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)
White always suited you
But I preferred you in red.
Rodion steps closer. “What does it say?”
I shake my head. “It doesn’t matter.”
“The hell it doesn’t.”
I turn away. “You can’t just fix things by… by claiming me, Rodion.”
A part of me fears I’m pushing him away because I don’t know what to do with all these pent-up fears, and he’s the closest target.
Another part tells me I have to test him; I have to make sure this is real before it all goes up in smoke and vapor.
“That’s not what this is, Ember.”
“I’m not just a prize you can parade around.” I back toward the door. The words hang in the air between us when I remember what he said before.
“Wait. When you first came in here. You said something about my heart rate?” He looks away and clenches his jaw. “Rodion. How do you know that?”
With a frown, he reaches for his phone and shows me. “Biometrics, of course.”
“You check my biometrics?” It seems like a violation.
“Of course. How else was I supposed to know you were okay when I wasn’t there?” He says it as if it’s the most natural thing in the world.
Seriously?
I stare, abashed. “What else have you been checking you conveniently decided not to tell me about?”
Rodion smirks, slipping his phone into his jacket pocket. His eyes hold that infuriatingly hot glint, the one that makes it impossible to tell if he’s being playful or deadly serious.
The one that made me fall in love.
“You want the full list now, or should I spread the answers out?” he asks, tapping his chin. Reaching for me, his hand grazes my hip, thumb brushing over the silk of my dress in a way that makes shivers tingle my spine.
“I’m not joking, Rodion.” I’m trying to stay serious, but he makes it hard. My voice is husky, affected.
Leaning in, he kisses my cheek. “Little queen, neither am I.”
Something dangerous simmers beneath the surface. “Let’s see,” he begins. “I know you sleep on your left side when you’re anxious. I know you clench your fists in your sleep when you’ve had a bad dream.” His voice drops lower, his mouth at my ear. “I know you stop breathing, just for a second, when I touch you here.” His hand skims down, pressing lightly against the curve of my waist.
I stop breathing, just for a second.
Heat creeps up my neck. I swallow hard.
“You’ve been watching me that closely?”
He doesn’t answer right away, but his eyes are focused on my lips. I lick them because I love the way it makes him groan.
“You’re mine, Ember. My wife now. Watching you is the least I’ve done.” His eyes grow darker. “And I don’t plan on stopping.”
I know I should say something sharp and witty, but the words seem to catch because a part of me… likes this.
A lot.
That’s the dangerous part, I think.
His hand lingers at my waist as if to remind me how easily he could pull me closer… but doesn’t.
I should remind him I need some space, that I’m still mad, that I’m not some prize to be watched or guarded.
“I know you like it,” he whispers.
Get out of my thoughts.
I turn away, but he reaches for my chin and drags my gaze back to his.
I can’t deny it. I won’t.
Because he’s right.
Somehow, when my eyes meet his… all the anger and fear and worry melt like snow under the blazing sun.
I want to let go.
I want to relish in the freedom of surrender.
How can I give him that and still maintain… me?
How do I not totally lose myself to him… to us?
My phone buzzes with a text. Rodion takes it straight out of my hand, and we read it together.
“I’ll fucking kill him,” he says in a rush of words.
Shawn
He can never protect you
You can run but I’ll always find you
You fucked me over and you’ll fucking pay for this, you liar
My throat tightens because I know two things…
First, Shawn has signed his death warrant.
Second… this isn’t temporary, and it never was.
Chapter 25
EMBER
“Rodion. Come here.” Rafail stands in a doorway by three other men.
Rodion blows out a breath, kisses my cheek, and whispers in my ear. “Stay right here.”
They all want him, everyone wants to talk, to network, to congratulate him.
He leaves the terrace outside and heads in. I welcome the garden air. The faint hum of voices inside fades, muffled by the tall hedges that line the estate.
A few minutes later, Rodion is locked away with his brothers and those official-looking men. I know he’s here on business and that his brothers are trying to make the most of their time here. So I spent the next hour with Polina and Zoya, but I miss being alone, on my own.
I live alone because I like the solitude. It feels suffocating in here. It was nice, comforting even, to chat with the girls, but eventually, it felt like the air around me was pressing in on me.