Page 32 of Cruel Honor

“Also know that.”

“And just plain rude.”

“Rude? How?” He swaggers into the room, leaving the door behind him open. “I saved your life, remember? Twice now.”

“Again, I’m grateful for that. But you locked me in here, andyou’re trying to force me into a marriage. That’s the definition of rude.”

“I thought the definition of rude was dog owners who don’t pick up their dog’s poop?”

His words are so absurd that I can’t help but crack a smile. “No, I don’t think that’s the definition. It’s just an example of rude behavior.”

He points at my face. “You smiled.”

I quickly frown. “No, I didn’t.”

“Yes, you did. You know, you’re beautiful when you smile. I mean, you’re beautiful even when you’re glaring at me like you are right now, but when you smile …” He shakes his head, letting out a low whistle. “I could look at your face for eternity when you smile.”

My face is beet red. “Surely, that’s a pickup line.”

“Oh, it is.”

The little bit of fluttering I felt dissipates. Until he speaks again.

“But it’s also the truth. You’re beautiful, Evie. It’s partly why I’m drawn to you.”

I can’t meet his eyes as I say, “You’ve spent time with a lot of beautiful women. I know because Katya would always complain about the dates you brought home.”

When he chuckles, the sound travels straight to my stomach, where it constricts. Why does he make my body respond this way? I don’t like him. I need to keep reminding myself that. “It’s true. I’ve dated a lot of beautiful women.”

“So, why me, then? You could’ve chosen any of those women at your party.”

“I almost did. Her name’s Irina. But then I met you, and I needed to save you, and then, well …” He shrugs, scratching the back of his head. “Here we are.”

“Did saving me really make you change your mind?”

“I saw you on that table in danger, and something inside me took over. Then I carried you out of that house, and I thought, ‘Damn, she feels good in my arms.’ And then I knew. I’m not marrying for love. But I would like to marry a woman I enjoy being around, and so far, Evie, I’ve enjoyed all our interactions.”

He does have a way with words, I’ll give him that.

He sits down beside me, making my insides curl with nerves. “Why don’t you like me? Besides the fact that I’m brazen and rude and arrogant?”

“I barely know you. How can I marry a man I barely know?”

“People do it all the time in my world. Arranged marriages are very common. You get used to the idea after all. Marrying in my world isn’t for love. It’s for power or convenience. In this case, it’s practical. I save you from Dima, and you save me from having to marry Tatiana.”

“Why is her father so intent on making you marry her?”

This time, Dimitri actually goes a little red. Not going to lie—it’s kind of endearing. “I may have slept with her, and he’s not happy about that.”

“How old is she?”

“Twenty.”

My age. Why does that make feel … strange?

“But if she’s an adult, then why is it a problem?”

Dimitri laughs. “You clearly don’t know my world. He just expects me to marry her for it. But I don’t want to.”

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