Page 119 of Viripotent

“You’re using me as a blanket, maybe I’m not a blanket person,” she argues childishly.

Letting her go, I put my hands under my head and raise an eyebrow when she doesn’t move.

Those horrible fucking pants are on her legs, and I can see them over the top of her head. She just smiles sweetly at me and she’s wearing one of my t-shirts.

“Take them off.”

Her smile slips at my order and a faint blush stains her cheeks as she avoids my eyes. Her mumble is adorable.

“I’m sore.”

I cup her nape and massage the sides as I pull her up to meet my lips and kiss her crown. My voice is weaker against the strands as I put her at ease.

“I won’t fuck you.”

She’s agreeable and hooks her thumbs in the waistband peeling the abhorrent fabric down her pretty legs. Once she’s kicked them off, I relax and cover them with the sheets.

“Good girl, don’t wear them again.”

She huffs and peels my hand away to reach for them. My tone hardens, saying her name and she freezes.

“Inessa. Don’t even fucking think about it.”

She’s cute pouting up at me thinking it will make me change my mind. It wavers slightly on the next words out of her mouth.

“I like them.”

I go back to my original argument when she speaks again.

“I’ll buy you a pair too.”

“Fuck no. You look like a fucking tabby-human half breed.” She doesn’t soften at my explanation and glares at me. But she doesn’t move away and rests her cheek on my shoulder. With the light of day and some of my anger being chased away, I try to get my answers now that she is clearly in a talkative mood.

“Why did you go on birth control?”

If it was her way of ensuring we stayed married, she could have just spoken. She has words for literally everything else. Sensing her retreat, I stroke down her back, keeping her on top of me.

She’s not in a position to subdue me but it’s enough to give her the illusion. Reaching her ass, my hand moves automatically, massaging away any residual soreness. It works to get the truth.

“I watched you beat the shit out of that woman, she had a bald spot and was spitting up blood. Honestly? It scared the shit out of me.”

My jaw clenches with the memory of everything Galya has fucking ruined, and I don’t say anything. I can’t tell Inessa about Vanya. She’ll ask more questions and probably fucking pity me.

There’s more that she’s keeping to herself, but she gives me what I asked for.

“I don’t want my child to be raised with violent hands, children shouldn’t be scared of their parents.”

Agreeing isn’t difficult and my tongue moves, giving her something I’ve never given anyone.

“Len would set me up to fight grown men, so I wasn’t weak. The story of when I was nine is true. Then the others were born, and it was my job to train them.”

I don’t tell her it wasn’t my first kill. Sadness is still coating my queen’s features, and she relaxes, tracing shapes on my shoulder.Her voice is lower, hesitant, as she stares at the Madonna on my chest.

“Did you train them?”

I have three regrets in life. One of them is regarding my brothers, and it’s the easiest.

“Yes. Valentin and Vitali are only a year apart so them fighting each other wasn’t an issue. If you’re asking did I lay a hand on them, then it’s yes too.”

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