That first year of meetings had centered constantly on her desire to control her own future, even if she had to accept having an arranged marriage. He would have none of it. Of course the Rodolphus then was slighter, at least a touch less confident than the tree trunk of a man who was looking increasingly irritated.
She could see the darkness roll across his eyes, wiping any hint of humor away. Bella gave a huff and lifted her hands from his chest. Whatever words she had died in her throat as he roughly grabbed her arm, holding it tight enough that it hurt. She tried to yank free which just made spots dance before her eyes. When her back hit the tree her arm did first and she could feel the bark cutting in. The stinging told her she was bleeding from at least one place. Damn it if he marked her permanently she would going to hex him in his sleep.
Her expression was petulant. Fury made her hands tremble and she stubbornly attempted to get away. By the fourth time her arm hurt and she was no where closer to getting away from him than she had been before she started and on top of that she was breathing hard. She hated that he knew she was scared. Her Rodolphus still wasn't always sure of how she operated but this man played her like some sort of instrument.
"You will let me go at once." Her voice was cold and commanding. Black's didn't beg. "I don't even know you." She sneered the last words, embarrassed at feeling weak and small pressed against him.