Page 46 of Mob Bride

“Kaja.”

“Don’t bellow at me, Bartek.”

“Obey me.”

“Obey you? We’re not married, and I’m not your dog. I don’t have to obey you. You’ve been asking a lot more of me lately, and I still have a lot to think about. If I’m the target, what does traveling with you mean? Does that make me a target in the two cities? Will somebody from here follow us? Or will we be safer leaving town for a little while?”

“We’ll be safer leaving town. Don’t tell anybody where we’re going, Kaja.”

His expression gives me no doubt sharing our destination would mess up his secret plans, and it would finally push him around the bend. I’d reach his limit, and he would hurt me.

“You know I know better than that, Bartek. But I’m still not sure about all of this. Why should I go with you when you’re just going to leave me in a hotel room somewhere while you do whatever it is you do? How is that going to be pleasant for me? I can sit around at home without the danger.”

“Because I said so, Kaja. Because I want you near me where I can see you’re safe. I don’t want you out of my sight for more than a few hours at a time. That’s all I’m willing to concede. You were at your place last night, and I left you there because I had things to do to prepare for this trip. But youarespending the night with me tonight, and that’s not negotiable.”

I pull myself out of the water and head to the lounger. I spread the towel out on the one next to it and sit down.

“Bartek, you’re demanding me to do things, and that wasn’t part of the deal when we got together. I told you I wouldn’t put up with that. That I’m not one of your men or a dog to command. I’m not your wife. And last I checked, obey is no longer in the wedding vows, anyway.”

“Are you suggesting we break up, Kaja?”

I shake my head swiftly as though his question scares me.

“No, Bartek, that’s not what I’m saying. I’m saying this isn’t how I want things. This isn’t how we started or what you agreed to. I don’t like this change. It doesn’t feel right.”

“And if I don’t do as you demand?”

I stare at him wide-eyed.

“Bartek, I’m not commanding you to do anything. I thought we were having a conversation. I thought I could tell you how I feel about things. Was I wrong to trust you?”

Trust between us has been the main thing to him. He wants me to trust him all the time, so I’ll follow his commands. He wants to trust me, so I don’t make a fool out of him. I know it is not an equal give and take.

I’ll push the issue right now because I need to have some freedom from him. I got a text this morning saying my handlers need to check in with our division office, and the division chief’ll expect me to go with them. I think it’s too risky, but I’m not in a position to refuse.

“No, Kaja. You aren’t wrong to trust me. Of course, you can tell me how you feel. I’m sorry, sweet one. I didn’t mean to make you feel that way.”

He gets out of the pool and grabs his towel to wipe his face. Then he reaches over and reclines my chair before he gets on, his body hovering over mine. He kisses my neck, then down my chest to my tits. He starts to pull the top apart, but my hands fly to it, looking around.

“Stop.”

I hiss the word, and I may have never meant something more than I do that single word right now.

“Your men are around, and they’re going to see me. I don’t want my tits on display. I can’t imagine you’d want that either.”

“You’re right. I don’t. I wasn’t thinking. But you are enough to tempt the devil, my love. You make me forget all reason. You’re a distraction.”

“And all the more reason I shouldn’t go. Bartek, I don’t want to do anything that could endanger you.”

I cup his cheek, once again coming across as the doting girlfriend. I try to picture Shane instead of Bartlomiej, and it makes it easier to offer affection. But he continues to kiss my chest, working his way back up to the other side of my neck. He nips my earlobe, and it doesn’t feel the same as when Shane does it. It doesn’t make me shiver the same way Shane does.

When Bartlomiej kisses me—or at least tries to—I turn my face from him, forcing him to kiss my jaw. I hear his frustrated growl.

“What now, Kaja? I can’t even kiss you? How does this make you any different from some woman off the street if I can’t touch you?”

I shoot him an angry glare. “If you want some woman off the street underneath you, then by all means. I thought the fact I’m just about naked with your cock pressing against me made me something different from all the other women. If that’s not good enough for you—if you’re tired of waiting—then, by all means, you can be the one to walk away.”

“Are you giving me an ultimatum?” He rears back.

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