Total pages in book: 90
Estimated words: 88551 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 443(@200wpm)___ 354(@250wpm)___ 295(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 88551 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 443(@200wpm)___ 354(@250wpm)___ 295(@300wpm)
“I don’t like the wardrobe. It’s boring.”
He bunches my shirt in his fingers and pulls me against his chest. My hands land on his wall of muscles as my wide eyes clash with his cold ones. “I couldn’t care less about it being boring. You do not dress that way in front of my men, and you sure as fuck don’t lie down like you were just now. Is that clear?”
“I don’t see what the big deal is.”
“The big deal is that no one looks at you the way I do. No one gets a glimpse at what’s mine.”
There it is. The sense of ownership. The subtle obsession that he doesn’t show openly but can be felt, nonetheless.
“I’m not your thing, Adrian.”
“Is that a no, Lia?” His voice lowers and when I remain silent, he continues, “Did I or did I not say that you’re to do as I tell you? Or is your ass in the mood for another whipping?”
I glare at him, then quickly soften my expression because what I have in mind is more important.
Sucking in a breath, I smooth an invisible wrinkle on his shirt, something for which he narrows his eyes, probably questioning my motives.
I really need to do this right. If I raise his alerts, he’ll never grant me my wish.
“Fine,” I tell him. “I’ll do whatever you say.”
“Really?” he drawls out the word, blatantly stating he doesn’t believe me.
“Really. I don’t want to be punished again.”
“You don’t want to be punished,” he repeats, which I’m starting to think is his way of reading between the lines of my words.
“I don’t.”
“We will see.”
“If…” I swallow. “If I’m good, shouldn’t I be rewarded?”
“Rewarded. So that’s what you want. How do you wish to be rewarded, Lia?”
“It’s simple, really. For everything you’re pleased with, I get something in return.”
“You’re already getting a roof over your head, free meals, and immunity from prison. You think you can ask for other things?”
“That was the original agreement. You didn’t mention punishment back then, and yet you included them. I accepted them, so now, you should accept my suggestion.”
“Did you, though?”
“Did I what?”
“Accept your punishments.” His eyes are imploring mine so thoroughly that the feeling of being suffocated returns with a vengeance.
“Would it make a difference if I have?”
“Not really, no, but I’d like to know.”
“If it doesn’t make a difference, why would it matter if you know?”
“I’ll be able to assert whether I should break you in further, Lenochka.” His voice darkens with hidden intent. “So tell me, do I need to up my methods? Or have you smartened up to quit the habit of questioning me?”
I want to dig my nails into his chest, rip the surface open, and peer into his ribcage to see if he actually has a black heart. The more I talk to him, the surer I am that he feels no emotions. That he’s a devil with psychopathic tendencies only meant to wreak havoc on everything that stands in his path.
While I hate bowing down to him this easily, I have a purpose, and antagonizing him is the surest way to prevent me from reaching my goal.
What I show on the outside doesn’t matter anyway. On the inside, I completely abhor him, and that’s enough for my self-worth.
“I am getting used to the punishments. It’s only fair that rewards are included, too.”
“I don’t care about being fair.”
“Adrian, please.” I’m begging but saying it in an exasperated tone. “I promise not to ask for anything extravagant.”
“Still no.”
“Okay, let’s do it this way.”
“That’s one for the day.”
“What? Why?”
“What did I say about the word okay?”
Ugh. “Ok—I mean, fine. Fine. How about if I only ask for one reward a day?”
He shakes his head.
“Once every other day?”
“No.”
“Twice a week?”
“Once a week and I’ll judge whether or not it’s reasonable.”
I squeal. “Yes!”
In my delight that I won one against the devil himself, I catch myself on the verge of hugging him before I remember who he is.
No matter what he grants me, I will not be grateful. I will not humanize him.
Adrian stares down at me with what resembles approval, and I try not to get caught up in it.
Keyword being try.
Adrian’s attention is like a powerful magnet I can’t escape from. A black hole that swallows everything in its surroundings.
But the truth remains—he’s only seeing Lia in me.
And I’m far from being her or her ghost. I’m a shell who needs to go back to her numb state before I become a danger to his and his son’s life.
18
Adrian
My fingers tap against the wood of my desk as I stare at the feed on my screen.
Kolya sits across from me, telling me about the latest reports from V Corp, but my concentration is scattered, and I’m hardly paying his words any attention.
Lia is hugging Jeremy, their legs wrapped around each other as they sleep on his bed. Her dress rides up her pale thigh, barely hiding the crack of her ass. Even through the monitor, I can see the red welts on the backs of her thighs from last night’s punishment. I didn’t hold back, and she writhed and squirmed more than the other times.