“Would you get jealous if a man did that to me?”
“I would. And no other man will ever do that to you.” His words have a chill to them that sends a shiver over me.
Mikhail’s possessiveness is intriguing. It makes me want to lean in closer to him. Have him comfort me. Not Irina.
“I was … I couldn’t look away,” I finally say. “But I don’t think I liked it. I don’t want you to whip me.”
“I won’t. It’s clear you won’t enjoy pain the way Irina does. But I am going to push you, Sofiya. When you’re ready. It’s good you’re asking me questions.”
“It is?”
“Yes.” His fingers skim up and down my arm. I hold still, not even breathing. “It means you’ll be ready soon. Now, let’s go to sleep. It’s been a long night.”
It has. I draw the blanket up high around my face and turn away from Mikhail. I don’t think I have it in me to face him again. Everything is happening so fast, and there’s no way for me to slow it down.
When I wake back up, I find myself pressed up against Mikhail’s back. I quickly turn away from him.
“You didn’t have to move.” His voice makes me sit up, my heart pounding.
“Sorry.” I get out of bed and hurry to the closet. I need to get out of this flimsy nightgown and into real clothes. I need something to protect myself against Mikhail.
He joins me in the closet again, but this time, he doesn’t dress me. He just keeps his eyes on me as he changes into a suit. I avert my eyes when he drops his pajama pants and slips into his slacks.
“You can look you, you know,” he says.
“I … can’t.”
When I look back, he’s fully dressed. Why does he have to look so good in a suit? My body tightens at the sight of him in a white shirt, navy jacket, and slacks.
“Aren’t you going to change?” he asks.
“Yes.” I grab a blue dress and another bra and underwear set. I stare at Mikhail, and he stares back. It’s only after a few seconds pass I realize he’s not going to move. He’s going to stand there and watch me change.
With a big gulp and a sigh, I let my nightgown fall down my body. Though I keep my eyes down, I can feel Mikhail’s gaze on me as I put on my bra and underwear. He doesn’t try touching me again. For some reason, I’m slightly disappointed.
Just slightly.
Only after I slip on my dress and heels does Mikhail finally leave.
And he does so without a backward glance.
I’m confused as I head down for breakfast. Mikhail wants me. He’s made that very clear. And yet, sometimes, he acts like he doesn’t want anything to do with me. Is this his way of pushing me? Of testing my limits?
I sit down at the kitchen table, all by myself again, as Mikhail heads for his office, telling Mary to send his breakfast in to him.
“Yes, Mr. Ivanov,” Mary replies. The respect in her voice is obvious. Too bad she doesn’t have any respect for me.
“Can I use the phone now, Mary?” I ask once I’m finished eating.
“Have you gotten permission from Mr. Ivanov?” she asks, keeping her eyes glued to the dishes she’s washing.
“No,” I admit. “But surely, he’ll let me use the phone.”
“You’ll have to ask him. Until then, no.” She shoos me out of her way. “Unlike some people, missy, others have to work. Get out of my kitchen.”
“I can help,” I offer.
Mary gives me a horrified look as she clutches her hand to her chest. If she wore pearls, I’m sure she’d be clutching them, too. “You are Mr. Ivanov’s wife. You do not do household work.”
“But you just judged me for not working. So, I’m offering to work.”
“You will do no such thing. Just get out of my kitchen. Now!” she barks, making me jump.
I practically run from the kitchen and end up bumping into someone in the hallway.
“Woah, there.”
I look up at the person I ran into and see it’s Andrei, Mikhail’s second in command.
“Be careful where you’re going,” he says. There’s a darkness in his eyes that startles me.
“Sorry. I didn’t realize anyone else was over.”
“Mikhail invited me over. We have work to discuss.”
“Ok, then.” All I can see when I look at Andrei is the other night when I saw him spanking another woman in the same room as Mikhail and Irina.
