Page 15 of Sacred Vow

“You’re insane if you think I’m letting that happen.” I fold my arms over my chest. “You’re not going to touch me.”

He shakes his head slowly. “Do you remember your sophomore homecoming?”

“Y-yeah? So?” He’d been with Craig, playing cards with my uncle and a few other guys.

“I warned you about drinking after the dance. I was pretty clear that you shouldn’t. Remember?”

“What does this have to do with that?” I’d left for the dance with a warmth in my belly after his warning. The same feeling returns now with the way he’s staring at me.

“When you came home two hours past curfew with a stain on your dress and beer on your breath, what did I say to you, do you remember?”

My entire body flushes with the memory. Mom had already gone to bed. Craig and the guys were still playing cards. I’d gotten home just as Andrei had folded his hand.

“That was seven years ago. And it was none of your business.”

“Tell me what I said, Isolde. When I found you in the bathroom, trying to brush the beer smell from your mouth. What did I say?” His hands are hooked on his hips.

I remember exactly what he said, but more than that, I remember the electric shiver that ran straight through my body when he said it. I’d barely been able to look him in the eye the rest of the time he’d been there.

“You’re crazy.” I shake my head, wishing the memory of what it felt like to have him so close, so overprotective back then would just go away.

“Tell me.” He arches an eyebrow.

I blow out a breath. “You said something about letting me off the hook.”

“No. Tell me what I said. Exactly,” he pushes.

“I don’t remember.”

“Lie number three.” He holds up three fingers and wiggles them. “That’s very bad for you. Now answer me truthfully or you’ll be a very sorry girl.”

The longer the silence stretches between us, the higher his eyebrow arches. It’s apparent he’s not going to end this without getting what he wants. And they’re just words. How hard can it be to say them?

I clear my throat.

“Fine.” I do my best to mimic his ridiculously low tone. “You said, This is the only pass you’ll get from me, Izzy. Do it again and you’ll know what happens to naughty girls who don’t listen.”

I was wrong. It was hard. I touch my cheeks. They’re on fire.

“That’s right.” Pride washes across his expression, making that little flutter in my stomach kick up a notch.

He holds out his hand to me, as though he’s going to help me up a step or something.

I shake my head.

“You’re making this harder on yourself than you need to,” he warns. “If I have to drag you over here, this gets worse.”

Worse.

I’m not sure my face can get any hotter. And I’m positive there’s no way on this earth I’m just going to let him spank me.

“Fuck you, Andrei.” I bolt for the door. His arm wraps around my middle before I get one foot out of the room. I’m lifted off the floor as easily as a bag of feathers.

“That was the wrong move, Isolde.” He carries me the three steps back to my bed and sinks down onto it, maneuvering me over his lap with one flip of his arm.

My stomach rolls, with his knee pressed against me and the blood rushing to my head. I make one more attempt to get away, throwing all my weight forward.

“You’re not going anywhere.” He lifts his left leg and drags me closer to his torso, while wrapping his trunk of an arm around my waist, anchoring me to him.

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