Page 25 of Unbreakable Vow

“I don’t have one right now, but I will. I just need to send out more resumes. Get some more experience. Then I’ll be able to get a job and keep a job. I mean, once I’m able to take care of a few things.” I take a small breath. “And I work best at the coffee house, so I went there. Because I need to find a job. Soon.”

He closes his eyes for a moment, and if I’m not seeing things, I think he’s muttering to himself.

Finally, he opens them.

“We’ll talk about the job situation later.” He points a long finger at me. “I told you to stay here.”

“Well, I needed to go out,” I say firmly. “Look, this arrangement is only going to last a month or so, right?”

“I don’t know how long this will take.” He lifts a shoulder like he’s untroubled by the idea that he could be legally tied to me for longer than he wants. Or I want.

I shake off his nonchalant attitude.

“Well, there’s no reason for it to completely disrupt my life or yours. I don’t see why we even need to see each other.” Yes. Good. These are good arguments.

“You don’t?” His expression hardens. Maybe only one of us is seeing the logic in my words right now.

“No. I mean if it wasn’t for my apartment flooding, I wouldn’t even be here, right?” My tongue thickens as his stare darkens. “And last night, I mean, that was just, well, it shouldn’t have happened.”

If his eyebrow rises any more, it might disappear in his hair. His thick, lush hair.

“There are problems with what you’re saying.” He advances toward me, holding up a finger. “One, I already told you, you were moving in with me. You convinced yourself that youwouldn’t be, but you were wrong.” He lifts another finger. “And two, even if this arrangement is for a short time, everything about it will be very real. You will wear my ring, carry my name, and will be my wife in every way that matters.”

“You want me to change my name for a month? That’s crazy. I’m not doing that.” I retreat a step and then another when he moves toward me.

“It will take time for the legal matters I need resolved to be completed. It might take more than a month.”

“How long?” It’s not like I really have a choice at this point.

“I don’t know,” he deadpans.

“So, for who knows how long, I have to put my life on hold? What if I want to date someone?”

“Date someone?” The words shake from the raw grate of his voice.

“I just mean, this isn’t going to be forever, and it’s not real, and I’m not getting any younger. If someone asks me out…” My voice gives out as he takes one last step, and I’m pinned against the wall.

He lowers his face to within a breath of mine. The musky scent of his aftershave sends a tingle down my spine. Or maybe it’s the way he’s looking at me, like he’s fighting the urge to grab me, to hurt me. No, not hurt.

He’s dangerous. My brain knows it, but I can’t help also knowing he wouldn’t hurt me. He’s a contradiction. There’s a soft edge to his fierceness that can’t be explained.

“If a man asks you out, I will rip his tongue from his mouth.” Everything in the delivery of this statement screams that he’s telling me the truth.

“Sergei,” I squeak out his name.

“If a man touches you, I will take his hand. If a man dares speak your name out of turn, I will have his vocal cords. Do Imake myself clear, Coraline? Do you understand what it means to be mine?”

My throat is too dry to let any sound past, so I nod. A pathetic little movement.

“Say the words, Coraline. Tell me you understand that once you speak your vows, you are mine completely, no matter how long or how short a time. Tell me.” He presses his forearm to the wall just above my head.

I swallow.

“I understand, Sergei,” I finally manage to say. My eyes are trapped in his stare.

His free hand comes to my cheek. He cups my face, running his thumb over my bottom lip, pulling it slightly.

“What do you understand? Tell me.” His voice lowers.

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