Page 43 of Cruel Honor

But Dimitri doesn’t need to know that. Telling him about my dad would hurt too much. After how Dimitri has treated me, he doesn’t deserve a part of my heart.

“Oh, come on,” Dimitri says. “I’ll tell you about all the bad sex I’ve had if you do the same.”

I glance over at him. “You’ve had bad sex?”

“Plenty of times. I mean, I’m great in bed, you know, but not every woman I’ve been with has been good. Some get too clingy. Some are pillow princesses. Some are just too weird even for my tastes.”

“I’m going to regret asking this, but … what are your tastes?”

The look he gives me sends a heat over my entire body. “I just love a good time. When I can make a woman come and writhe in pleasure. When she can make me feel the same. Nothing better than that.”

I gulp and look away again. Dimitri will be the death of me; I swear.

“Why are you wound so tight?” he asks.

“I’m not.”

“Uh, yes you are. I could snap you in half for how tense you are. Why does talking about sex make you so uncomfortable?” His smile disappears. “Oh, shit. You weren’t assaulted or anything like that?”

“No, nothing like that.”

He relaxes. Interesting. It seems Dimitri really does want me to be safe. “Then what it is?”

“I’m just not as open as you are talking about it. That’s my boundary, Dimitri. You have to respect that.”

He nods once. “Ok. I’ll stop pushing.”

“Thank you.” I relax in my seat, but there’s a sense of disappointment in me. Dimitri is very forward, and I don’t like that—yet I kind of like how he teases me. His attention feels like nothing else on this earth.

We arrive at a jewelry store, and Dimitri opens the car door for me. “I can be a gentleman,” he says after I give him a surprised look.

Inside the store, I’m blown away by the beauty of all the necklaces and bracelets. And rings. So many rings.

Then I see the prices on them. “Dimitri, it’s all too expensive.”

“Not for me, it isn’t. Pick out the ring you want.”

I raise an eyebrow. “I actually get a choice?”

“Just this time.” He winks to let me know he’s joking.

“How may I help you today?” the saleswoman asks as she walks over to us. She’s effortlessly beautiful in a jacket and skirt combo. Immediately, I see her perk up at the sight of Dimitri.

He has that effect on women.

“My wife and I are looking for rings.”

She deflates slightly then smiles. “Of course. What are we looking for?” They both turn to me, and I can only shrug. God, I feel like a dork, but this world of fine things and pretty salespeople and shiny jewelry is so far outside my comfort zone.

“Um … I like that one.” I point at a simple diamond ring.

“That’s a lovely choice,” she says, picking it up. I notice the price. It’s six thousand dollars.

Before I can object, she hands the ring to Dimitri, and he slides it onto my finger. “Would you look at that. A perfect fit.”

It actually is. The sight of it on my finger does strange things to me.

“Do you like it?” he asks me in a low voice.

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