Total pages in book: 113
Estimated words: 106541 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 533(@200wpm)___ 426(@250wpm)___ 355(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 106541 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 533(@200wpm)___ 426(@250wpm)___ 355(@300wpm)
“Aren’t liars and cheaters the same?”
He shakes his head but doesn’t relieve my curiosity in the slightest. “I’ll send someone from housekeeping to clean up the mess.” He spins on his heels before looking back at me over his shoulder. “Dinner will be served in a couple of hours. You should eat.”
“I’ll try.”
Happy with my reply, he dips his chin, then exits my room.
An hour later, I’m startled by the arrival of a guest in my room.
It isn’t Ghost or Alek.
It is my husband.
He walks into my room with a regal edge beaming out of him, depriving the air of oxygen in only a second. He is a handsome man of similar age to Ghost, but his evilness hides behind a perfectly flawless face and thick, dark hair. If I had to guess, I’d say he was mid-thirties. His eyes are the same blue shade as Ghost’s but not as icy since they’re not fanned by thick strands of dark lashes.
After taking in the bed I made immediately after leaving it, he strays his eyes to me. “Do you not rise when your owner enters the room?”
If he had a broom, I have no doubt it would have been cracked over my head by now. That is how Madame Victoria issued her punishments for forgetting your place—with a stern and quick crack over your head.
When I stand from the single-seater chair I’ve been sprawled on the past hour, the corner of his lips tug into a rye smirk. “It is a little too late now.” I swallow to relieve my parched throat when he mutters, “You’ve not bled this month.”
His question is more a statement, but I shake my head, nevertheless. I don’t need to give him more reasons to reprimand me.
He appears pleased by my submissiveness. “And your care. How has it been?”
“Good. Your staff is kind and considerate.”
“Including Ghost?” My breathing barely alters, but he must notice my quick inhalation. “Is he kind and considerate as well?” I shake my head, but he doesn’t believe me. “Get on the bed.” I don’t get the chance to follow his orders before he drags me to the bed by my hair. His mean hold rips strands from my scalp and adds to the throbbing of my temples.
I scamper back with a frightened gasp when he hooks my ankle and pulls it on the stirrup that hasn’t left the bed in months. He does up the restraints tight before raising my nightie and ripping off the panties I tugged on the instant Alek left.
He doesn’t prepare my body for the intrusion before he stuffs two fingers inside me. He just thrust them in deep, his moan a mix of annoyed and turned on.
“You’re untouched.”
I nod, confident it will please him.
It doesn’t.
A second after he frees my legs from the stirrups, I’m yanked to his feet by a brutal tug on my leg, then he stomps on my stomach.
31
GHOST
With my schedule depleted and my mind fucking scrambled, I arrive early for dinner. The food isn’t even prepped yet, and my presence scares the staff who will bring out the smorgasbord of dishes.
My scars make me the monster they believe I am.
My traits undoubtably prove it.
I’m a fucking asshole in every meaning of the word and a stubborn prick too. Even when I’m wrong, I won’t admit it. It is a trait I inherited from my father, and a trait I’ll most likely die with.
It is clear from my exchange with Katie earlier today that she doesn’t think I’m a marked-up mutt who will do anything for a bit of action, but I can’t concede that to anyone. Not even the woman who is on my mind at all hours of the day and night.
I’ve been working toward this goal for years, and just as it gets within touching distance, I’m tempted as fuck to toss everything aside and start again. But I can’t do that to Lera. She needs me more than Katie, but I’d be a lying bastard if I said I didn’t want to act like Lera is not my responsibility.
Sofia laid in Kirill’s bed, but I’m the only fucker cleaning up her mess.
Maybe it’s time to return the favor?
Maybe I should step back and let her take responsibility for her decisions.
I’m sure Katie would make the fallout worthwhile.
My cock strains against the zipper in my pants just thinking about all the filthy things I could teach her. She’d love it too—almost as much as me.
I’m pulled from my dangerous thoughts when Alek enters the room. As he struts across the still reasonably empty space, his eyes drop to the packet of cigarettes in front of me. I haven’t smoked since the day half my face was blown off from a gigantic blast. I just carry them around with me as a reminder of what the consequences could have been if I didn’t have a metal cigar canister in the breast pocket of my suit jacket when I was ambushed without warning. It was my great grandfather’s on my mother’s side. I liked its intricate design and that it had survived many wars.