Total pages in book: 83
Estimated words: 80602 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 403(@200wpm)___ 322(@250wpm)___ 269(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 80602 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 403(@200wpm)___ 322(@250wpm)___ 269(@300wpm)
“Even better.” I slip my hand into Kyle’s arm. “I see you already met my husband.”
My tongue doesn’t feel weird around the word. If anything, it’s natural. The hell?
“Oh, right.” She continues her disingenuous smile. “He’s a keeper, this one.”
I return her smile with my own. “I know that more than anyone since I married him. See you inside.”
She hesitates as if she wants to spend more time here, but then mutters, “Sure.”
“Ana.” I smile at my great-cousin. “Can you please show her the way?”
She takes the hint and walks beside Emilia to make sure she leaves. I keep watching her back until she disappears.
“I didn’t know you were capable of jealousy, Princess.”
It’s then I realize I’ve been digging my nails into Kyle’s arm with all my might. I let it go with a jerk and lift my chin. “I wasn’t jealous.”
“Then what do you call what just happened?”
“I was only protecting my honor. Disrespect me again and I will disrespect you in return.”
“And how, pray tell, will you do that?”
“Eye for an eye, Kyle. You know I believe in that. So next time you let a woman throw her arms around you, know I’ll find another man to throw my arms around. Fuck a woman and I’ll fuck two men—and a woman, if I’m in the mood.”
He grabs me by the throat. The motion is so quick I gasp, eyes widening. He backs me up until my behind hits a car. His usually nonchalant eyes rage with a storm so deep I feel it straight against my throat. “Don’t ever, and I mean ever, repeat that. You’re my wife—know your fucking place.”
“And you’re my husband,” I mutter through clenched teeth. “Know your fucking place.”
“Don’t attempt to play with my fire, Rai. The moment a man so much as looks at you, let alone touches you, I will slice his fucking throat and watch as life leaves his eyes so he knows in every last second that he shouldn’t have touched what’s mine.”
“Then treat me the same. I’m your wife, and therefore, your equal, not a second-rate citizen you can do with as you please. Don’t dish out your double standards on me—you won’t like how I react.”
“Believe me, you won’t like how I’ll react either. I believe in retribution, Rai.”
“Is that why you fucked Emilia last night?”
“I didn’t fuck Emilia.”
“You expect me to believe that?”
“Jealous, Mrs. Hunter?”
“I’m just asking in case I have to call someone up. Kai or Damon would be up for it.”
His jaw tightens. “Rai…”
“What?” I snap. “You did it first.”
“I didn’t fuck Emilia. Why would I do that when I have you?”
“Your words won’t get you anywhere. I need proof.”
“My word is all the proof you need. You have to start believing it for this marriage to work.”
“Who told you I want this marriage to work?”
“Then would you rather we destroy each other?”
“Aren’t we already?”
We continue staring at one another, gazes clashing and bodies tense. I don’t know how long it lasts, but at some point, his hold on my neck turns less threatening and more…sexual. I don’t know when the shift happens or if it’s all in my mind, but my skin turns tingly and so do my thighs.
Kyle lowers his head so that his mouth is a few inches away from mine as he whispers, “You’re so fucking stubborn.”
“You knew that when you married me,” I murmur back, not able to take my attention off his lips.
“That I did. I just didn’t know how bloody insane it would drive me.”
“You can still leave.”
“I told you I won’t.”
My stomach flip-flops, shifts, and contracts as if butterflies are slashing straight through it. No, not butterflies. It’s something more potent.
I lean in close, and so does Kyle. When our lips are about to touch, the sound of a car pulls us back to the present.
Shit. I actually forgot that we’re in public.
This is why Kyle is dangerous to me. He can pull me into mazes of his own making, and one day, he might not allow me out.
The back door opens and a petite woman with soft features gets out. Her dark hair is tied into an elegant ponytail. She’s wearing a designer beige skirt suit and keeps the hand that wears her wedding ring on top of the other.
Lia Volkov, Adrian’s wife.
A sense of relief hits me at seeing a familiar face—as familiar as it gets. The last time I saw her was three months ago on Sergei’s birthday. Adrian keeps her hidden to a fault. She didn’t even attend the wedding. In all honesty, the only reason she came to Granduncle’s birthday was that it would’ve been disrespectful if Adrian didn’t bring her.
“I have to go,” I whisper to Kyle. “You can leave.”
He steals a quick kiss from my lips before he releases my throat. “Tonight, Mrs. Hunter.”