Page 27 of Bound By Hate (Born in Blood)

“I have.” Not by choice.

Gleb falters coming down the stairs when he sees Aleksander. “You’re the one who brought her back?”

“I am. Taught her a lesson, too.”

I try not to flush. I don’t blush. Ever.

But the memory of Aleksander’s hand on my ass, spanking me, will be imprinted on my mind forever. And the sad reality is—he didn’t even force me to lay down on that bed. I did it willingly.

The urge to vomit comes back again.

“You can’t keep doing this, Viktoriya,” Mikhail scolds. “I said I would give you the week, but you need to decide now. You need a husband to keep you in line. So, what’s it going to be? Aleksander or Gleb?”

I look between the two men. The smirking Aleksander, like he knows he has it in the bag, and the hopeful Gleb. All I know is I can’t let Aleksander win.

“Fine,” I say. There’s a collective inhale of breath before as they wait for my answer.

“I’ll marry Gleb.”

Chapter

Five

ALEKSANDER

Viktoriya’s words are a punch to my stomach.

“You can’t be serious,” I say to her.

She turns her icy eyes onto me. “I am serious. Gleb is the better option. He will respect me. Unlike …” She makes a point of looking me up and down. “You.”

“I can’t believe this,” I mutter, raking my hand down my face. So, Viktoriya has proven herself to be evenmoreof a challenge than I thought.

Gleb has an annoying, shit-eating grin as he tries to hug Viktoriya, but she holds up her hands, stopping him. At least I get some satisfaction watching Gleb frown at Viktoriya’s rejection.

“I never said you could hug me,” she says.

“But … we’re getting married.”

“I know. But I still like to keep my own personal space.”

Mikhail nods. “So, it’s settled. Viktoriya and Gleb will marry.” He points at her. “No more running off on your own.”

“I can’t make that promise,” she responds.

Mikhail turns to Sofiya. “Make sure she promises. I’ll be in my office.” He walks off.

Sofiya slowly approaches Viktoriya. “Are you sure about this, Vik?”

“She’s sure,” Gleb says.

Of course, he’d say that. He thinks he’s won.

But I’ll have Viktoriya eventually. I’ll make her see she needs me. The spanking tonight was just the beginning. She can deny it all she wants, but I saw it affected her.

“I was talking to my sister,” Sofiya says.

“I’m sure,” Viktoriya answers. “Gleb is the one I want.” She doesn’t look at me as she answers. Already, she’s cutting me out. But what Viktoriya doesn’t realize is that her rejection just makes me want her more.

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