“That’s it, baby,” he says in his deep, seductive voice. “You’re my good girl, so be my good girl.”

The first moan escapes me. I want to be his good girl so bad.

Mikhail thrusts into me roughly. It hurts still, but it also feels good. I can’t even explain it. I can only feel it.

My body has a mind of its own. I let myself get washed away in our lovemaking.

Mikhail suddenly pulls out of me and rolls me onto my side. Before I can wonder what he’s doing, he gets behind me and reenters me in one thrust. I gasp. He pulls my leg over his thigh, exposing me even more to the crowd.

“Look at them,” he says into my ear. “Watch how jealous they are that they’re not the ones fucking you right now.” He brings his hand down my body and finds my clit. I moan again when he begins rubbing it while also thrusting into me.

“Mikhail,” I gasp out.

“Tell me. Tell me you’re my good girl.”

“I am,” I cry. “I am your good girl.”

“Then come for me, baby. Come for me.” He gently bites my ear as his finger presses down on my nub.

And I explode.

I can’t even breathe as my body trembles and shudders from the pleasure.

Mikhail thrusts hard into me once more before groaning and coming inside me. I can feel his seed. I’m not on birth control. I know Mikhail will want me to have children. It’s always been expected of me, so I’m not sad about the thought. Actually, I don’t mind the idea of having children with Mikhail. I’m already his.

I slump against the bed, catching my breath. As Mikhail slowly eases out of me, I feel a trickle of wetness down my thigh and tense when I see blood.

“Don’t worry,” Mikhail says. “It was just because it was your first time, and I was a little rougher than I’d intended. Let’s get you cleaned up.”

He scoops me into his arms and carries me off the stage and down the hallway into a private bedroom, where he lays me on the bed. I watch him grab a towel off the nightstand and dip it into a bowl of water. “Open your legs.”

I don’t hesitate.

I wince when he touches the towel to my vulva, cleaning up the blood.

“You’re mine now, Sofiya. How does it feel?” He rubs the towel up and down my folds. A spike of arousal hits me again, but my body is too spent to do anything about it.

“I feel … safe,” I admit.

The smile that crosses his face fills me with warmth. “Good.” He removes the towel and leans over me, giving me a gentle kiss. “Now, get some rest. Your body needs it. I worked it hard tonight.”

My eyes are fluttering shut without me even meaning to, and within seconds, sleep takes me.

I feel someone standing over me before I open my eyes.

When something cold touches my throat, I jerk awake and see Irina above me, holding a knife to my throat.

“You said I could have him,” she growls.

“Where’s Mikhail?”

“He’s not here right now. It’s just you and me.” She slaps my cheek. “Pay attention.”

I hold as still as I can. One small movement and I’ll be dead.

“I saw what happened tonight,” she continues. “He was mine first, but he tossed me aside like garbage for you.” She looks me up and down, but unlike the lustful looks I received tonight, Irina’s is full of derision. “You’re nothing special.”

“You think killing me will help you? Mikhail won’t be happy.”

“Mikhail doesn’t need to know I did it.”

I gasp when she presses the knife harder against my neck, drawing blood.

The door slams open, and Mikhail rushes into the room. Irina backs away, but she doesn’t make it far before Mikhail grabs her and forces the knife out of her hand.

“What the fuck are you doing?” he snarls, shaking her.

I sit up and cover my body with the covers. “Mikhail.”

“Are you ok?” he asks me without taking his eyes off Irina.

My fingers touch my neck and come away with blood. “I’ll be fine.” The cut isn’t too deep. I think I’d be dead if it were.

“You messed up, Irina. Sofiya, get dressed and come with me.”

Uncertainly, I get out of the bed and grab my dress that has been folded nicely on the nightstand table. I slip it on.

“Come on,” Mikhail growls, dragging Irina out of the room. I follow, but keeping up in my heels and sore body is hard. Mikhail leaves from the club's back exit, which leads into an alleyway. No one else is there. He tosses Irina onto the ground.

“Please,” Irina sobs. “You loved me once. Remember? We can have that again.”

“I never loved you, Irina.” He reaches into his jacket pocket and pulls out a gun. I freeze, watching in horror as Mikhail points the gun at Irina’s head and shoots, killing her instantly. Her body slumps to the ground.

“Wha …” I trail off.

He pulls out his phone next and calls someone. He speaks in Russian, so I have no idea what he’s saying. He hangs up and grabs my hand. “Come on. We’re going home.”

“But … Irina …”

“Will be taken care of. I just called my best man for the job. Now, we need to leave.”

I slump forward, falling into his arms. Mikhail picks me up, carries me out of the alleyway, and returns to his car.

The image of Irina’s dead body lying on the ground with a bullet through her brain will haunt me forever.

Chapter