Page 53 of The Pakhan

I’d tried my best to broach what had occurred between us, but he’d shoved me off, acting as if it had never happened. How long was he going to ignore me? I’d finally asked a single question, demanding an answer. Why had he wanted to hurt me?

The big boy’s answer? He hadn’t been trying to and never would intentionally.

I’d played the princess card, after locking eyes with his and telling him in no uncertain terms that he already had.

She pulled some hair supplies from a bag, placing them on the counter. “Uh-huh. Did anyone ever tell you that you’re a terrible liar?”

I laughed but it was short lived before I chewed on my bottom lip nervously. The last thing I could do was to share the juicy bits about last night.

God, last night.

Had it been just a dream?

Maybe I’d been a fool to think anything good would come out of our wicked tryst, but Vadim had been everything I’d wanted to feel, the passion erupting between us like something from the most romantic book.

Only I’d had the dashing, rugged man in my bed for real. Well, his bed. And his desk. And… My fingers were still tingling, not from the brutal slap but from the electricity of touching him.

What was wrong with me? I had to stop acting like some lovesick girl.

He’d been clear and direct. Kind of. But I wasn’t going to throw myself at him ever again. He’d lost that privilege.

“I’m not lying. I’m just…” Losing my freaking mind. “Tell me something. Is your father always so damn infuriating?” I glared at her in the mirror because of my anger with the man, not with her. She opened her eyes wide before laughing again.

“For all the years I was growing up. He drove both Daniella and me crazy with the rules he imposed. Let me guess, he did that to you. You can’t leave the house without a guard. You can’t have people over unless he approves them, or I should say he has the time to run a background check. Right?” She pulled out the small bathroom stool, pointing at it for me to sit down.

“You do know.”

“Of course I do. That means he’s taking the threats seriously, which should make you a little less… self-assured.”

“Do you mean cocky?”

She grabbed a hairbrush, starting to brush out the tangles. “Okay, since you said it. Now, sit up straight. Your transformation needs to be in place before Daddy comes home.”

Sighing, I tried to do just that, but God, I was still so furious with the man. I suddenly slammed my hand on the counter. “Damn him. I could smack his face.”

“For what reason? What did he do?” Sofiya was chuckling. For now. But she would likely figure it out.

“He’s just a pain.”

“Uh-huh. Why can’t you confide in me all of a sudden?”

“It’s not that. I’m just not used to being treated like a child.”

She lifted her eyebrows as she gathered the bottles of hair color, mixing two of them together before slapping on a pair of latex gloves. “He’s famous for that, especially when he cares about someone. And he obviously cares about you.”

I huffed and raked my hand through several pink strands of hair. I was ready to look more like an adult. Maybe that was the issue. The man saw me as a child, not just a weakness. Yes, I knew there was significant danger. I’d lived through that horrific night, but the man was oppressive as hell.

And sexy.

That would forever haunt the front of my mind. I still ached from his roughness, which I’d adored. I still hungered as well. Just thinking about him made my pussy throb deep into my core. Deeper than before.

Yet it was as if he’d used me. Damn him.

“Yeah, well, he has a shitty way of showing it.”

She parted my hair, preparing to add the color and eyed me carefully. It wasn’t just her usual friend to friend casual gaze or one with slight concern. I could swear that woman could read minds.

“Did something happen between the two of you?” she finally asked, losing her teasing voice from before.

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