Page 70 of Little Blue

He cuts me off. “To me and to yourself.”

Unable to deny vocally, I shake my head. Then his words settle and anger sparks where the flame of desire he lit roars away in my core. Without thinking, I plant my hands into his chest and shove.

“I’m not lying to myself. The only one lying to themselves here, is you, if you think you can make the woman you kidnapped fall for you.” I drop down from the counter and give him another hard shove. The man doesn’t move an inch. He’s like a brick wall. I sniff, emotion getting the better of me. “The only thing I’ll ever feel for you, is hate.”

My heart hurts even as I say the words. But I can’t feel for him.

I can’t.

His jaw clenches and his blue eyes turn dangerously hard as he peers down at me. He’s so much bigger than me, the man could surely squash me like a bug. I’ve angered him, no doubt, but the man has yet to harm me.

I almost wish he would. Then maybe I wouldn’t feel so torn.

“I hate you,” I say again, but this time my voice rattles. It’s an unsteady and fragile thing, just like the rest of me.

He steps into me, close, but not close enough that he’s touching me. The calm in his deep voice frightens me more than a raging bellow would. “Careful, Little Blue. I’m not a patient man. I’m not a kind man. For you, I’ve been immeasurably patient. I’ve been kind, but both have their limits and you’ve nearly reached them.” He leans in closer, his warm breath a wash of warning against my ear. “Do not push me.”

I’m a moment from backing away and bowing down. From submitting to the danger, I sense rolling off him in waves when a sharp clap precedes a delighted, “Oh! Wonderful. Just wonderful!” At a sharp, small bark, the woman’s voice turns scolding. “Abu! Enough.”

What the hell?

I wouldn’t think it possible, but Ilya stiffens before he leans in even closer to warn. “Be good, my heart. You won’t like the punishment you earn otherwise.”

Good?

I scoff at him. “What? You’ll beat me?”

Something alights in his eyes. “I can think of other, more intimate ways to punish you.”

I gasp, sucking in a horrified breath that ices in my lungs as Ilya slides an arm around my waist to turn us to face the voice. A woman with dark hair and darker eyes is standing in the entrance to the kitchen. I’m struck by the look of her, because she’s lovely. She isn’t just beautiful; she’s drop dead beautiful.

And she looks far too much like Ilya for comfort.

“Mom.” My eyes snap to Ilya when he speaks.

Oh, my goodness. His mother.

This beautiful, lovely woman with the kind, dark eyes—is my monster’s mother.

He’d told me she’d be visiting last night.

In everything that had happened—in the revelation I’ve been struggling with—I forgot.

How could I have forgot?

“And who is this lovely young lady?” At her feet, little paws click, click, click on the floor. A small, light brown dog with a too-big yellow bow at his collar, yaps.

“Mom, I’d like you to meet my fiancée.”

Every part of my body goes ram rod straight. He just told his mother that I’m his fiancée. If I thought he was insane before, I know it without doubt now.

“Come, Abu.” She pushes off the frame, her clapped hands falling to her sides as she enters, Abu in tow. Her eyes shimmer as she takes in the handsome beast holding me captive at his side. “I never thought I would see the day a woman would steal your heart.”

I snort. It’s an abrupt, rude noise that I excuse with brightly reddening cheeks. “If anyone has done any stealing, it’s your son. In that, I’m innocent.” His arm pulses around my waist. A warning. I huff, silently scolded.

The woman’s eyes dance as she takes me in from head to toe. “And she’s feisty. American, too.” She rounds the counter, placing a hand softly on Ilya’s cheek even as Ilya tightens his hold around my waist. “So much like your father.”

Her eyes are filled with so much love, for a moment, I ache.

---