Okay, fine. Maybe I did beg for it—just a little. Blame it on my inner sex-starved demon who’s been on a century-long dry spell and would probably sell a kingdom for some action. And yes, I came so hard I nearly blacked out.
But thenthisman—this same beast who rocked my world so hard my legs turned to Jell-O, who had me seeing stars while gripping my throat—had the audacity to scoop me up like some hero, carry me to his shower, and bathe me like a saint.
Seriously, is this the same guy who just set my insides on fire?
After drying me off like I was fragile porcelain, he tucked me into his bed, soft sheets wrapping around me like a trap disguised as comfort. This all feltwaytoo real.
I pushed it away. “No, it’s not happy. So please, stop botheringherand me, and let us sleep.”
“Andyousay I’m no fun,” he smirked, slipping his arm back around my waist and planting a soft kiss on my shoulder. “Sweet dreams, Caia.”
Sweet nightmares is more like it, because now I’m sure sleep will be impossible—especially after giving him the one thing that might’ve kept me sane in his wild world.
Yep, I’m totally screwed.
“Well, at least he didn’t chop you into pieces and sell your body parts on the dark web.”
I stared at her in stunned silence, eyes wide, trying to figure out if she was seriously joking or not.
“What? He’s good-looking, wealthy, and can cook. Sure, he’s impulsive, totally totalitarian, and a bit sociopathic for forcing you into marriage, but let’s look on the bright side! Your dad could’ve picked some toothless, homeless guy with rats as pets.”
What the hell?
Who was this woman, and what had happened to my Valeria?
“Why are you defending him?”
She shrugged, double-checking our stockpile of adult diapers and brand-new toothbrushes. “I’m not defending him?—”
“Yes, you are!”
“No, I’m just saying, when life gives you lemons, make lemonade...”
I narrowed my eyes, suspicious. “How much did he bribeyou with? There’s no way you’re defending him out of the goodness of your heart.”
She stayed silent, but her eyes gave her away.
Oh my god, I’m going to murder this man!
“How much, Valeria?”
She sighed. “20k.”
“I knew it!” I threw my hands up. “He’s trying to buy my only ally. Valeria, please don’t sell me out; he’s a total asshole and?—”
She chuckled. “He’s also your hubby now, Caia.”
I let out a dramatic sigh. “Don’t remind me; I’m still mourning my freedom.”
A week had flown by since that unforgettable night, which I’d been desperately trying to erase from my mind.
Avoiding Alexsei while living with him? Practically impossible.
When I woke up the next day, cheek pressed against his chest, leg tangled with his, and arm wrapped around his waist, buried in his unmistakable manly scent, it hit me like a ton of bricks—I’d made a colossal mistake.
I wasn’t supposed to bethisclose to him. Sleeping with him was like playing Russian roulette—risky, dangerous, and, dare I say, too good to be true.
I should be seething with anger—coerced into marriage, threatened with harm to my grandmother, robbed of my hard-won freedom, and forced into following my father’s twisted scheme that wrecked my life.