Total pages in book: 97
Estimated words: 94829 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 474(@200wpm)___ 379(@250wpm)___ 316(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 94829 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 474(@200wpm)___ 379(@250wpm)___ 316(@300wpm)
I collapse onto my belly, my arms stretched out above my head. Pleasure’s still beating between my legs. I shiver, skin flushed. A big dumb smile is on my face.
He lovingly pats my bruised and sore butt.
“Good girl,” he says, snuggling against me, before remembering to remove the cuffs.
I curl into him once I’m free. “You know, I was skeptical of the handcuffs at first,” I say, breathing in his smell and letting myself get sleepy and comfortable in his strong, warm arms.
“And now?”
“I can understand the appeal.”
“You really have come a long way, my wife.”
I smile like an idiot. I still like hearing him say that.
“Remember when I was a scared little virgin?”
“You mean a couple of months ago?”
“Well, I’m not scared of you anymore, and I’m definitely not a virgin.”
“I hope not. Otherwise, I’ve been doing this wrong the whole time.”
“I was just wondering, you know, if there were… other games… we could play.” I speak haltingly, a little afraid of what he might think about me.
But his grip only tightens. When I glance up, he’s smiling.
“You want to play some more?” he asks and leans down to kiss me. “You really have become such a good little slut for me.”
I shiver, grinning right back, and I’m about to straddle him when there’s a knock at the suite door.
Neither of us moves at first. But the knock comes again, which means it’s important. Otherwise, the guards know not to keep bothering us with something that isn’t urgent.
Tigran sighs, but he gets out of bed and pulls on his clothes.
“This better be good,” he grumbles as he storms into the other room.
I remain naked on the bed. Let him deal with whatever problem just popped up. That’s the life of a man in the Brotherhood, especially the brother of the patron. He’s always putting out fires.
Usually with blood.
He returns to the room though, looking uncertain. “Dasha, you should get dressed.”
I sit up, instantly on alert. “Is something wrong?”
“I don’t know, but you need to come with me.”
Nervousness flits through my body. I hurry to pull on clothes. “Can you tell me what’s happening?”
“Better if we go see together.”
I hate when he does that, but Tigran’s clearly preoccupied. Once I’m decent, we follow Harry toward the front door. The guard’s limping still, but I notice he’s moving a little faster than usual.
More of the guards are gathered in the front foyer. They’re all armed and on high alert. The vibe is clearly tense.
“Tigran?” I ask uncertainly. I’m not afraid because I know he’d never bring me down here like this if we were really in trouble, but something’s up.
Instead of answering, he pulls the door open.
I gasp and step forward.
Evan’s standing on our front step. He grins at me and holds up a hand. “Hey, Dash,” he says, waving a little. Then he adjusts a rifle he has slung over a shoulder. “I brought gifts and a few friends.”
Behind him, standing around several large black trucks, are equally well-armed men in black combat gear, looking menacing.
“What is all this?” I ask, my heart leaping into my throat.
“Turns out, Dad’s a weak coward and couldn’t come through, so I took matters into my own hands.” Evan gestures to the men waiting behind him. His shit-eating grin is enormous as he addresses my husband. “Valentin Zeitsev sends his regards. We’re here to kill some Irishmen.”
Chapter 34
Dasha
“Ican’t believe he’s got you cooking, Dash.” Evan leans against the counter and watches me plate the pasta. Next comes a generous helping of a Sunday sauce I’ve had bubbling away all afternoon, plus a few nice sausages that have all but melted down into buttery soft goodness.
“He doesn’t have me doing anything,” I say, pushing his bowl at him. “I’m doing it because I want to.”
He seems bemused. “But you never cooked.”
“I barely left my room,” I point out.
“Okay, that’s true, but still. Are you going all domestic and shit now?”
“Actually, yes, I think I am.” I press a hand to my pregnant belly. “At least for a little while. Tigran wants to hire a housekeeper, but I keep making him wait.”
“You really like this, huh?” His expression softens. “Gotta say, it suits you.”
“What, you approve of my marriage now?”
“Not even close.” He stalks out of the kitchen.
I sigh, picking up the remaining bowls and following.
It’s been good having Evan around. He’s staying in a Brotherhood safe house a few blocks away with some of his most trusted men while Tigran and Arsen figure out how best to put this new firepower to use.
In the meantime, we’ve been having regular meals together, and it’s almost… normal.
If anything in this life can be called that.
Tigran’s waiting at the table. When he spots me, he leaps to his feet. “Let me take that,” he says hurriedly. Once the bowls are down, he pulls my chair out for me. “Sit now, you’ve done more than enough.”