Page 58 of The Pakhan's Kidnapped Bride
“Does that mean you’re going to turn into a wild animal as soon as you glimpse it?” she teases me.
“No, kitten. That’s afullmoon. Not a new moon. You should be safe for tonight,” I grin.
“What a pity,” she says with a cheeky flare.
My heart skips a beat, and my mouth drops open. She’s flirting.
Very blatantly flirting. I don’t think she realizes how much I’m already struggling to keep myself in check.
She crosses one leg over the other, and her pink dress shifts up her thigh. I reach across the car and place my hand on her skin. She doesn’t push me away. The thrill of it is made more intense by the fact that I know I shouldn’t be doing it.
I take her for a drive around town without a particular destination in mind. We stop on top of the highest point to gaze down at the city as we enjoy our cheesecake, sitting on the hood of the car.
We drive all along the coast, watching people out and about, partying and dancing, and getting a bit too drunk.
Each road I choose to turn down seems to lead past one of my many established businesses, and I point them out to her. I realize I’m doing it on purpose. I want to show her everything.
“I bought that hotel two years ago. It’s the most popular hotel in the city.” I point to Neptune’s Gold, and she lets her eyes drift all the way up the glass front building.
“It’s gorgeous.”
I drive her past several restaurants, a small casino, a luxury apartment block, another hotel—all mine, all things I’ve worked very hard for.
One by one, I casually point out my achievements. In a way, I want to gloat. I want to show her how well I’ve done, in spite of everything she put me through, in spite of the pain and my world being torn apart when she left—I still achieved so much.
On the other hand, I don’t want to gloat at all. I instead want to show her what she is, in some ways, a part of.
Because whether it came from a place of darkness, denial, revenge, or a dangerous version of love, she has always been my driving force. My motivation to succeed, to be better.
I fought to prove to her, even if it was subconscious at the time, that I was worthy of her love. That I did deserve her and that she should return to me.
And now I want to show her everything I created. Everything I built and just how much of this city I own.
Everything she could have owned as well if only she hadn’t left.
Would I have built so much without the pain she caused? I don’t know.
I glance across the car at Anya.
She’s smiling up at a giant Ferris wheel near the pier.
“I had it put in right after I purchased that section of the beach front,” I remark.
“Can we go on it?” she asks, excited.
“Of course,” I smile, turning left towards the beach.
The Ferris wheel moves in a lazy, slow circle, carrying us higher and higher into the night sky. Lights glitter everywhere around us, and we can see all across the ocean, dark water with the occasional boat like a lost star on its surface.
Anya shifts over the seat, moving closer to me, and rests her head on my shoulder.
I wrap my arm around her delicate shoulder and pull her close.
“Tonight was really magical, Em. Thank you for making it so special.”
“It’s my pleasure, kitten. I hope I made up for having to cancel dinner last night.”
“You did. And we can go for that steak another night, anyway. Or maybe I’m going to have to be more creative with my next date idea. I’ve clearly got a lot of competition,” she giggles.
