Page 111 of Viripotent

Playing dumb, I shrug and hold my hand out.

“I can’t see them properly.”

It’s the wrong thing to do because he gets even more murderous. His eyes darken and he throws my contraception into the hay. There’s nowhere for me to run and I plant my feet as he advances. His violence isn’t dulled by the wooden slats forming the stable and it takes everything in me not to shrink.

“Why the fuck are you on birth control?”

I’m blinking, other than that one action I’m frozen. Refusing to answer his question so I don’t end up like Galya, I curl my fingers into my palms, letting the dull sting ground me.

His shout isn’t dulled and the horses in the neighboring stable whinny.

“Answer the fucking question!”

I ignore it and focus on the innocent animals he’s upsetting rather than my own feelings.

“You’re scaring the horses.”

And me.

His jaw tics and he flares his nostrils, letting out a harsh breath as though he’s going to charge. I watch his hands. They’re balled into fists, and I don’t have a weapon. The trough behind me is cold and empty, exactly like the man in front of me. His anger isn’t warm now that it’s directed at me.

“You have one chance to answer me, Inessa.”

He continues walking and I steel my spine.

Clearing my throat of any fear, I lie, “They’re old.”

The tips of his shiny shoes touch mine and he dips down, filling my vision with evil.

“Wrong answer. Try again.”

Anger radiates off him, filling his voice and eyes. He doesn’t give me any space, and he doesn’t touch me, lulling me into false security.I know what he’s capable of, I’ve seen it, but the fact he isn’t touching me allows all the lies I tell myself to comfort me again. He’s angry but he won’t hit me.

I take a fortifying breath and breathe out my answer with no emotion.

“I don’t want you to be the father of my child.”

There’s less conviction in the thought, but this reaction has me jumping back on the side that agreed. A dark laugh pierces through the air, making me flinch, and he grabs my throat, walking us back to the wall. Disgust laces his voice as he looks me up and down.

“Most women try to trap a manwitha baby, and clever little Inessa has found a way to do it the opposite way.”

My hand flies out and there are no fingers catching my wrist. Vlad’s head turns from the force when my palm connects withhis cheek, and he gets bigger. Jolting my body with his hold on my neck, I shrink inside at the hint of vulnerability in his voice.

“Have I raised my fucking hand to you?”

Even though his hand is currently wrapped around my throat, it’s not cutting off my air. He has given threats with a stupid smile on his face, but never acted on them. Refusing to admit that verbally, I hold his wrist pointedly.

“You’ve choked me and tried to drown me. Youspankedme.”

My voice hardens with each instance I recall, and the lustful memories have me losing any fear. His twisted sadistic smile comes outas he squeezes the sides of my neck and leans further into me.

“Which you fucking loved. You want to be fucked without a purpose? Fine, I’ll make you my whore.”

My voice raises with the hurt inside me, “Fuck you. Do not speak to me like that. I am your fucking wife.”

His fingers flex around my neck and he pulls me closer, making me gasp as my hand whips out for stability against his chest. He doesn’t let me look away from him, he forces me to look up and adds more insults.

“A wife would discuss any issues she had. A whore would go behind my back. You’ve shown me which one you are.”

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