Page 32 of Chained Fate
Finally, after treating me like a priceless glass figurine for so long, he’ll fuck me hard, and I will enjoy every bit of it.
I’m honest enough with myself to admit that.
Except… he doesn’t fuck me.Hard or otherwise.Breathing raggedly, he ends the kiss and, holding my hips to steady me, steps back.Then he releases me and takes another step back, putting more distance between us.
I stare at him as he shoves his fingers through his dark hair, agitated.
What the fuck just happened?
Did he not like kissing me?
“We should get you ready to go.”His voice is strained as he drops his hand.“I’ll make the arrangements with my security team.”
And just like that, he’s gone.
Chapter15
Alina
Within an hour, I’m hustled out of the clinic and across the street to Alexei’s penthouse.Guards surround us as we make the short trip—way too many guards, and they don’t even bother to stay out of sight.
What is Alexei afraid of?That I’ll make a run for it the moment I’m out on the street?Or that my brothers will swoop in to snatch me away for good?
The latter is an actual possibility, to be fair.Though… if he doesn’t want me anymore, shouldn’t he be glad to be rid of me?
I steal a glance at his tense features as we ride the elevator up to the penthouse.
DoesAlexei still want me?Could I have misread the way he pulled away after that kiss?We haven’t had sex since before my escape, but I thought that was due to my state after the surgery and during the treatment.But maybe it was because he was starting to grow cold on me?Then again, if that were the case, why would he take care of me with such dedication?Out of some misguided sense of duty?Or is he feeling guilty for stalking me all those years?
Yeah, no, that doesn’t sound like Alexei Leonov.
If he’s taking care of me, it’s because he wants to.
Which means he still wants me… right?
Dammit.Why do I even care?If the cancer treatment has made me undesirable to him, he’ll just let me go, and all will be well.
Won’t it?
“Here we are,” Alexei says as the elevator doors open into the penthouse.“Are you hungry, or would you like to go straight to bed?”
“I’ll take a shower first,” I say.
And I’ll thoroughly brush my teeth while I’m at it.
Maybe I smell like medicine, or worse.
“Wait,” Alexei says, grabbing my hand as I start heading for the bathroom.“I’ll come with you.”
Oh.
My pulse speeds up.
His grip on my hand is firm and possessive.Very much my uncompromising captor.
Maybe I did misread his reaction to the kiss.
Maybe he just wanted to get me here, where we have more privacy.
