Page 25 of Viripotent

The bark doesn’t make her flinch, but it dims any joy she was going to get. Rushed steps sound around us until it all falls silent, and she pouts thinking her fake personality will get a rise out of me.

“You’re no fun.”

Firing back easily, I adjust my cufflinks as I widen my legs.

“And you have no manners.”

The movement has her focus. She leans into me with one hand on my thigh and drops her voice, attempting to be seductive.

“Should I get on my knees because you’re buying me pretty jewelry?”

I’d rather she was obedient than submissive. There’s a difference between the two, submissiveness is her relinquishing power out of choice, obedience is knowing that there isn’t one.

The bubble of lust she’s trying to create gets popped as she fits her lips near my ear and demolishes the thought she implanted.

“I’d bite it off before your trousers could hit your ankles.”

My hand moves before she can pull back and I thread my fingers through her hair above her nape. I pull her away and try to push away the memories she’s stirring up.

It doesn’t work and there’s too much knowledge in my words.

“It takes 200lbs of force to get through the vein. That doesn’t take into consideration that whoever you’ve latched on to will be doing everything they can to shake you off, punching you in the head.”

Holding her hair tighter, I pull, demonstrating my words.

“Ripping at your hair until it’s left between their fingers.”

Inessa is half laid on top of me, her neck bent so she’s staring up at the ceiling and her pulse hammering in her neck as she audibly gulps. I trace the curve of her neck with the back of my knuckles, all the sins I’ve gathered are inked on my hands, showing my position against her clean, unmarked skin. She doesn’t lash out, her hand is still softly resting on my thigh, her little finger getting closer to my dick. I want to see how far she’s willing to allow her stubbornness to stretch and wrap my hand around her neck. Each breath she takes is controlled by me as I gently squeeze so she knows I’m the one who decides if she breathes.

But that doesn’t work with this deranged woman. She becomes the brattiest pillow princess in existence, and attempts to plug false confidence into her voice.

“Maybe, I like having my hair pulled.”

Her eyes move and she tries to turn her head, pulling her own hair out. There’s no warning that she’s going to ruin everything as her lips part, and she says one word turning my stomach.

“Daddy.”

My insides freeze as my throat burns in disgust.

Dropping my hold on her hair, she falls against my chest and my lip curls up as I spit out, “Don’t use that word with me again.”

To the outside world I’m not old enough to be Inessa’s father, I know different and I manage to get myself in control as I rest my hand on my knee, my middle finger moves, reminding me of who I am, and where I need to be.

It doesn’t stop the echo of that fucking word in the room and I abruptly stand, uncaring as she slips and catches herself on the sofa cushion. I tap my thigh three times as a reminder, waiting for her to fix herself up. There are still jewels on her body, but I don’t have the patience to wait for her to remove them and my card is already on file. Taking the ring that’s loosely wrapped around her finger, I leave it on the tray with her correct ring size and she doesn’t open her mouth again making it all better.

ELEVEN

Inessa

Cold and unfeeling has a new definition after trying to antagonize Vlad. His eyes never lingered on me before, he’s always been disinterested. Now it’s replaced with revulsion, like my presence alone is turning his stomach. I feel like a child sat in the back with Viktor as we go to Grandfather’s house. Valentin hasn’t spoken a word after a rough head nod in acknowledgement and their parents are staring through the windscreen of the car behind in excitement of being seen in the Pakhan’s home.

We park away from the gates, and I wish I stayed at the house and offered to wipe Vitali’s ass while he’s resting. It would be preferred over whatever masquerade is going to take place inside. Valentin turns into an imposing figure as he gets out and keeps his son by his side. There are no smiles or laughs as they walk, both looking like they hate each other when I’ve seen them together. He’s a good father and his son adores him, yet no one would be able to guess that, as they join the flow of people.Since Vlad allowed me to know that Viktor isn’t his son, they’ve interacted in front of me and the usually cruel Valentinis nothing other than a doting father when he’s away from other people.

My hand pauses on the door handle as Vlad finally speaks.

“Once we go inside, you will be linked to me. You won’t be viewed as Inessa Mikhailovya but Mrs. Vlad Vartanova.” Looking at me through the mirror, his eyes harden with threat. “Don’t do anything to embarrass my name.”

It turns deadly at my muttering.

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