Page 30 of Cruel Promise

“You expected I would throw my ring away?”

“I figured it could happen. I like to be prepared.” He grabs my hand and slips the ring on my finger. “Keep it there this time.”

He doesn’t let go of my hand.

His fingers are strong and long. He has handsome, manly hands. I think back to Jason’s hands, and his were always so skinny. Nikolai has hands I could stare at for a long time and never get bored.

He runs his thumb over the ring and my finger. “I know none of this is what you wanted.”

“So, why do it?” I don’t pull away. “You didn’t choose me to save me. You said so yourself. So, why exactly did you want me?”

“I just did,” he says in a low voice. “There wasn’t a reason to it. I just knew.”

“Nikolai …”

He lets go of my hand. “Take off your dress for me.”

I blink, then my cheeks run hot. “Why do you want me to do that?”

“Because I want to see you.” His strong, physical presence is messing with my head. He’s just … manly. He smells of it. It oozes from his pores.

I hate him. But there’s that flicker again between my legs. I still refuse to say the word.

“Will you force me?” I whisper.

His eyes darken. “No.”

“If I asked you to leave, would you?”

“I would.”

The words are right on the tip of my tongue.Leave. But I don’t say it.

I bring my hands to the straps of my dress and tug them down. Slowly, the dress falls over my body until it pools at my feet. I keep my eyes glued to his face—scar and all.

My black bra and underwear set is provocative. It’s something I never would have worn, but it was the only color in the closet to choose from.

Nikolai’s hands turn into fists. I trust he won’t hit me.

Why am I even doing this? A part of me wants to regain my power and make my own choices. Another part of me just wanted to see his reaction.

I want to learn more about Nikolai.

If I’m going to be stuck in this house with him as a husband, then I don’t want him to be a stranger to me.

I keep my arms down at my sides and let him look. Finally, I speak. “Are you going to let me see you?”

His fists unfurl. “You’re not ready to see me.” I wonder if he’s speaking about his body or something deeper.

Nikolai keeps his eyes on my face, not even looking at my body, before he walks away without a word.

I let out a breath and slump onto the bed.

My ring glints in the soft lighting. This time, I don’t take it off.

I curl my hand against my body and hold it there.

Chapter

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