“Fine. Sorry. We both had a rough evening. You were used as a human coffee table, and I was slapped in the face. I mean, I was slapped in the face, but whatever.”

“Vik, are you trying to say you had it worse than me?” I ask.

“No! I was just stating the facts. Tonight was a disaster. I never want to repeat it again. You know, now I’m glad I’m not married to Mikhail. I can’t imagine having a husband who would allow me to be in that position in the first place.”

I bristle. “Mikhail didn’t allow that to happen. He saved me from Andrei.”

“Sure.”

I know what Vik is doing. She didn’t get Mikhail, so she’s trying to turn me against my husband.

I pat her arm. “I love you, you know. But sometimes, you’re the worst.”

Her mouth drops open.

I leave my two sisters standing in the hallway and head back into my bedroom. The bedroom I share with my husband.

Chapter

Nine

SOFIYA

Waking up beside Mikhail leaves me with conflicted feelings. His warmth makes me draw closer to him, while the coldness that simmers underneath makes me want to get out of this bed.

He touched me in front of all of his men, showing me off like I was his trophy. I already knew Mikhail was possessive. I just never thought he’d do something like that.

And the worst part of all is I liked it.

No. I loved it.

I loved how falling apart in his arms from his touch felt. I loved that he put Andrei in his place. I loved being held by Mikhail. Being carried up to our room. I loved it.

And yet, I can’t help but feel like it was wrong. I’m a woman, not a trophy. The emotional side to me says Mikhail doesn’t have any more claim to me than any other man.

Whereas the logical side to my brain knows that none of that is true. I belong to Mikhail. He owns me now, and there’s nothing I can do about it. It’s frightening how much I want to be with him. How much I want him to touch me like that again. My body throbs at the memory.

It’s because of that fear that I also want to escape. No one should have this kind of hold over me. I should be free to just … what? Be by myself? I’m by myself most of the days anyway. That’s not what I want. I just want to know I’ll be fully safe.

Even though I know Mikhail would keep me safe from any man who wanted to do me harm, the question is—who will save me from Mikhail?

I stare at his strong back as he sleeps. The sight of him shirtless leaves me breathless. Mikhail has the strength to hurt me, but he hasn’t. Yet. I still can’t get the memory of him whipping Irina out of my mind. Mikhail made it clear I have a say in our relationship, but do I really? Because I’m not so sure I do.

Mikhail has all the power here. I have nothing.

He stirs, waking up. I quickly close my eyes and calm my breathing, pretending I’m still asleep. I can feel Mikhail sit up. I can feel his gaze on me.

“I know you’re awake,” he says, startling me. Slowly, I open my eyes. “Why were you pretending?”

“I’m not sure,” I admit. I’ve found that with Mikhail, it’s better just to be honest.

His eyes rake over my body. I’m in a lacy, satiny short nightgown. Those are the only types of pajamas Mikhail bought for me. I’m distinctly aware of how naked I am underneath my outfit. I never bother with bras or underwear when I sleep. Before Mikhail, it was never a big deal. No one ever slept in the same room as me.

Now, that’s all different.

He rests his hand on my stomach. It’s intimidating just how large his hands are compared to my body.

“What’s going to happen to Andrei?” I ask.

Mikhail’s eyes flare. “I’ll make sure he knows never to touch you again.”

“He’s still going to work for you?” My body is completely still.

“He’s a good worker.”

“Not a good friend, though.”

“Which is why I’m going to handle him. Now, I don’t want to talk about Andrei. You look beautiful this morning.”

I can’t help it. I blush.

“Sexy,” he growls as his fingers grab the end of my nightgown and bring it up over my hips. My core throbs at his touch. He spreads my legs wide, and I don’t object. Instead of touching me like he’s done before, he stares down at my vulva. Within moments, I can feel wetness covering my folds.

My hands are clasped on my stomach. The way Mikhail can make me anticipate his next move and want it but also fear it is astounding. No one has ever made me feel this way before.

“I’m going to taste you,” he tells me. “And you’re going to come on my mouth.”

My lips part, but no sound comes out.

Mikhail shifts to the end of the bed and leans down, placing each of my legs over his shoulders. I’m not saying no, but I also feel frozen.

He locks his eyes with mine before lowering his head between my legs. When his tongue licks right up my slit, I gasp, and my legs clench from desire. Mikhail grins, then continues to lick me all over, from my sensitive nub to my folds. My body begins shaking.

The sensation of his tongue on me is so different from his fingers. Neither one is better. Just different in a good way.

Instead of trying to fight it, I let my legs flop open, giving him better access. Mikhail grips my thighs, his eyes never leaving me, as he swirls his tongue around my bundle of nerves. Every time his tongue swipes over it, I feel a surge of pleasure rush through my body.

He brings his tongue lower and toys with it over my entrance. He’s never quite touched me here before, not even with his fingers. I can’t look away. Then Mikhail inserts his tongue into me, and I can’t hold it back anymore—I let out a moan. The sound is louder than I expected.

The tip of his tongue is inside me, pleasuring me, making me go crazy. His hands tighten even more on my thighs. I wonder if I’ll bruise. I wonder if that will bother me. For some reason, I don’t think it will.

My hips jerk up, looking for more friction. Mikhail eases his tongue out of me and resumes pleasuring my nub. He licks it and rolls it around with his tongue. I think I’m going to die from this pleasure. I can’t take anymore.

And then my orgasm hits me. My toes curl, and my breath catches in my throat, making my gasp come out strangled. Mikhail growls against me, and he continues to use his tongue on me.

I tremble and tremble until my body calms down. I’ve never noticed the view from this angle before—staring up at the ceiling after my husband just pleasured me with his mouth.

He kisses along my inner thighs. It tickles and sends goosebumps over my skin.