Page 84 of Bound By Hate (Born in Blood)

The part I hated the most was how free it made my mind. When he was pleasuring me, I didn’t have any other thought in the world. It was amazing, but that’s what makes it so terrifying. I need to hold onto my control. Without it, I don’t know who I am.

Mila is awake when I enter her room. “How are you doing?” I ask.

“Glad you rescued me in time. Thank you so much, Vik.” She runs over to me, pulling me into a hug. “Thank you.”

“Of course. I would never let you get hurt. It’s just a shame we didn’t find Gleb. I can’t believe he did that to you.”

“He kidnapped me and said he wanted to marry me. So, why sell me?”

“He’s greedy. A man like him is desperate for money, and he’ll do anything to get it. We were the collateral damage. I’m just happy we found you in time so you didn’t have to go through what I did.”

“I can’t imagine. I called Sofiya last night and told her I was ok. She wants me back at her house, where she and Mikhail can keep me safe from Gleb.”

I bristle a little. “She thinks I can’t take care of you?”

“I think she just wants to help keep me safe.”

“Well, it’s your choice. You can stay with Sofiya or me.”

Mila looks at me more closely. “Do you actually want me to stay here with you? I’ve always felt a little like an inconvenience to you.”

Hearing Mila say that hurts more than it should. But it’s because I know she’s right. I’ve treated my baby sister like she doesn’t matter. The only thing that mattered was ballet.

But after almost losing her, I’m starting to see things a little differently.

“You can stay here,” I repeat. “If you want.” Because I want you to. Because I’m scared to be alone with Aleksander. Because I’m scared I might let myself care for him, and who knows what he’d do to me if I opened my heart?

“I think I want to see Sofiya,” she says. “I’ll call her to come pick me up.”

A flash of pain hits my heart, but I try not to show it. “All right. You do that.”

Once Mila is gone—and without so much as a ‘thank you’ from Sofiya—I’m left alone in Aleksander’s large house with only him.

“How are you this morning?” he asks over breakfast.

“Fine.” I quickly take a bite of my omelet.

Aleksander smirks like he knows what I’m thinking about. “Seeing what you did last night—how you charged into action to save your sister—helped me see you for the first time.Reallysee you.”

“How nice.”

He sighs and grabs my hand, forcing me to look at him. “I think it’s time I show you the man I really am. All my desires. I want you to come with me to a BDSM club tonight.”

I rip my hand away from his. “What? Why?”

“Because I think you’d enjoy it. Your sister is all right. But I can tell last night left you shaken. I want to help ease your mind, Viktoriya. I truly believe you need to be dominated to learn freedom.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” A lie. I know exactly what he means. How I’ve felt better since he ordered me to eat more. How my mind knows how to let go when he’s in charge of my body.

“Give it a try. We’ll go tonight.”

“I don’t have a say?”

His eyes soften. “Of course you do. But I don’t want you suffering. You need this. Give in to me, Viktoriya.”

Give in to me.

It would be surprisingly easy to do it. Aleksander has shown himself capable by saving Mila. By saving me. And though I don’t want to admit it, I find him extremely handsome. My body lit up when he touched me last night.

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