Page 7 of Cruel Bet

“What?” I snap, irritated and embarrassed.

He looks as though he’s contemplating pointing out that I was the one who spoke first but decides better of it. Instead, he just says, “We’re here.”

At that moment, the door on my side opens and I’m greeted by the man who was driving. I didn’t have a chance to look at him properly before, he’s not the usual brawny henchman you’d expect. He’s quite short for one thing, though it’s clear he’s fit and strong, and he’s of Asian heritage by the looks of it and I wonder how he became a member of the Bratva. But it’s his cheeky boyish smile that catches me off guard.

“Hi there sleepyhead!” he grins, “I’m Endo, allow me to escort you to your room.”

“Change of plan. I’ll be showing Arianna around,” Nikolai announces and I do a double take when I notice he’s stood towering behind Endo.

How did he get there without me noticing? For a big guy, he sure can move fast, and quietly.

“Sure thing, Boss. Have fun you two.”

Endo winks and Nikolai rolls his eyes. “Endo, remember what we discussed in the car, you need to look into the situation,” he says glancing at me before looking away.

“On it. Bye Arianna, nice meeting you,” he calls to me with a cheery wave.

“You too, Endo,” I reply.

I’m surprised that I actually mean it. He’s a breath of fresh air compared to the brooding intensity of Nikolai. Even so, I can’t help but be painfully aware of Nikolai’s presence. Hesteps closer to the car, offering me his hand as he notices me struggling to get out of the car in my dress. I slap it away.

“I can manage perfectly fine by myself,” I snap.

But of course, the ridiculously long train of my dress has other ideas, it gets tangled around my feet as I stand, causing me to stumble. Quick as a flash, strong arms grab me, preventing my fall. Nikolai is so close to me, just one more step and I could press myself against him. Desire floods my body and I have to suppress the urge to do just that. Before I can do anything, Nikolai scoops me up in his arms and proceeds to stride away carrying me like a… well like a bride—ironically enough.

“It appears you can’t. Will I have to carry you everywhere Miss De Luca? Or are you capable of walking when otherwise attired?” he asks, that slight smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth again.

“I am capable of walking now!” I snap, “So you can put me down.”

“Your two left feet say otherwise,” he quips, “Perhaps, once you’re out of that dress, you can walk then.”

“Well for your sake, I hope you have some spare clothes for me, else you’ll have to carry me everywhere if I only have this to wear.”

“Not necessarily,kukolka, I just said you’d have to be out of the dress,” he replies, his voice low and seductive.

Unbidden, the thought of taking off my dress and walking around confidently in front of him, displaying my body for his hungry eyes to devour, springs to mind. The idea is strangely alluring and naughty. I’m not the sort to strut around in my birthday suit. In fact, the only time I’m naked is in the shower.I imagine Nikolai Kuzmin is the kind of man who’s naked often, he probably sleeps in the nude, too. The thought of Nikolai’s bare body has me squirming, his body is too close to me already. Pressed tight against his rock-hard chest, it’s not difficult to imagine how sexy he’d look out of this suit. I fidget a little in his arms, trying to create some space between us and take my mind off the fact that just being this close and thinking these thoughts has me damp down there.

Clearly, I’m making a pained face as Nikolai asks, “Is something wrong? Did I hurt you?” with an uncharacteristically concerned expression on his handsome face.

“No, no, I’m just not used to being carted around like a plaything.”

Shit. Wrong choice of words.

His eyes darken seductively and he says, “Things can change, perhaps you might like being my plaything.”

I gulp. I’d like that very much. Being around this man has me thinking all kinds of thoughts I shouldn’t. I’d like to tear off our clothes and make love right here if we could. Not that I’m going to give him the satisfaction of letting him know the effect he has on me.

Ignoring him, I look up at the house we’re approaching. It’s beautiful. Nothing like Father’s which is a sprawling old-fashioned mansion with vast amounts of space, ornate gold and marble pillars, and lavishly over-the-top decor. Instead, it is modern and sleek, and though a large property, it can’t have more than six or seven bedrooms. It’s the sort of home I used to dream of living in one day. I’ve no idea how long we’ve been traveling, having been asleep for part of the journey, but given the fact that dawn is only starting to break and the sky is stilldark, we have to have driven for over twelve hours. Where the hell are we? Considering his response the last time I asked where we were going, I don’t bother to ask him now. Hopefully, I will figure it out soon enough.

As we approach the front door, I ask cheekily, “You’re carrying me over the threshold, are you?”

His jaw tightens slightly, and an unreadable expression crosses his face.

“No. You’re not my wife. Nor will you ever be,” he replies coldly as he hurriedly places me upright.

The sudden pang of disappointment I feel at his words is crazy. He’s right, of course, but somehow, despite the insanity of it, part of this moment felt like I really was his bride and coming to live here. A foolish fantasy that should never have entered my mind. I’m his prisoner. Nothing more. I'll be lucky if he lets me live.

Just as this thought crosses my mind, he produces a flip knife from his pocket.Oh my god. Is he going to kill me? After all this? Why even bring me here if that was the plan all along?Fear courses through my veins and I contemplate how I can get away.

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