Page 45 of Viripotent

“You can’t just abandon me either. And I don’t give a fuck about your reputation, you either respect me or you take this ring back.”

I hold my hand up, but he smirks and calls my bluff.

“Try it.”

I’ve only had it a few days and I haven’t taken it off once. My finger has gotten used to the weight and I hesitate. It might not be the exact ring I chose, but I like it and it’s shiny. Seeing the asshole enjoying the sight of my reluctance, I harden, meeting his eyes and pull it up. Pain erupts as soon as I tug, and it feels like my skin is being shredded, making me stop instantly. Little red rivulets drip down my knuckles as I inspect below the band and sharp prongs are digging into my skin. I can’t feel them due to the way they’re positioned unless I try to take it off then it embeds into my skin.

The dickhead is smiling widely, his smug voice bouncing off the walls.

“You could chop your finger off?”

I’m going to throw something at him, and he becomes a bigger asshole as I look for something heavy enough to do damage.

“That finger became mine as soon as you accepted my ring.”

He pushes his chair back and walks around the desk, holding the crystal tumbler loosely between his fingers. That shouldn’t be attractive, neither should his arrogance. But he wears it too well.

There’s no paperweight to smash into his skull and I’m stopped from my search when he tilts my face up and to the side, exposing my neck. My eyes close when his nose skims my neck, and they roll behind my lids when his deep whisper fills my ear.

“I didn’t try to kill you and it won’t happen again, meelaya.” It’s an apology, and a promise sealed with his soft lips pressing into the marks.He smells good too, everything about him has been curated to combine every single weakness I possess. My thighs twitch as he continues moving his lips across my neck asthough they’re capable of removing the marks. His lips are too soft, and it feels good, way too fucking good.

My breathing shallows and I hold the armrests, my fingers digging into the wood to hold on to some sanity. Vlad moves back across my skin, going to my ear and I’m officially a mess.

“You smell good enough to eat.”

Biting the inside of my lip to stop from begging him to do just that, he laughs low in his throat, each soundwave brushes my skin, and he presses a kiss under my ear before his heat is removed.His footsteps get further away, the ice clinking with each step until the door closes.

I don’t move or look as I count to one hundred to make sure he isn’t stood behind me. I’m combusting inside from barely anything and I have a stupid fucking mask on my face made from berries like someone pushed my face into a cake.Why do I even want him?! I shouldn’t. It makes things easier knowing that I have to sleep with him, but he’s not my type. Ever since I’ve been aware that I’m not going to be trapped in a marriage, I’ve allowed myself to think of the futureIwant.

I always thought I’d find someone decent, an upstanding citizen, maybe a lawyer who has the same interests as me and we’d both change lives together. He’d prosecute every sick fuck, and I’d do what I could to make sure the children have a chance at life rather than existence. Vlad is not that man. He’s modified something as innocent as an engagement ring to be a collar that I can’t remove.

That’s what I focus on, and I stand, making sure my steps are silent as I walk through the house. Vlad is speaking to his brothers, and I take the service elevator through the kitchen rather than pass the lounge. He won’t be able to see me leave or try to stop me. The keys are all held together in the kitchen, and I go through the luxury vehicles deciding which one takes my fancy before going to change. He’s a dickhead and toying withme, so I’ll do it right back. People say don’t cut off your nose to spite your face, this is more like cutting off your finger to spite your fiancé.

NINETEEN

Vlad

Expecting to find Inessa hiding on the top floor, there’s no one here. There are no lights on, and her things haven’t been moved, but she’s nowhere in the house. I’ve gone through every floor in the hours since she’s been gone and I’m regretting not chipping her like a prized pet. Going back down, I repeat my checks. Somewhere along the line she has been added to the list of people I have to make sure are safe before I can do anything I need to.I can’t leave the house unless I know they’re all breathing and safe. All the windows are closed and there’s no breeze floating through from anywhere, but I can feel my chest tighten.

I load the cameras and run them back to when I left my office. The little thief slinks out a few minutes later and pockets a set of keys. She looks ridiculous with that pink shit on her face, and I can’t even laugh about it with the amount of bruising on her neck. There’s an instinct gaining steam telling me that this woman is going to fuck up my life and I’ll sit back in awe of how fantastically she achieves it. She already has me gaining respect for her which is dangerous enough on its own. There are nonotions of love or care, respect is the commodity that is used to barter alliances and start wars.

She took Valentin’s pride and joy, so I hope for her sake she’s a careful driver or he’ll end up throwing one of his tantrums and bitching if it’s scratched. It’s been hours and my jaw clenches at the thought of her fucking some prick wearing my ring. Now that Inessa is my bride publicly, no one will fucking touch her.Once she’s fucked herself and got used to having something inside her, the only dick she will feel is mine. I’m not going to allow any doubt over paternity to stop my family being safe.

I pace by the bar as I watch the external cameras, waiting for her to get the fuck back from whoever was so important. She’s spent the day with my family, fitting in with them, and bonding with their vain fucking habits. Tapping on my thigh as the minutes pass without any sight of her, I relax seeing the headlights approach.They don’t go to the garage. She stops outside the doors and gets out leaving the guard to park as though they’re the valet. That stubborn fucking woman won’t be satisfied until she’s my equal without spilling a drop of blood.

Even in the screen she looks too happy, not because it’s genuine, but she’s suspiciously giddy as she walks with purpose through the doors. I follow her through the cameras until she’s in front of me and pocket my phone. Her smile is the first thing I see, it’s wider but her clothes aren’t crumpled. There’s not a single golden hair out of place on her pretty little head or a crease in her dress, allowing me to relax.

Unless she folded it to avoid the creases.

I don’t allow that thought to gain traction because there was no wince as she walked in.

I’m looking for the wrong type of evidence as she picks my hand up and places something cool in my palm. The smugness in her voice stops me examining it as I take in the full sight of her.

“Looks like I didn’t need to cut my finger off after all.”

Opening my hand, the platinum that should be wrapped around her finger is bent, having been cut off. Fuck me, this woman isn’t docile or an ice princess. She’s a queen making her own rules, exactly like she keeps demanding.

My laugh is genuine at her need to try to win not realizing she’s fucked herself. Shrugging out of my suit jacket, I remove my cufflinks lining them up on the bar top and rolling my sleeves up. A low sound of appreciation leaves my bride as she stares wide eyed at the movement.

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