Consequences

who are they from?”
    “I believe your ability to understand has diminished with your memory. I said I chose not to forward them to you. I decided you will stay home, safe. Good night.” Tony lay back on his pillow.
    She lay still for what seemed like hours. His breathing slowed and became rhythmic. For the first time since he’d proposed, she didn’t want to be with him. Claire decided that since they were in his suite, she could go to hers . She waited until she felt certain that he was asleep, and then gently lifted the covers. Feeling for her robe she heard his booming voice rip through the darkness. “What do you think you are doing?”
    “I am aware the conversation is done and that I have no control in my own activities. It is all in your hands. But at this moment, I am also aware that you do not consider me a spouse or a partner. I am going to my suite to ponder this information.”
    “No, you are not.” A conclusive statement. At a little over six foot four, Tony’s arm span was immense. Perhaps if she hadn’t been tying her robe and putting her feet into slippers she might have had better balance. In less than a second he grasped her arm and she was again lying on his bed. The weight of his upper body had her pinned to the mattress. Memories of their wedding pictures came to mind, she felt small and defenseless.
    “Tony, remember your promise.” Her voice sounded falsely formidable.
    “Which has always been contingent upon yours.” Her chest suddenly felt heavy, not from the weight of his body, but his words. He continued, “You are right.” She didn’t speak, unsure of her correctness. “The conversation is done and I am in total control of your activities, including where you will sleep and which invitations you will accept.” The tears began to pool in her eyes. “However, you are also mistaken. I don’t consider you a spouse. I know you are my wife. You belong to me.”
    His forearms pushed against her shoulders causing them to ache. His words weren’t a revelation, Claire knew she was his possession. He continued moving his face closer. “You are staying here tonight. You are not leaving me, my bed, or my presence .” The tears flowed. “Now it is time for you to respond appropriately.” His weight shifted slightly.
    Claire remembered times in the past when she hadn’t replied quickly enough or to his liking. She focused her energy on keeping her body from trembling. However, she couldn’t concentrate on that and tears, so her words became muffled sobs. Swallowing hard, she tried to strengthen her voice. “I will not leave you. Even if I left your bed tonight it would have only been because I’m upset, not because I want our marriage to be over.” She took a ragged breath, imagined his dark eyes, and thanked God that the room was too dark to see them.
    “Continue.”
    “I will not leave your bed. I’ve agreed in the past, I agree now and forever to submit to your authority. I’m sorry if I’ve given you cause to break your promise.” Inhaling, she tried desperately to defuse his temper. “If you recall, this entire incident started because I asked if I could be with you when you went away. I don’t want to leave you. I want to be with you.”
    “Your ability to respond appropriately has benefited you on multiple occasions.” He released her shoulders and laid his head on his pillow. She stopped sniffling and tried to regulate her breathing. “Now take off that robe.” As she obeyed he added, “I believe we will experiment with some other forms of response.” He rolled back toward her. “But you are my partner. I don’t want you to do anything you don’t want to. So perhaps you would you rather go to sleep?”
    Claire knew this was one of those offers you can’t refuse her grandmother used to talk about. “No, I would rather respond to you.” She successfully avoided the trembling and had almost stopped the tears, but the end result was that her head pounded to the beat of her heart. Currently, that was too rapid.
    “This time it will not be verbal.” His hands seized her petite frame as his domineering tone claimed her spirit. “As you may recall, this conversation is over.”
    Claire closed her eyes and nodded. She did her best to ignore her headache and respond to her husband.
    Just before they drifted to sleep, Tony offered more information. “Courtney and Sue have called multiple times, I will think about their invitations. Emily has called