Total pages in book: 94
Estimated words: 92284 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 461(@200wpm)___ 369(@250wpm)___ 308(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 92284 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 461(@200wpm)___ 369(@250wpm)___ 308(@300wpm)
Of course, red-blooded alpha male that he is, he wiggles his eyebrows at me. “I would love to rest.” He somehow puts air quotes around the word rest.
“Rodi.” I stifle a giggle, repeating Zoya’s nickname for him just because I love the way his eyes narrow in on me.
“Call me that again, little queen.” He clucks his tongue at me. “Go, Ember. Rest. I’ll be up in a few minutes.”
But it’s hard to rest knowing Shawn is out there, that he’s never going to walk away from me, knowing I shunned him and knowing that I just married into the Bratva.
What does that even mean?
I consider taking the dress off, but in the end, keep it on because… well, if I’m honest, I want Rodion to take it off. So sue me if I still have book boyfriend fantasies I want to live out.
I lie in the bed, propped up on a variety of pillows, and pull out my phone. My heart rate races when I see I got another message from Shawn.
I put the phone down.
I pick it up again.
I stare at it as if it’s a lethal snake about to bite me.
I finally click the message to read it, despite everything in me screaming at me not to.
Shawn: you looked beautiful today. White always suited you. You look beautiful now. Careful not to wrinkle the dress, Ember
I sit up in bed, my heart racing. Footsteps sound outside the door. I try to remember everything about self-defense, but I haven’t practiced, and my mind is a blank of nerves and fear.
Oh god.
Oh god.
I look wildly around the room, but it’s just a simple guest room, well-appointed but simple. Pillows, blankets, and—my eyes come to rest on a bottle of champagne on the dresser.
I could break it. If I have to, I can use it as a weapon, and I could—
The door handle jingles. Someone pounds at the door. I scream.
Chapter 24
EMBER
“It’s me! Ember. Open the door!”
Oh god. It’s Rodion. Of course it is as if Shawn would get past the wall of armed guards downstairs.
I choke back a sob as I open the door to find Rodion frantic and half-mad, his eyes blazing as he pushes past me into the room, a gun in hand.
“What are you—Rodion, you can’t—”
“Where is he? You screamed. Your heart rate went through the fucking roof. What happened?”
I show him the texts. “He’s lying, baby. It’s a lie, I promise. He can’t be watching you.”
My voice is trembling. “But what if he is?”
Rodion’s gaze grows heated. “I hope he shows his fucking face.”
I should stop him. I should tell him no, that I can’t do this, not now, not when I’m tense and afraid and I—
I should.
But the second he spins me toward the window, pressing me up against the glass like he can’t stand the space between us, I forget how to breathe.
His hands fist the layers of fabric of my wedding gown, dragging it up slowly—too slowly. I know exactly why he’s doing this.
I’d tie him to a chair, making him watch me ruin you—slow and raw, before I cut out his eyes and left him to bleed out, knowing the last thing he ever saw was me owning you.
Cool air kisses the back of my thighs as he lifts the dress higher. I press my palms flat against the glass to steady myself. It’s frigid, like a sheet of ice, the edges painted with ice crystals, when something colder and harder presses up against my thigh.
“Here’s your wedding gift, little queen. A weapon from your king.”
My heart swells. I can’t think of a better gift than him taking me without apology and handing me agency, all at once.
I might love this man. I think I do.
I can see us in the reflection of the cold glass—him, behind me, dark and possessive, his eyes burning with something untamed and wild. I barely recognize myself, my lips parted.
“You’re shaking, baby,” he whispers, his voice rough against my ear as he grips my thighs hard.
“Rodion…” My breath stutters. It sounds like a plea. I don’t know what I’m asking for.
His teeth graze my shoulder, scraping over my skin before he bites down hard enough to make me squirm.
God.
My forehead drops against the glass with a quiet thud as heat rushes between my legs.
“Don’t hide,” Rodion growls, his hand fluttering over my stomach as he yanks me back so our bodies collide. I love the feel of him at my back. His voice drops lower. “I want him to see exactly how good you look when you’re mine.”
I can still see myself making a video, holding my favorite dark romance book, waving it in front of the camera while I gushed.
And then he fucks her, right in the open, so the enemy can watch everything.
But right now… I open my mouth as a shudder rolls through me.