He fists my hair and yanks my head back, leans down, voice vibrating against my ear.
“Now tell me.” A beat. “Will you behave?”
My throat works. Every muscle trembles. I nod, because what else can I do with ten men in the room and a gun in his hand.
“Yes,” I whisper. “I’ll behave.”
His mouth curves, amused. He says loudly, “She’ll behave!”
The room chuckles. Some clap.
I die a little inside.
His mouth draws to my ear and his bravado fades, his voice a soft murmur.
“Seeing you touch another man.” He strokes my cheek with his knuckles, sloppy and taunting. “I’ve never been so jealous in my life. Then you have the gall to walk in here with your tits out. Have you lost your fucking mind?”
I shiver, stunned. I did hurt him with the prisoner. And the dress? I guess that was another mistake.
“Gustav, I’m sorry. I’ll get better.”
“Want me to leave? You tempt these men. You must want them to fuck you.”
God, no.
I thrash like a caged animal. “Don’t you dare!” I hiss, then softer. “You know you’re the only one who’s touched me.”
He grips my hair harder. His weight keeps me pinned on the table. He licks the side of my face in the degrading way he does,making me grimace, then he laughs before drawing his lips near my ear once more. His tone drops.
“I don’t share.”
He turns his head slightly, addressing the room with a low command in Russian. Most men file out.
He rises off me. A flicker of something — regret? restraint? — flashes through his eyes before he buries it beneath fury.
Micha appears.
Gustav cracks his neck. “Watch over her. See you in a couple of weeks.”
Micha nods. “Yes, sir. I’ll take her back to her dorm now.”
I’m almost afraid to look Gustav in the eyes because I don’t know what will set him off. I think just being myself is a trigger. Ugh.
But he leaves. Just storms out. Again, no goodbye. Even though he just humiliated me, I am still not okay with my husband treating me like I’m unworthy of basic civility.
I cross my arms and scowl at Micha.
“You better say hello to me like I’m a human being or I swear to God I’llneverforgive you.”
He smiles, half warm, half compassionate.
“Hello, Mrs. Sokolova. Let’s get you back.”
I appreciate it, but frown. “I ruined everything, didn’t I?”
He points at the empty doorway Gustav vanished through.
“That?” Micha shakes his head. “Punishment is tradition. But Gustav doing it... he would never. Until you.” His voice softens. “It’s obvious he cares for you.”
