Page 41 of Cruel Honor

The fact that I’m lying on the same bed Dimitri sleeps in every night makes my skin warm.

“You’re watching me sleep?”

He smiles and puts his phone away. “Do you want me to watch you sleep?”

“Not really.”

“Ok. Then I won’t.”

“Just like that?”

He shrugs. “Just like that.”

I wipe the sleep out of my eyes as I sit up. Suddenly, I’m self-conscious about my crop-top and pants. It’s not revealing, but it feels like Dimitri can see right past my clothes.

“I have no desire to make your life miserable,” he says.

“Then why lock me up?”

“For your own protection.”

I shake my head and cross my arms. It makes me feel a little more in control, but I know I have no power here. “That’s just an excuse.”

“Well, it’s either lock you up or have you run away, and then Dimawill find you, and then he’ll kill you. I’d rather you were here. Safe. But no worries because I’m taking you out today.”

I’m not sure I hear him correctly. “What?”

“On a date. We’re married now, after all. I thought we could go and pick out rings. Sentimental and all that shit.”

“You want to pick out rings?” I ask slowly.

“Why not? We need them as an example of our love.”

“What love?”

He laughs and reaches over to push a piece of my hair behind my ear. I hold perfectly still. “I like you, Evie. Most women don’t give me grief like you do. It’s refreshing.”

“What do most women do?”

“Usually, we’d be fucking by now.”

I blush and turn away from him. “That’s not going to happen. You’re a stranger to me.”

“I’m not going to force myself on you. I’m just being honest. I like to fuck, and women like to fuck me. And I want to fuck you, Evie. I want to claim you as my own.”

“I thought you already did that when you married me.”

“True. But I want more. But I can also tell you’re uncomfortable, so I’m not going to make you have sex with me. I’m not a complete monster. We should get to know each other. Go on a date. Pick out rings.”

I look at him with curiosity. “Does that really interest you? Picking out rings?”

“God, no. I’d rather be doing other things.” His eyes tell meexactlywhat those other things are. “But since that’s not happening, I thought we could spend some time together. I want to spend time with you, Evie. Spend time with me.”

He makes it sound so easy, and in a way, it would be. Dimitri is charming and handsome and witty. But he also spanked me, locked me in his room, and forced me to marry him.

I can’t let myself get lost in his eyes.

But what else can I do? I might as well get to know my husband.

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