Total pages in book: 37
Estimated words: 34410 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 172(@200wpm)___ 138(@250wpm)___ 115(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 34410 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 172(@200wpm)___ 138(@250wpm)___ 115(@300wpm)
“Do you like your new clothes?” he asked.
“Yes, you have wonderful taste, Dmitry.”
She put her other hand over his and seemed to curl up against his arm. He didn’t push her away or fight her.
He chuckled but wasn’t going to admit that he did order the clothes for her. They were to his own personal taste. Like the dress she wore, it molded to her tits and waist, flaring out just slightly, but she did look stunning. The red was a color that suited her.
“Tell me about your life before George,” he said.
“You want to know about me?”
“Yes.”
“Can I ask questions about you?”
“You can ask but I can choose to answer them or not,” he said.
She sighed. “Fine. I guess that’s all I’m going to get. There’s not much to tell to be honest. I did okay in school, but I didn’t want to go to college. I think my parents were disappointed as well as relieved. We couldn’t afford a higher education. I didn’t like the thought of being in debt, and I didn’t know what I wanted to be. I did take several night courses in childcare, and a few others. It’s why I can take care of children. I just didn’t do it at degree level. Bounced from job to job before I worked in the nursery. Rather boring, really.”
“What about lovers, before George?”
“George and I were never lovers. We were friends when we were kids, but that was it. He grew up, realized he was a guy, hated me, and we drifted apart faster than anything. Before you, there was one other guy, an artist. His name was Raoul, and he … well, he was free. He loved life and I think he helped me a lot. He had a lot of bad stuff happen, and he knew life was short and that people had to learn to live life to the fullest. He always told me that.”
“Did you love him?” Dmitry asked, feeling an overwhelming jealousy of this man he didn’t know.
“No, I didn’t love him. It was just sex. I was young and he was experienced, and it was that kind of thing.” She shrugged. “I never had sex with George, and other than you and Raoul, there hasn’t been anyone else.”
“I find that hard to believe.”
She sighed. “You can believe what you want. You can trust me, or not. Now, it’s my turn to ask questions.”
They had stepped inside his house and were heading toward his office. He let go of Alix and she took a seat on his sofa as he moved toward the alcohol.
“You don’t need to have a drink for my questions.”
“I think I do.”
“Afraid?”
He loved her teasing.
“I’m preparing myself.”
She sighed and shrugged. “You’ve already said you’re not going to answer the ones you don’t want to. I guess, the first one is, did you love your wife?”
That was easy.
“No. It wasn’t a love match. It was a good business move. That was all.” Which turned into a bad one as she attempted to kill him, but he wasn’t going to say that out aloud and spoil the mood between them.
“Do you miss her?”
“No.”
Alix leaned forward, resting her arms on her knees. He saw her nibbling her lip.
“What is it?” he asked, curious as to why she was nervous about one of her questions.
“It’s … don’t worry about it.”
“Just ask me, Alix. Remember I can choose not to answer.” He winked at her.
“Will you have to get married again? You’re the boss, right, and I know that as much as you love Sofia, your … organization will not want a female leader.”
“One day I will.”
“And do you get to choose who you marry?” Alix asked.
Dmitry ran a hand down his face. “I’m the boss. I get to choose who I marry. Who will become the mother of my children.”
“Right,” Alix said. She got to her feet and there was a smile on her lips, but he knew it was forced. “I’m going to check on Sofia.” She moved toward him and kissed his lips. After she did this, she seemed to hesitate, as if she was about to apologize, but then suddenly stopped. Another smile, this time even more fake than before, and he watched her go.
His first wife had been chosen by his father. Dmitry didn’t have a choice. It was good for business, good for the Bratva, but had come with a great cost.
Staring at Alix’s retreating back, he knew his men would be pissed at him taking an outsider, but she was the only woman he wanted. In over two years, he’d not been with another woman, the last woman being his wife, in an attempt to make her pregnant with a son.
He didn’t love his wife, and even though no one was loyal to him, he’d been loyal to his vows and to his title.