Her full, pink lips are pouted, and her face is turned up toward mine, her expression set in stone. Long dark brown waves hang over her shoulder, where most of her hair has fallen from the high bun she had it in. I brush my hand over her shoulder, letting my fingers touch her silky strands. The movement makes her eyes flare darker.
She’s beautiful.
I shove the thought away. Who the hell cares if she’s beautiful? Retracting my hand, I clench my fist at my side.
And she smells like strawberries and vanilla.
I clench my jaw.
This situation is getting tedious. I could argue with her all night, but the outcome would be the same. Sheismarrying me. No matter how fiercely she disagrees.
“There’s a car here,” Bardil says, looking out the window.
“It’s the lawyer,” I reply. My stomach twists for a moment. Am I making the right choice? I wanted Nikita. She’s an Abashin.I sister for a sister.
Fuck it. The Abashins and Shevs are practically like family anyway. They want to get that close and share the revenge issues. Besides, I really don’t have much choice here.
Grabbing her wrists, I pull her away from the sofa.
“Where are you taking me?” she snaps.
“Stop fighting, Stefania, it will get you nowhere.”
She sneers and pulls harder to get away. Reaching out, I wrap my arm around her waist and tug her closer, locking her against my side. Her body is petite and soft. My arm is wrapped around the arch of her back above the perfect curve of her ass, and as she moves, her body brushes against mine and sends spikes of electricity through me.
Closing my eyes for a moment, I fight for control of the unexpected thoughts that sneak their way into my mind. Desire is teasing me and testing me.
When I open my eyes again, she’s glaring up at me, and her scent is even stronger than before.
“My family will destroy you; they won’t let you get away with this. They’ll do anything to get me back. We don’t let people do bad things to the ones we love!” she warns me, a cold edge to her words that brings a deeper truth to them. It’s her tone that makes me realize she’s just given away her secrets.
Herweakness.
The realization makes me laugh. The sound spills from my lips like a mockery as I release her and step away. Her face floods with surprise. She takes another step away from me,creating more distance between us. She glances to her left and right, trying to figure out what I’m up to.
“What are you doing?” she asks nervously.
“I’m letting you go.” I smile, as cool and calm as ever.
“Really?” Her voice is high-pitched and filled with hope.
“Sure, like I said, you weren’t the one I wanted to begin with. You can leave. I’ll have my brother drop you off at your car. Then I’ll take Nikita instead. I’ll force her to marry me. I’ll force her to share my bed like a good little wife should. She will obey me, she will do as I say. I will take her and make her mine in every single way.”
Stefania’s jaw drops open, her eyes flare wide with horror, and I smile wider, knowing my hunch was right.
“You… you can’t do that to her. You can’t hurt her,” she stammers.
“I can do whatever the hell I want, girl. Now go. If you aren’t going to marry me, I need to get Nikita.”
“No, please, leave her alone,” Stefania begs, cautiously stepping toward me again.
“You’ve made your choice, Stefania,” I say coldly, turning my back on her. “Bardil, untie her, drop her back off at her car.”
“No,” she shouts. “I’ll do it. I’ll sign the papers if you promise to leave Nikita alone.”
Clenching my jaw to hide my triumphant smile, I turn to face her again. “How sweet of you to protect your friend like that,” I muse, sarcasm dripping from my words.
“Take these stupid ropes off my wrist,” she snaps, holding her hands up to me.
