Page 13 of The Pakhan’s Stolen Bride

"Say it again," I growl, increasing the pace. I want her to lose that sass. I want her to lose every single thought in her head until there’s nothing left but me. "Say my name."

"Ilya!" She cries it out, her voice breaking. She’s close—I can feel the muscles of her thighs tightening around my hand, her body vibrating with the tension of an impending release.

I don't let her finish. I pull my fingers out abruptly, leaving her shivering and empty on the bed.

She lets out a small, pathetic whimper of protest, her eyes snapping open. She looks wrecked. Her hair is a golden halo against the dark velvet, her lips are swollen and red, and her chest is rising and falling in violent jerks.

I stand up, my own body screaming for release, my trousers uncomfortably tight. I have to get out of this room before I lose the last shred of my control and take her right here.

"That was your first lesson, little bird," I say, my voice sounding like it’s coming from the bottom of a well. I reach out and trace her bottom lip one last time, my thumb coming away damp. "Next time, the lesson won't be so pleasant. Do you understand?"

She doesn't answer. She just glares at the ceiling, her eyes wide and glassy, her breathing still jagged.

"Answer me."

"Yes," she whispers, her voice barely audible. "I understand."

"Good."

I turn and walk out, the door chirping as I exit.

I’m halfway down the corridor when I see them. Dmitri, Viktorin, Lev, and Stepan are standing near the junction to the war room, their voices hushed. They stop talking the second they see me, their eyes fixing on my face.

I know what I look like. I’m disheveled, my tie is loose, and I’m pretty sure I have the scent of vanilla and arousal clinging to me like a second skin.

"Boss," Dmitri says, his gaze lingering on my wrinkled sleeve. "Everything okay with the... guest?"

"She’s fine," I grunt, my voice rough. "She’s staying in the North Suite. Triple the guard on the door. No one goes in without my explicit permission. That includes the staff."

Viktorin, the oldest and most traditional of my captains, scowls. "Ilya, with all due respect, having a Denisov in the house is a security risk we don't need. Petr is going to be sending hit squads by morning. Why keep her here? Use her for the trade and be done with it."

"She’s not a trade, Viktorin," I say, stepping into his space. I’m a head taller than him, and right now, I’m in the mood to break something. "She’s mine. If Petr wants her, he can come and try to take her."

Viktorin’s eyes flash with annoyance, but he knows better than to push me when I’m like this. He just nods stiffly and looks away.

Lev, the youngest of the group, has a small, amused smirk playing on his lips. He’s always been the one with the most appetite for chaos. "So the Bratva Princess has a bit of fire in her, does she? I’ve heard she has quite the mouth on her."

"She's a captive, Lev," I growl, my hand twitching toward my holster. "You stay the fuck away from that wing."

Lev raises his hands in mock surrender, his smirk widening. "Just curious, Boss. I’ve never seen you this worked up over anything before. She must be something special."

"She’s nothing."

Stepan and the others look indifferent, but the tension in the hallway is thick enough to choke on.

"Get to the strategy room," I command, my voice a final, sharp crack. "I want a full report on the Denisov docks by midnight. If Petr moves, I want to know about it before he even puts his fucking shoes on."

They disperse, their footsteps echoing on the stone floor. I stand there for a moment, the silence of the hallway pressing in on me.

My skin feels too tight. My blood feels like it’s made of lead. I think about Via back in that room, windowless, dark, and smelling of me. I think about the way she looked when she finally stopped fighting and just... felt.

I’m going to break her.

Or I’m going to burn this entire city down just to keep her.

I turn and head toward the war room, my jaw set so tight it aches. She’s mine. And God help anyone who tries to take her away.

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