Page 34 of Dancing With Distraction

“You’re looking for excuses,” he snaps, following me, “because you feel our connection like I do and it scares the shit out of you.”

“You’re a good fuck, Dmitry, I can’t deny that. But I’ll find that anywhere.” I spin to walk in the direction of the gate, relieved when he doesn’t follow.

I reach the gate and growl in frustration when I see it’s locked. I give it a shake, but as I’d discovered before, the intricate metalwork means it’s impossible to get a big enough space for me to get a foot up. I hear the rumble of a car engine and the headlights from Dmitry’s Audi illuminate me. I cross my arms over my chest as he pulls to a stop behind me, and he steps out, resting one arm on the open door. “Get in the car, Victoria,” he says firmly.

“No.”

“Get in, or I swear, I’ll put you back in the boot.”

I huff and stomp to the passenger side, yanking the door open and sliding into the leather seat. I slam the door extra hard, noticing the way he winces as he gets back in. He reaches across, pulling the seatbelt over me and clipping it into place. “I get why you’re angry,” he says, tapping a code into his mobile phone and waiting while the gate opens, “but we had a good time tonight, didn’t we?”

“Good times are easy to come by.” His fingers tighten around the steering wheel, and I glance his way to see he’s clenching his jaw. I smirk to myself. “I never actually took my profile down from Tinder,” I add casually. “Yah know, just in case.”

“Just in case of what?” he asks through gritted teeth.

“In case of this exact scenario.” He shakes his head, muttering something to himself in Russian. “I saw how you looked at her,” I add coldly, “and the way she submitted right in front of my fucking eyes. You’re doing all this with her too.”

“It’s what I do,” he snaps. “It’s how I live my life.”

I rest my head against the cool of the glass and watch as the streetlights rush past us. It might be how he lives his life, but it isn’t how I live mine, and it hurts seeing him with her, knowing he’s with her in the same way he is me.

The second he stops the car near my flat, I unclip the seatbelt and jump from the car. He’s quick to follow. “Don’t walk away,” he says firmly.

I scoff. “Fuck off, Dmitry,” I snap, turning to face him but continuing to walk backwards to keep a space between us. “In the bedroom, when you boss me around, it’s kinky as fuck, but outside of it, I’m my own person.”

“I won’t sleep with her,” he blurts out, and I stop walking. “If that’s what it takes, I won’t have sex with Vivian while we’re exploring whatever this is.” He slowly walks to me, stopping an inch away. “But you can’t go on Tinder dates or be around another man in that way.”

“How do I know you won’t do it anyway and just hide it from me?”

“You have to trust me. I always stick to my word.”

I suddenly feel exhausted. “She’s back at your house, waiting for you in the bath.” The words cause pain in my chest as my heart twists in agony. I wasn’t meant to feel anything—it’s all gone wrong. He reaches for me, but I swipe his hands away. “No,” I snap, “don’t touch me.”

“Victoria,” he murmurs, his tone pleading. I step back, and he grabs hold of me, pulling me to him and wrapping his arms around me. “I can’t get you out of my mind,” he grits out like it’s driving him insane. “I can’t let you walk away, not now I’ve had a taste.”

“Let me go,” I hiss, struggling to break free. He keeps hold, and I inhale sharply before saying the one word he promised he’d adhere to. “Distraction.”

His arms instantly release me, and I put space between us. “See,” he says, “you have all the control, Victoria. You’re running the show here.”

“I just need some space,” I reply, and he places his hands on his hips, regarding me with irritation. “No more bundling me in cars. I’ll call you when I’m ready.”

“I’m not a patient man,” he warns.

“With me, you will be,” I say, and then I turn on my heel and head up to my flat. I glance back as I go through the main door, and he’s watching me. It crushes me to walk away, but my head is a mess and I need some time to process the last few hours.

I enjoyed it, even the part where he made me clean up naked. I shiver at the memory. I’ve never had someone turn me on so much by ordering me around. Maybe that’s why I’m so reluctant to hang around while Vivian is a part of his life. Whatever the reason for it, he’s clearly still in some kind of relationship with her.

Unlocking the door to my flat, I’m about to turn the light on when a sack is pulled over my head. I gasp for breath, instantly feeling claustrophobic. “Where the fuck have you been, you whore?” Marcus growls in my ear while pulling the sack tight around my neck.

I’m transported back there. “Lie still, Victoria.” But I couldn’t because I hated the cloth over my face. “You stupid bitch.” He was always so angry and hateful towards me, and as the cloth tightens around my throat, I feel him between my legs.

I suddenly gasp and my eyes spring open. I’m on the bed, and Marcus is looking down at me. “Welcome back,” he sneers.

Dmitry’s shirt is above my breasts, and I try to discreetly tug it down, but Marcus grabs my wrist, squeezing hard. “You haven’t been home twice when I’ve called around,” he accuses, grabbing my breast hard and digging his fingers into the flesh until I cry out in distress. Satisfied, he lets go and slaps my face hard. “And then you come home wearing a man’s shirt with nothing underneath. Where have you been, Tori?”

“Please,” I whisper, hating how vulnerable he makes me feel.

He straddles me, and a whimper leaves my throat. Feeling his weight on me, smelling his overpowering aftershave, takes me back there, and as he places his large hand over my mouth and nose, tears leak from the corners of my eyes. I squeeze them shut and see that little girl I once was, so powerless and vulnerable.

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