Page 2 of Savage Pakhan

“And to be engaged, there has to be a proposal.” He digs into his pocket and pulls out a ring.

I gasp, covering my mouth as he pinches it between his fingers. It’s the biggest diamond I’ve ever seen. A single four, maybe even six, carats sitting alone on a white gold band. It sparkles so much, reminding me of how the sunlight reflects off the water.

“Ivan…” His name is breathless leaving my lips. I’m shocked. I always thought his proposal would be big and extravagant for all to see. He’s much flashier than me, but I prefer smaller, intimate moments.

“Da. Da. I know. I was supposed to wait until tomorrow night when we’re with our family, but everything is always revolving around them, and I wanted us to have our own moment. I thought about taking you to the beach, but I knew people would be there too and maybe, the proposal being at home isn’t a bad thing.” He lowers himself to one knee and holds out the ring. “What’s more beautiful than starting our life together in our new home, our belongings in boxes surrounding us, our own chaos building. I know it isn’t very romantic. Our relationship has never been romantic. We were picked for each other, every decision dictated up until this moment, but this? This moment can be ours. Surrounded by a space where we’ll make our new memories.” He swallows, his Adam’s apple bobbing with nerves. A slow, crooked grin tilts his mouth on the left side.

“Will you marry me, Mia? I love you and I promise to take care of you for the rest of our lives.”

No. Don’t. Run. Run as far away as you can, Mia. Don’t look back.

My inner voice is loud, and I push it down, swallowing it, burying it so it can’t be heard again. This is fear. Every single moment of my life has led to this very moment.

A tremble shakes my hand when I stretch it out for him to put the ring on.

What are you doing? Run!

“Yes,” I answer with a big bright smile. “Yes, Ivan. Da,” I say in his language, meaning yes. “I’ll marry you.”

His smile is so wide, it takes over his entire face, causing wrinkles to form on either side of his eyes. The metal of the ring is cool against my skin as he shoves it down on my finger. Wrapping his arms around my waist, he spins me in a circle.

I toss my head back and laugh, smiling until my cheeks hurt.

Ivan’s foot hits one of the heavy boxes and we stumble, the couch breaking our fall.

“You won’t regret this.” He hovers over me, brushing his knuckles down my cheek.

“I know.”

Liar.

Cupping my jaw, he leans down and seals his lips over mine. I gasp when his tongue pushes between my lips and I meet his eager kiss. He lowers his body to mine, his hand cradling the side of my neck. His lips are firm and on the thinner side, rough, and commanding. There’s an edge to his kiss. It isn’t desperation or want. It almost feels like anger.

His fingers dig into my hips, and his teeth sink down on my bottom lip while his hard cock presses against my thigh.

I hiss, pressing my hands against his chest. “Ivan.” I turn my head away and he is there, capturing my lips again. “Ivan!”

He grounds his cock between my legs, keeping me still against the couch from the pressure being applied on my hips.

“Ivan! You’re hurting me! Stop!” I roll out from under him and fall onto the floor with a hard smack, my knee hitting the hardwood first. I hold in the pain as I scoot away from him.

My eyes burn with the threat of tears as Ivan and I stare at one another. His chest heaves. His hair hangs in his face, adding to the maddening expression glazing his eyes.

And then, in the next instant, the fury is gone.

Concern pinches his brows,f and he buries his face in his hands. “Oh my god, Mia. I’m so sorry. I want you so bad and I didn’t hear you. I was so lost in you. I’m so sorry. Please, forgive me.”

When he looks back up at me, remorse waters his eyes. He tugs on the ends of his hair, shaking his head in despair. “I can’t believe I did that. I’m sorry. I ruined it, didn’t I? Our moment. You wanted one thing, and I couldn’t even do that.”

I’m overreacting.

I slide over to him and press my hands on his knees, the big rock on my finger catching the light. “No, no. It’s okay, Ivan. I’m sorry too. I don’t think I’m used to that and I got nervous.” I look away ashamed.

I was practically kept in my room my entire life or had an escort glued to my side everywhere I went. Everything I’m learning now, I’m learning for the first time.

“Don’t. Don’t ever apologize for being uncomfortable. We go at your pace, okay?” He picks me up and sits me on his lap.

I’m about to reply to him when a loud pounding sounds on the door.