Page 38 of Owned By The Bratva King

I smile back and get to my feet, heading for the bathroom.

I splash my face with water and dry off with a hand towel. The bathroom is neat and functional, and it’s a good place to loiter for a moment so I can think.

In any other sexual encounter, I always reached a point where I wanted to get away. It’s not that I regretted it, per se. I had no reason to prolong the interaction, and the whole thing got uncomfortable.

This is Quinn’s apartment. If anyone’s leaving, it’s me.

31

Quinn

I’m drifting, vaguely aware of the dull ache deep inside. Roman appeared moments after I unlocked the door like it was fated to happen his way. Maybe it was.

Click. That’s the door again. It takes me a few seconds to fully register what that means, but then I’m on my feet and dashing out into the lounge, wearing nothing but my awkwardly draped bedsheet.

I open the door, but he isn’t there, and I can’t go after him, not when I’m practically naked. I run back to my bedroom and part the drape to see Roman’s car pulling away.

Moments after he came inside me and left me dazed, bleeding, and satisfied, he took off without a word?

I don’t know why I’m surprised. I’ve always been afraid this would happen, and I couldn’t imagine a scenario where someone would respect me enough not to treat me this way, so I never tried to draw anyone closer.

Then Roman came along, and fool that I was, I got addicted to his attention and lowered my guard.

Great job, Quinn. Well done.

I go to the bathroom and have a slightly painful pee. The light feels too bright in here, too real after the liminal space of my bedroom. It’s like my fantasy came to life, but as with all imaginings, it disappeared again as fast as it arrived.

What am I going to do? A few days ago, I was burning up in the dumpster fire that was my life. Now, I have a management job, a new friend and co-worker, and my beloved apartment back. I even put a little money Carrie’s way so she could be happier and have things to look forward to at the end of her life.

All it cost me was my virginity, which I didn’t prize that highly in the first place, and I gave it up willingly. So why do I feel so bad?

I set the shower running and stand beneath the hot stream, water pounding the back of my neck. I scrub my body, trying to wash away the cheap feeling creeping over my skin.

I’m too much and not enough. Fat and naive enough to fall for smooth talk and a handsome face, but not pretty or worldly enough to love.

Love. Wow, I really dropped the ball this time. What was my secret weapon for stealing a millionaire’s heart? The cinnamon buns?

I walk out of the bathroom and scream in shock. Roman stands behind my kitchen counter as if he lives here, pouring wine.

“Jesus, Quinn! You scared the shit out of me,” he laughs. “What’s the matter? You’ve been crying.” His face darkens. “Did I hurt you? I got kinda carried away.”

” I—I thought you left me.” I feel small and pathetic; even my voice sounds weak. “You did leave. Now you’re back.”

“I’m not used to explaining myself, so I didn’t think. I’m sorry.” He comes to me and takes my hands in his. “I needed to move my car. I don’t want anyone seeing it parked out there and asking difficult questions or starting rumors. Then I got waylaid.”

“What do you mean?”

Roman leads me to the kitchen and shows me what he brought. “Pizza,” he says, flipping the cardboard lid. “You got a delivery from this place the other night. I called them, asked for your usual order, then picked it up.”

“Roman, how many times have you been in my apartment?” I ask, stunned.

“This is the second occasion.” He opens the box and wrinkles his nose. “Baby, this has pineapple on it. Are you some kind of deviant?”

I refuse to be distracted.” Tell me how you know all this stuff about my life.”

Roman picks up a wine glass and hands it to me. “Quinn, from the moment we met, I made it my sole purpose to possess you. And I’m not a man to do things by halves, so I had this place fitted with cameras.”

I take a big gulp. “You mean to tell me you bought the bakery and the apartments just to take control of my life and watch me whenever you wanted?”

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