He cleared his throat, "Sineka."

He caught her eyes narrowing slightly, her fingers nearing her tasteful gold necklace, "Sir Crocodile," he knew she had more to say, "so nice of you to finally show up, I was starting to think I married a ghost or a vampire who refused to show up in broad daylight. It would've been nice to see you at Frosthaven to escort me."

His fingers twitched, as he imagined them wrapped around her neck, daring her to repeat that sassy comment. Somehow, he knew she could still look at him defiantly. He noticed how Daz and his butler froze, along with the housekeeper who had joined them at some point.

"Well, it seems your father's guards already did a good job of it."

She raised one of her shapely brows, her lips turning down in a frown. "What guards?"

Before he could reply, Daz whispered near him, "She arrived on a public ship. Alone."

What?

"I think you wrongly perceive my father as a generous man," she turned her eyes leftwards, her gold hoops jiggling a little, "Makes me think what you might've thought of me?"

Crocodile cringed inwardly, she almost caught him redhanded.

"Well, you are different from how I thought you would be," he admitted, just for the sake of wanting to evoke a reaction.

She immediately gives him the satisfaction of seeing those defiant eyes spiting fire at her via her upturned nose, and her hands crossed on her chest, pushing up her mass. "Well, I am sorry if your wishes were crushed when you weren't greeted by a tall and busty coquette.

Missed the mark by only a centimetre…and a feet

"Not really," he brushed off the comment, and walked predatorily to her, wanting to intimidate her with his height and the danger that most women sensed in him. She only strained her neck more to look right into his eyes.

She was either very dull or very brave.

"I just thought you to be…" he gave her a slow once-over, wanting to make her conscious, obviously failing, "...less distracting."

Her brows rose in surprise.

"You don't sound very disappointed, sir," she noted, her head tilting to a side, arching her neck and wanting him to bite it right below her hoop.

"Oh, believe me, I am," If anything, he was flirting now.

"Well, I am too. I, at least, thought you to be," she imitated his glance over her, "more gentlemanly, considering the 'sir' you are referred to as. Forgetting your wife for a year and making her come to you without any escorts, is disappointing."

His eyes narrowed in irritation. This woman's mouth was going to be her death sooner or later, most likely by his hands.

"Why don't I show you to your room, madam," the housekeeper smartly interrupted, making Sineka glance over at her and smile lightly.

"That would be lovely," she replied kindly.

Crocodile did notice her posh mannerisms and her manners. Other than getting on his nerves, she did seem like a good woman to have as a wife. However, in his mind, her mouth needed to be tamed if they were to try getting along.

"I'll take you to our room," he smoothly interrupted, and her head jerked towards him in shock.

"Our?"

"As in mine and yours."

"As in, we are going to share a room?"

"Well, we are married."

"Let's just conveniently forget it again, hm?" she smoothly jabbed at him, "and I get a separate room."

At this point, everyone had scurried out of the room. Her luggage would already be in his room in a minute or two and by the next half-hour, there would already be a space in his closet for her things.

"No," he sternly replied. "We are going to sleep together. We are married for a year."

"I am not going to sleep with you," she replied defiantly, "I hardly know you."

"Too bad."

She scoffed. "Bite me, Alligator."

His eye twitched at the jab. He did not like insults like this.

So, he did the one thing his hands were itching to do and wrapped his hand around her neck. He heard her breath hitch, eyes widening in shock. "Gladly, however, it's too soon for that darling."

Her eyes narrowed, and his turned stern and cold.

"You will sleep in my room, Sineka," he sternly commanded, "and do not disrespect me in front of my staff."

"I will do as I please."

"I will have you over my knee before you can even think of doing that again."

She gasped in shock and before she snapped back, he had her over his shoulder, making her squeak.

"Put me down!"

Smack

She gasped. "You did not just slap my arse, you swine."

Smack

"Stop it!"

"Then shut up and be still."

And just because he wanted to, he slapped her ass again, making her growl.