Total pages in book: 92
Estimated words: 86238 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 431(@200wpm)___ 345(@250wpm)___ 287(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 86238 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 431(@200wpm)___ 345(@250wpm)___ 287(@300wpm)
“And I swore years ago that you’d never see it again.”
It is the fight of my life not to crank my head back to face him when he mumbles, “You lied years ago. Don’t mistake that as a pledge.”
I peer at him under a sheet of hair when the stomp of his boots gets the better of my curiosity. He isn’t leaving as requested. He is demanding for Polina to kick out the handful of patrons scanning the merchandise.
“You can’t remove my customers—”
Alek shuts up her reply by yanking out the fancy card he handed Jax out of his wallet and holding it out for her. “Charge a day’s takings. That way, if she runs again, and I have to fucking chase her again, you won’t lose any profits when I gouge out your customers’ eyes for looking when they shouldn’t have.”
“I’m not going to run.”
He looks at me like he doesn’t believe me. I don’t blame him. I forever ran during our tumultuous relationship because I knew he’d chase me. “Then, once you’ve done that, close up for the day. We might be here a while.” He drags his hooded gaze down my frozen form during his last sentence.
The tremors it hammers me with are heard in my reply, “I’m not sleeping with you.”
The sides of his lips tuck high as he folds his arms over his chest then props his shoulder onto the doorjamb, giving clear prompts he isn’t budging for anyone or anything.
“You’re an ass.”
“I own your ass, драгоценный.” As he licks his lips, his eyes drop to my backside. “And it is about time you learn that.” You’d swear he could see my tattoo through my shorts for how gleaming his grin is. He’s acting as arrogant as the night he put it there. It was a symbol that I was his, and back then, I was more than happy for everyone to know exactly that.
I was Alek’s property.
I don’t know where I sit now. I’ve never thought rationally when it came to Alek, so when betrayal and hurt are thrown into the mix, my emotions are all over the shop.
“I trust your judgment. This dress will be perfect.” After snatching up the dress, I try to step past Alek.
Of course, he won’t let me go without protest. “You need to try it on.”
“It’s fine. It’ll fit.”
“Try. It. On.” His hot breaths hitting my face already have me struggling, much less what he says next, “Or I’ll be forced to take measurements.” He swoops down lower, bringing his handsome face to within an inch of mine. “With my tongue.” My eyes snap from Yev, who’s looking at me with concern over Alek’s shoulder, to Alek when he murmurs, “He won’t save you from me, драгоценный. Not back then and not now.”
The night Alek tracked me down for his family photograph, Yev tried to stop him from taking me with him. They got into an altercation while I was still tossed over Alek’s shoulder. Alek won, and he’s never let Yev live it down.
I think that fight is one reason Yev went into street fighting. He didn’t want to let anyone down again. Although I am confident it would be a more even fight this time around, my protection isn’t Yev’s responsibility.
“I’ll call you tomorrow,” I mouth to Yev over Alek’s broad shoulder.
He angles his head as if to say, you sure?
When I nod, he dips his chin before offering to walk Polina out—his grin once again pompous.
“I know the way,” she assures him, doubling the glint in his playful eyes.
“Yeah, but what if there’s some old geezer in the alley? I wouldn’t want you getting hurt when his…” The rest of his comment is lost when he follows Polina out the exit doors only the staff uses.
Within seconds, only Alek and I remain.
The last time we were alone, I forgot he is my enemy.
I won’t make the same mistake twice.
After years of nannying, I’ve learned the art of getting changed discreetly. Not a single bump on my areolas is exposed when I slip out of my clothes and slide into the dress Alek suggested, and Alek knows that.
He looks more pissed now than he did when his dick slipped out of me yesterday.
Almost murderous.
My eyes bulge out of their sockets when he murmurs, “I don’t think it will do.”
“What? This is perfect.” I spin to face the mirror, grimacing when I realize the straps of my bra are visible. “Right cut, modest yet sexy hemline, and it cups my boobs in all the right places.”
“It won’t work.” He enters the main part of the shop for only a second before he returns with a dress that will be far too tight for me to slip underneath my current number.
“I thought you said I shouldn’t wear anything that hugs my midsection.”