Page 7 of Viripotent

Stopping myself from oinking in her face, I stay still.

“And you need to visit a farm to learn new animals.”

It’s her only fucking insult, for someone so sharp, she hasn’t let go of the animal in five years.

Her foot fidgets, and I take in the full length of the woman who is going to be my wife. She will look good covered in cum. The silk covering her body isn’t low enough to see her chest clearly, but her enraged breathing has more of the fabrictightening, giving me enough to catalog her. She’s stubborn, strong-willed, and hasn’t taken the opportunity to fuck anyone, unless she’s managed to escape the guards and not discuss it with her friends.

I don’t fuck virgins. I’ll happily spill blood, but they’re too much effort to relax. If I wanted to impart knowledge, I’d become a fucking teacher. With the clock ticking on whatever deadline the Kadares have, I use it to my advantage, and there’s no threat in my voice.

“Have you fixed the problem yet?”

I wait for her to say yes, and she sits smug with a small smirk on her lips, then flicks her eyes across my body. The appreciation isn’t new, and it won’t change my mind, but it’s the smirk on her lips that has my attention despite the way she lies.

“You’re still here so, unfortunately I’m having to deal with it.”

Without anything to keep me here, I stand and gesture for her to follow me. She doesn’t move, and I speak over my shoulder, not giving a fuck about whatever glare is being shot into my back.

“I suggest you move, or I’ll have to put my hands on you.”

The click of her heels taps against the tile in a steady rhythm, thinking I’d do anything other than pick her up.She’s not an opponent to me physically, it would be pathetic to fight against someone who’s unmatched, and I don’t need to assert physical strength over her when she’s already weakened by her protective bubble.

People make others into monsters and then perpetuate that fear by never looking deeper than their own opinion. Who gives a fuck if I’ve killed someone? Or if I’ve lost count of how many someones there have been? Inessa has grown up on the knee of the Pakhan, for fuck’s sake, but she’s acting afraid of me.I usually revel in it. That fear is like fuel. Somehow, it doesn’t energize me when it’s on her features.

She leaves space between our bodies as she follows me, and I can’t hold back my taunt.

“I didn’t know you were religious.”

There’s no threat in my voice. That fear is still there, lying under her confusion as I stretch my arm out into empty space.

“Leaving space for the Holy Spirit?”

Fuck me, she actually smiles, and the ice princess thaws making her glow. Her voice is melodious and playful as she takes a step back.

“A man and a woman are never truly alone. The devil is always present.” Looking me up and down, her voice drops, and I stand taller. “Doesn’t really count when you’re both the devil and man.”

It’s supposed to be an insult. Instead, it’s the best compliment she could ever give me. Show the world a man, and they’ll look for weakness to break him. Wrap the devil in him, and he breaks the world.

She moves closer to the bed with her brows together and looks around the room for whatever she thinks is missing. Her eyes linger on the bed, and she slowly tilts her head giving me her attention with her chin held proudly.

“Where are you sleeping?”

My feet move automatically, and her pulse is ticking against her neck, calling me closer. Lifting her hair out of the way, my voice is too low turning this into something it isn’t.

“Were you expecting bunk beds?”

She’s thrown off by my proximity and moves to the side to try to escape me. Crossing her arms over her chest, she hardens and stares into the space where my soul should be.

“Where amIsleeping?”

I actually prefer death over her constant fucking questions. I point at the bed and speak slowly to get through to her, “See this rectangle thing? It’s called a bed — you lay on it and closeyour eyes. If you could shut your mouth as well, that would be preferable.”

Valentin wasn’t as fucking bad as this when he was a toddler, and I’m going to kill one more person before my own death tonight. The look she sends me says she’s feeling the same. I should have left her to deal with her old-ass boyfriend sneaking into her room. Anger has her moving closer, and she stares up at me, somehow gaining authority she doesn’t have.

“I am not sleeping with you.”

Rubbing my lip with my thumb to hide my humor doesn’t work, and she goes red at my retort.

“Or anyone else, it seems.”

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