Page 26 of Possessive Vows

I catch her wrist before she can stalk past me but let go as soon as she freezes. She swings her eyes to mine, glances at her wrist, then lifts her glare back to my face.

“You will be my wife, Camilla,” I say.

After gritting her teeth and balling her hands into fists at her sides, she takes a deep breath and squares her shoulders to mine.

“They raped me, Dimitri.” Her voice breaks, but she clears her voice and continues with all the rage festering in her soul. I can’t help but marvel at her beauty as my soul shatters for her. “Brutally. Over and overand overuntil there was nothing left of me but a broken shell. I willneverwant another man to touch meeveragain, yet you want me to marry you?”

“Da,Camilla, I do.”

My unwavering response shocks her into silence. She studies my face for signs of deceit, but there are none.

“Why?” she demands.

“I do not need physical intimacy from you,so´lnyshka,” I say.

She steps back, gives me a once-over, and shakes her head.

“You’re lying. Every man—”

“I am not every man. I am Dimitri Volkov.”

“And Dimitri Volkov is obviously a man!” she exclaims.

The exasperation in her voice almost pulls a smile from me, but I curse my wayward cock as it pulses in my jeans and cross my arms over my chest so I don’t reach out to cup her face.

“That bandage I put on your cheek was from my wife. It was a gift to announce our first pregnancy. She died a year ago from leukemia. I will not dishonor her memory,” I say.

Dozens of emotions flit over her delicate features. She closes her eyes and takes a deep breath before opening them and pinning me in place with her almost black irises.

“I’m sorry for your loss, but I still won’t marry you. I’m tired, so I’m going back to sleep,” she declares.

When she skirts around me as though I don’t exist and disappears into her cocoon of blankets, I don’t push her any further.

My little sunbeam needs time alone to process my offer.

When I realize I have yet to mention my children, I stifle a sigh and rise to clean up after our lackluster meal.

If the mere mention of marriage sends her into a panic, then she isn’t ready to learn about the responsibilities that come with marrying me.

I don’t want to hide anything from her, but after only a day together, I’m desperate to know everything about her.

She’s an enigma. Broken yet strong. In pain but aware of others. Fiery and cold.

I need more of her. After her outbursts today—both when I offered her the driver’s seat and now when I mentioned marriage—I know without a doubt she’ll be a worthy partner.

Camilla Vivaldi will agree to marry me. For the sake of my kids and the honor of my family, I can be patient.

I swore I wouldn’t touch her unless she asked me to, but I never said I wouldn’t make her want me so badly she begs for it.

I just hope she doesn’t take too long, because my balls already ache.

Chapter 7

Camilla Vivaldi

Within seconds, I regretcovering myself with blankets. I should have gone into the bathroom and slammed and locked the door. Now I’m trapped in an inferno of my own making.

Silent tears trail down my face, but I tell myself they’re just sweat and it’s easy to pretend they are since I’m sweltering underneath all the layers.

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