowly.

"Apologize NOW!" he growled.

"I will not," she bit out as tears pooled in her eyes.

By this time tear after tear fell and her chest rose and fell fast drawing in deep droughts of air as her own anger rose. Vehemently she shook her head and words spilled from her lips with hate and disdain as she glared heatedly at Alicia.

"You can't make me apologize to that viper," she cried out furiously.

Alicia gasped.

His eyes flashed a dark flame of steel grey. Evangeline caught her breath. She saw the flame inside his eyes, and her heart did a somersault in response. His fingers bit into her arms in a tight grip.

"Let me go!" She struggled against his hold and fought until she broke free dashing up the stairs as fast as her feet could carry her.

He caught her a moment before she reached the last step, whirling her around dragging her against his chest, wrapping his arms around her tightly.
She fought him like a wild thing.
His grip tightened with each violent struggle.

Furiously he bent and tossed her lightly over his shoulder and walked off towards her room. Slamming her door shut so hard it vibrated throughout the manor. In three strides he was before her bed then tossed her in the middle. She looked up. He was furious.

"Enough is enough Evangeline," he shouted at her.

"I will not tolerate this behavior, you will apologize before this day is over," he hissed.

She scrambled furiously to her knees before him with all the rage that coursed through her veins she faced him.
"I would rather burn in the fires of hell before I apologize to that bloody harpy," she cried.

This had gone too far. Blinded by his anger and for the fact that she disobeyed him he never thought of it, in a heart beat she was pulled off the bed as he sat on it and draped her over his knees.

Stunned by his action she squirmed in his hold begging to be let go as he tossed up her skirt. A strong arm held her in place as the first assault was dealt on her rump followed by another, then another and soon after a couple more. She cried out and fought against him but he was stronger.
He did it repeatedly. In his rage, he had lost count after the tenth and broke from his thoughts with her heart wrenching cries.

His heart quickened with what he was doing and he immediately sat her up.

Evangeline's backside was sore and so was her pride. It wasn't fair she cried.

She cried like she never had. With her emotions unchecked she caught him off guard lunging at him. She fought him with every ounce of strength she had before he gained the upper hand and flipped her over on her back pinning her down with his body.

He pushed his body hard against hers, holding her down to try to keep her still. The harder he pushed the stronger she fought.

An overwhelming feeling swelled up inside his chest. He was suddenly aware of the softness of her body beneath his.  He didn’t know what came over him. Their eyes met and the sizzling charge between them was just like a brewing storm forming over the sea and like a lightning strike he thrust his head down, and savagely took her lips with his. He was hot with desire for this fierce beauty beneath him. His hand came up to her nape, holding her there, pulling her up to him, wanting her closer settling between her thighs...it felt so right.

Her struggles stopped and she responded slowly to his kiss.

Suddenly he froze. He pushed himself up and stared down at her. She was breathtaking. Her lips red and swollen from his passionate assault, hair fanned out, the unmistakable lust and confusion in her eyes.  He moved off the bed and turned away.

She sat up breathless, staring at his back. He refused to look at her.

"Adrian," she whispered his name.
She was completely lost, confused. She wasn't sure what she did wrong.

Again she called his name and watched as his muscles flexed.

The sweetness of her voice caressed him. It played havoc with his arousal as he fought against the urge to turn and take her into his arms.

Closing his eyes tight he clenched his fists at his side.

"Eva, go!"

"But..."

"Now!!!"  he shouted. His whole body shook.

Tears of humiliation welled into her eyes and she jumped stumbling back to the door. She cast one long look back.
Her voice was soft as she spoke.
"She hit me first," she cried.

He turned to look at her, his expression softened as if to step closer to her but, she inched back and ran off.

Suddenly his chest tightened.

She raced from the manor to the stables. Violet was just outside, being nuzzled by Gideon, and she swung herself up on her mare’s back and kicked her into a trot, later breaking into a gallop as they left the land, the manor and the scene of her humiliation.

The evidence stared back at him. The bed was a rumpled mess.

He stood staring out at the vast estate and saw her leave.

He closed his eyes and cursed.
What did he do?