Page 22 of The Hermit

“Hmpf.” He gives me an angry glare. “I didn’t get the chance. I think Dominik turned in for the night, so I’ll deal with the mess you made tomorrow.” When I start to climb the stairs to the second floor, Dad adds, “For the love of God, behave from now on and stop looking for trouble.”

Ciara catches up to me, and as we take the stairs up, she says, “Please stop being aggressive with Dominik. I’m terrified of what he may do to you. We can find another way to get me out of the arranged marriage.”

I pat her shoulder as we near her bedroom. “Don’t worry. I know what I’m doing.”

By her door, we stop and she asks, “Want to watch a movie with me tonight?”

I shake my head. “I’m going to have a long relaxing bath and climb into bed early.”

She nods before giving me a grateful look. “Thank you for everything you do for me.”

“Always, Ciara.” I pull her into a quick hug before letting go and walking to my bedroom. “Sweet dreams.”

“You too,” she calls after me.

I enter my bedroom and shut the door behind me, letting out an exhausted sigh.

So much for taking time to recover from being kidnapped and beaten by the Russians.

I tug at the zipper at my side and tug it down. Just as I begin to pull the sparkly gold dress off, an eerie sensation creeps over my skin.

Suddenly, a strong arm locks around my waist, and I’m hauled into the air before being slammed onto my bed, scaring the everloving shit out of me.

I’m only able to gasp with fright before Dominik’s on top of me. He grabs hold of my forearms, pinning them to the mattress while keeping his body braced over mine.

Shit!

As I stare up at him, he’s so close I’m able to make out the word tattooed on his cheekbone.

Manifest.

I expected ‘Murder’ or ‘Mayhem.’

Then my eyes collide with his, and something much darker than fear floods my veins. The memories of being pinned down and raped escape from where I do my best to keep them buried.

Dominik leans down until our faces are only an inch apart, then he growls, “Where’s your bite and claws now?”

Even though I’m terrified of him, instinct takes over, and I begin to thrash wildly beneath him.

When I’m unable to free my arms and he lets out an amused chuckle, I don’t think twice. Lifting my head, I sink my teeth into his neck like a goddamn vampire.

I’ll fucking rip his neck wide open if I have to.

Feeling downright feral, I bite hard until Dominik yanks away from me, freeing my arms.

He rises to his full height while lifting his hand to the bitemark on his neck. When laughter explodes from him, I start to think the man is insane.

I quickly crawl across the bed and get off the other side while my eyes dart between him and the door.

“Get out,” I hiss, my entire body trembling like a leaf in a shit-storm.

He pulls his hand away from his neck and checks it for blood before focusing his attention on me again.

“Quite the bite you have there,milácik,” he says, actually sounding impressed.

I have no idea what the foreign word means, and at the moment, I couldn’t care less.

My eyebrows furrow, and I shake my head. “Are you crazy?”

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