Total pages in book: 106
Estimated words: 108119 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 541(@200wpm)___ 432(@250wpm)___ 360(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 108119 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 541(@200wpm)___ 432(@250wpm)___ 360(@300wpm)
I didn’t see it coming.
Because I didn’t expect her to fight.
Not until I felt the sting of her slap across my cheek as her fingertips burned into my ice-cold skin.
“Now I’m satisfied,” she hissed.
We locked eyes; hers were filled with barely restrained blue fury as she stared me down.
“I can’t decide…” I trailed my gloved finger down her jaw and dragged it across her bottom lip. “What I enjoyed more. The kiss or the slap.”
“I can demonstrate the slap again if you want.”
I smirked. “No, that’s okay.”
Her lower lip trembled.
Shit.
I hung my head and muttered. “Get in the car, Alice.”
It wasn’t until we pulled up to the club that I realized, I didn’t say “six thirty-two.”
And as the door opened to let me out, I realized.
I’d suddenly done the unthinkable.
And made it personal.
Fucking Phoenix.
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
Alice
My hands were shaking as Andrei led me back into the club, back to the prison, back to the place where he’d most likely take advantage of me just like my brother did, then toss me when he got bored.
His kiss proved nothing.
It was to punish me.
To show me his place.
To remind me of mine.
And I hated that I liked the way his lips felt.
The way my body responded when it absolutely shouldn’t have. It’s why I slapped him, because I was angry and embarrassed that he would use it against me when he had to know what it cost me to give it.
What it cost me to even reveal it.
I kept my stare straight ahead as he grabbed me by the hand and led me past couples making out in the hall. The women all wore black and red, and on their ankles were the little lock tattoos, something every single one of them had in common.
A reminder that they were owned?
Chained without actual chains?
“The tattoos,” I whispered. “Do I get one?”
Andrei stopped walking, causing me to crash into his back. I recovered just in time for his icy blue stare to lock on mine. “Is that what you want?”
I gulped. “What I want is to be free, and I don’t like pain so no I don’t want a tattoo. I’m just asking so I can mentally prepare myself.”
He let out a sigh that sounded more annoyed than angry. “We’ll discuss this later.”
“No.” I stood my ground.
A muscle twitched in his jaw as he raised his right hand and gripped my chin, the leather gloves felt hot against my skin. “I said,” he whispered coldly, “we’ll discuss this later.”
I didn’t realize people were staring until he dropped his hand, and then he flashed me a smile so seductive, so endearing I almost turned around to make sure I wasn’t mistaken that it was for me.
I frowned.
Only encouraging him more.
“Come.” He pulled me roughly into his arms and kissed my neck.
I sucked in a breath as his hot kisses moved down to my collarbone, pulling my fur to the side while he toyed with the material of the dress. My knees almost buckled as he assaulted me with something so simple.
A kiss.
He sucked on my collarbone, his tongue swirling along my skin and causing goose bumps to erupt up and down my body.
I trembled in his arms, and then his lips were on my ear. “Remember what I said… they need to see ownership, or you’re fair game. And if you’re fair game, you can expect one of those ugly tattoos within the hour, so decide…”
“Decide?” I said it too breathlessly.
He chuckled darkly. Bastard. I hated him. I hated him.
“Are you mine?” He pressed his body against mine and walked me backward toward a wall then grabbed my hands, pinning them over my head as he continued his assault on my left shoulder. My fur coat dropped to my waist as he used his teeth and tongue to kiss along my other collarbone.
“Do I have a choice?”
“It’s me or them,” he hissed, then bit my skin enough to leave a mark as he stopped kissing me and pressed his forehead to mine. “That’s as bad as it gets with me, dorogaya.”
My body swayed as he pressed against me, making it hard to breathe, hard to think. He was solid muscle and radiating sex like he was used to getting exactly what he wanted and knew all the tricks to get there.
“Come,” he snapped, releasing my hands and wrapping an arm around me. We walked through the VIP section of the club, past a security guy with dark hair and light blue eyes. He looked from me to Andrei and then stepped in front of Andrei when he tried to open a solid silver door.
“Boss.” He crossed his arms. “We have men entertaining in the vault.”
“Better she see it now than later, better she know now,” he muttered. “Open the damn door.”
“Right away, boss.” He pushed away from the door and slid a card over it. “Did you want me to bring you champagne?”