Page 38 of Under Control

Shit. Mama. Valentin’s goons probably came into the house and traumatized her all over again. “I need to give her a call.”

“Not yet.” He advances on me.

I stand and face him, getting angry now. “She’s probably worried. I’m sure they scared the hell out of her.”

“Maxim explained the situation, since you were unable to do so yourself. Your mother is confused, but she knows you’re safe.”

“This is crazy. Let me call my mom.” I look around for my phone, but I don’t see it anywhere. I left it with Nikkita when I put on the wedding dress earlier, and who knows where it disappeared to.

“You live here now.” Valentin approaches, his eyes locked on mine. “You may speak to your mother shortly. First, we’ll get you settled.”

“Valentin, I’m serious. Let me call her.” I try to brush past him, but he catches my arm and pulls me against him. I let out a gasp of surprise at his firm grip, but he doesn’t hurt me.

“There’s no going home,” he says softly, almost gently. There’s something in his expression, like he almost feels bad about this part, but that doesn’t change the frustration filling my chest.

This is all wrong.

I should’ve told Mama before I left. I should’ve let her know what my plans were, but it happened too fast, and Valentin didn’t tell me that he was going to start moving all of my things here.

Now I’m his wife. I’m his wife, his actual wife, and while I did it for a good reason—to save myself from debt, to keep my mother protected from her own brother—it feels like too much.

Everything’s happening too fast.

“I just want to check on her,” I say, looking back at him, unable to take my eyes away. Valentin’s beautiful in a terrifying and intense kind of way, and it’s difficult to make myself hate him.

Even though I really should.

“She’s safe. I have men posted on her house as we speak, and once you’re settled here, I’ll arrange a visit.”

Reality hits me hard. I gave myself to this man—to this monster—and now he’s treating me like he owns me.

And in some ways, maybe he does.

Slowly, he puts a hand on my lower back. He tugs me closer, the soft chiffon of my dress rustling as he pulls my body to his. Valentin’s big and so warm, and I put my hands on his chest, thinking I can push myself back.

Instead, I leave them there. His heart’s pulsing hard under my fingers, and I dig them into his muscle as I tilt my chin up at him, wanting to feel only defiance.

Something else burns in my core.

He leans down, his lips pressing closer to my ear.

“If you want me to stop,malishka, say the wordairplane. Do you understand?”

My eyes go wide. My pulse doubles, hammering down between my legs. “Are you giving me a safe word?”

“That’s right.” He dips his mouth and kisses my neck. “You’ll need one.”

I push back,hard.

But it’s too late.

I manage only a few inches of separation, enough to give me false hope as I turn to the open door, reaching for it?—

Valentin grabs me and drags me back.

“Please,” I say, and I know it’s the wrong word, I know it’s not the one that will stop this. Because I don’t want it to stop. “Valentin, please.”

“Oh, my little wife, I’ve been thinking about this since the moment you walked into my life and took off your clothes like the dirty fucking girl you are.”

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