Page 63 of Sacred Vow

“Putting you back where you belong.”

“You need more clothes,” Andrei grouses, tugging at the hem of my dress. It’s not as short as the black mini I wore the night I walked into Kraze for the first time, but he’s not impressed.

“Hey, you’re the one who gave me an afternoon to figure out what to wear tonight. A little more notice would be nice.” I push his hands away.

“You should have gone shopping.” He gives me a heated glare while I walk across his office on the top floor of his club and sit in one of the leather armchairs.

“I don’t have the money right now to go shopping. You took away my income, remember?” I pull my phone from my purse and swipe it to life. Marlena is supposed to be meeting me. It was the only concession I could get from Andrei when he declared I wasn’t staying home alone.

“You don’t need an income.” He finishes his whiskey. “You have my income.”

I roll my eyes. “Your income is your income,” I argue. “I can make my own money, and as soon as this mess is over with, that’s what I’m going to do.” I promised not to argue about his protection for the time being, and I won’t go back on my word. But he needs to understand I still have my own autonomy. I won’t be steamrolled just because he’s bigger, stronger, and more powerful than me.

He crooks his finger. “Come over here, Isolde.” There’s a fire in his eyes tonight, and I’m not sure I should get anywhere near him when he’s like this.

“Maybe later.” I check my phone again. Finally, Marlena responds.

Around the corner. Be there in two minutes.

When I look up, Andrei towers over me. Slowly, he lowers himself, pressing his hands into the arms of the chair and bringing his face to mine.

“Would you like me to send your friend away?” His question isn’t really a question. I know this look in his eyes; it’s better to stay quiet. “Would you prefer to spend the night kneeling in the corner while I have my meeting?”

“I’m not sure your associates would want me around,” I whisper when his pause goes on for too long.

His lips curl at the edges, like I’m giving him good ideas.

“My associates are smart enough not to comment. And none of them would be so stupid as to think they can touch you and live to tell about it.” He cups my face, running his finger over my lips.

“But then I’d hear all of your business secrets,” I egg him on. I’m sure he means what he says. But I also know how possessive this man is. If he found me anywhere near other men in a position that they might see as sexual or arousing, he’d cut out their eyes.

“You think I don’t know how to take away your hearing?” There’s a dark undertone to his words, and I’m not sure we’re playing anymore.

“Fine. I won’t talk about getting a job.” Yet.

“And you’ll go shopping,” he adds.

“Sure.” I nod. “I’ll go shopping.” I’m not promising to buy anything.

There’s a knock at the door, but he’s not moving.

“I think Marlena’s here,” I say.

“Can I trust you to behave with her?”

“Behave? Like play nice with all the other kids on the playground?”

“No. You aren’t to play with anyone. You have a corner table in the VIP section with your own personal server. You will not—listen to me, Isolde—you will not dance with anyone other than Marlena.”

And his possessive side makes an appearance.

“Sure.” I nod. I’m not much for dancing, and I have no intention of bringing any innocent bystander into his line of sight.

“Come in!” he snaps when there’s another set of knocks.

“Hey.” Marlena walks in. “Everything all right?”

“Yeah. Just a normal day.” I smile.

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