Page 10 of The Bratva's Prisoner Bride

Realizing how caught up I had been in the moment, I scowled at him as the embarrassment settled into my skin.

As much as I wanted to seem indifferent to the whole thing, I could tell he was perceptive enough to clock my every reaction. I hated knowing how easily he could fluster me despite his disdain for me, and mine in return.

“You’re an ass…” I muttered, aware that even biting back was useless. Still, I couldn’t keep the irritated words in.

“I suppose you’d think so,” Ivan mumbled, taking a half step before silently grabbing my wrists and pulling slowly at the silk restraints. His dark lashes sat heavily on his cheeks whilelooking down and working in no particular hurry. Despite his gentle ministrations and the disarming luster in his words, I didn’t miss the subtle threat in them. “But I’ll warn you, Daria…I’m only getting started.”

Chapter 5 - Ivan

The goal was to keep that flustered expression on her face for as long as possible…to keep those cheeks flushed and her eyes slightly wider than usual, leaving her guessing my next move.

I wanted her on the edge at all times, never able to anticipate my thoughts or intentions. To have her constantly in a state of paranoia and shock was the goal.

However, I didn’t anticipate how that proximity would hit me.

Seeing her like that, perched on the edge of the bed with her wrists bound in front of her, was far more erotic than I cared to admit.

I wasn’t supposed to still be attracted to her...not after everything she’s done. Not after I decided to keep her around to torment her.

Yet, slowly pulling the restraints undone, feeling her soft skin against mine, and being aware of her questioning gaze on me had me on edge.

The position was far too tempting, and as easy as it would be to just take what I wanted, I already knew that once wouldn’t be enough. If I were to have a taste, I’d only want more, which would entirely compromise my plan to make Daria pay for everything.

I needed her to regret her involvement, and immediately rewarding her wasn’t the way to accomplish that, regardless of how tense that proximity made me.

With those brown eyes locked firmly on me, breath held, Daria murmured, “You’re…taking these off?”

Despite myself, the innocence of that question made my lip pull slightly. It seemed Daria was assuming the worst of me, as she should. It was working, then.

“Yes,” I returned quieter than I expected to. My fingers slowly pulled at the silk to undo the knots and slacken it against her much smaller wrists. “You’re still my prisoner, but one who can use her hands, at least.”

She seemed surprised by that, watching while the restraints fell away before gently massaging her skin. A faint color settled in her cheeks when her gaze reached mine again. “Why?”

I cocked a brow at that, wondering why she would even be worried about such a thing. “In most cases, people normally don’t question why they’re being unbound.”

A flicker of annoyance shifted through her eyes, but she didn’t say anything and averted her gaze instead.

Watching her a moment longer, I narrowed my sights on her. “Not satisfied with having a semblance of freedom?”

When she refused to answer, looking irritated again, I took her chin in my hands and angled her face up, not giving her the chance to look away. I leaned in a bit closer and used the gentler tone that seemed to make her falter.

If things had been different, I knew that moment would be far too volatile to simply walk away from. I wouldn’t be able to leave the room before doing something worth regretting later.

“If this isn’t to your liking, then I’m sure I could make other arrangements,” I continued, smirking faintly at how startled she seemed by my touch. “I could tie you to a chair instead…or maybe against a wall to make you stand all night? Maybe, just maybe, I could secure you right to this bed and not let you move a muscle until I say so.”

Regardless of how subtle it was, I didn’t miss the quiet shift in her breathing. The spark of fear seemed to dissolve her resistance immediately.

For a moment, I could only take in her features, noting every change…every question and thought that seemed to pass through her eyes at once. Even if she didn’t care much for me, I could still see how conflicted she was, caught between interest and fear.

But even if I found myself wanting her still, there was no mistaking what needed to be done. No mistaking how pissed off I still was.

That reminder made my smirk dissolve little by little until I looked down at her with contempt and slipped the silk restraints back into my pocket. “But…you’re not worth the effort.”

Daria blinked back at me, still flustered and trying to regain her bearings. As hard as she worked to try and mask it, I wasn’t one to be fooled. I knew exactly how confused and torn she was.

Even if a part of me felt annoyed at even needing to restrain myself, the sliver of satisfaction I gained from her disbelief almost made up for it.

Giving her a final glance, not allowing her the chance to ask any more questions, I huffed to myself. “Get comfortable, prisoner…you have a long road ahead.”

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