Book 2 Three-3
2105 Words
“We don’t want this plan to kick off too early or too late. Timing is everything. It’s the difference between life and death.”
Saint isn’t being melodramatic.
And neither am I when I ask, “What about Zoey?”
“She’ll be out cold. She won’t have a choice this time when I throw her ass into that raft.”
“And what happens then?”
The question is inevitable. Zoey and I have no love lost between us, and honestly, I can’t see us ever getting along. But Saint has never promised me anything other than my freedom. He’s never painted a picture where I live happily ever after with him.
This was always about saving Zoey. But things have changed. Well, they have for me.
“Let’s just focus on getting out of here alive.”
He’s right.
“So please”—he lowers his lips to my forehead—“for once, do what you’re told, ангел.”
His touch calms my racing heart. “Okay. I promise.”
He kisses my brow before straightening. “Go shower. I’ll bring in a change of clothes. Is there anything in particular you wanted to wear?”
“A suit of armor? A chastity belt?” I offer, only half joking.
Saint smirks, but it’s laced with exhaustion. Once he’s out the door, I strip out of my clothes and step into the shower. I wash on autopilot, going over the plan in my head. This is insane. If, and that’s a big if, we pull this off, what happens when we get to Romania?
Do we go our separate ways? I have no identification. No money. What would I do?
I don’t know for certain, but I assume killing Aleksei will upset a lot of people who will then be out for revenge. We’ll be fugitives so going back and living a normal life doesn’t seem probable. What a mess.
One thing is for certain. I intend on getting my own vengeance against my beloved husband. He is the reason this entire nightmare began, so it seems fitting to end it with him.
Such dire thoughts have me quickly switching off the water.
When I’ve dried off, I see that Saint has left me a change of clothes on the edge of the sink. It’s a pretty white sundress with a red bow at the waist. It seems Aleksei has an obsession with red. Probably because it reminds him of blood.
After applying deodorant and body lotion, I slip into the underwear and bra set and am thankful when the dress Saint chose covers a lot more skin. I know it’s a false sense of security, however, because god knows what I’ll be walking into when I exit this bathroom.
I leave my hair down and apply a little makeup. I’m not here to impress anyone.
Once I look presentable, I stare at my reflection in the mirror and assure myself that this will all be over by tonight. I hope.
Knowing I can’t hide in here forever, I open the door, only to pause in my tracks when I see Aleksei in the bedroom. I thought I had a little time to prepare myself, but here he stands, smiling at me like we’re friends.
“You’re a vision.”
Saint stands behind him, eyes heavy with venom. But he remains quiet.
“Thank you,” I whisper, walking into the room and standing in front of Aleksei awkwardly.
When he inhales, then takes a step forward, it takes all my willpower not to recoil. He reaches out and brushes my hair behind my shoulder, taking in my appearance closely. I feel like a bug under a microscope, but I keep my gaze trained on Saint.
Aleksei circles me slowly as it seems he needs to observe me from every angle. He comes to a stop when he’s at my back. His warm breath bathes my neck as he twirls a strand of my hair around his finger. “Pictures don’t do you justice.”
I know he’s talking about the photograph Saint sent to him.
“May I see you?”
He’s asking me as though I have a choice.
Saint’s poker face hasn’t slipped, reminding me of our plans. This is my opportunity to play Aleksei. I just hope it works.
When I nod shyly, a hiss leaves Aleksei as my submission pleases him. I’m not sure if he wants to do it himself, but I’d rather remain in control of at least one aspect of my life, so I lift the dress over my head, then drop it to pool by my feet.
Saint and I face one another, and when the green of his eyes are consumed by black, I know the sight of me standing in nothing but my underwear affects him. The moment shatters, however, when Aleksei walks around me.
He stands in front of me but takes a step back as he devours me whole. I want to cover myself, but I don’t. I allow him to view his property because that’s what I am to him. The thought has me locking eyes with Saint, which is a mistake on my behalf.
“Why do you keep looking at him? Can he provide you something that I cannot?”
I avert my gaze quickly, but it’s too late.
“She obeys me, Alek,” Saint says stiffly. “Nothing more. Don’t you, ангел?”
I nod, too afraid to speak because Aleksei has clearly seen what I thought were discreet exchanges with Saint.
Aleksei seems convinced. “I’ve seen you do this to other women, break them, I mean, but she’s different.”
Time stands still as I take a moment to process what Aleksei just revealed about Saint.
Other women? How many other women? Saint never told me there were others. I thought I was the first one to take Zoey’s place. But I suppose his comment earlier now makes sense. He knows Aleksei’s track record with women because it seems he’s trained them all.
I suddenly feel sickened by the fact. I knew he wasn’t, well, a saint but other women? I don’t know how to feel. Betrayed comes to mind. But I rein in my emotion and remain passive.
“Something about her intrigues you, and well, that intrigues me.”
The more Aleksei speaks, the angrier I become. I am not a science project. I am also in the room and to hear him speak about me like I’m not pisses me off.
“She is different,” Saint says, staring me straight in the eyes.
Only he can read my annoyance because he knows me. But it seems I don’t know him.
“How so?” Aleksei asks, looking at me like an anomaly.
Every part of my body challenges him to explain because I, too, am curious to know the answer.
“She is good. Pure,” he says, which has my mouth parting in surprise. “She fights so hard because she is virtuous.”
Aleksei’s brow lifts. “Virtuous?”
Saint nods and kicks our plan into motion. “Yes. She is still a virgin.”
I stand tall even though my heart threatens to burst from my chest.
Aleksei’s mask slips as he zeroes in on the cross around my neck. “Is this true?” he asks me, visibly stunned by Saint’s revelation.
I am not ashamed. “Yes.”
A string of Russian words leaves him as he grins and shakes his head in awe. “That useless American really came through,” he mumbles under his breath.
I remain unaffected because just the thought of Drew will ruin this innocent act.
But when Aleksei c***s his head to the side, appearing to have just had a thought, I hold my breath. “How can you be certain? Maybe she’s said that to protect herself?”
I knew this wouldn’t be easy. There really isn’t a way to prove that I’m a virgin unless Aleksei probes for himself, which, according to Saint, he won’t do until I want him to…which will be never.
“I’ll prove it to you. Come here, ангел.”
Stunned, I blink once, wondering exactly how he’s proposing to prove my virginity. But remembering my promise to do what I’m told, I walk toward Saint, ensuring not to touch Aleksei as I move past him. Aleksei turns to watch the show, appearing truly entranced.
My back is to Aleksei, so he can’t see me glare at Saint. I desperately want to ask just how many women there have been. But when he reaches out and spins me around to face Aleksei, I know the questions will have to wait.
He draws me back against his chest. He’s warm and the feel of him is so familiar, but I don’t allow Aleksei to see my comfort of being in his arms. “I can whip you until you bleed…or I can f**k you. Which would you prefer?”
Both sound horrific, and I prefer neither option, but I see what he’s doing. Most would opt for the f*****g, as it would be far less painful, especially if one didn’t have their virtue to protect. “Whip me, мастер.”
Aleksei’s eyes sparkle. It’s just another day at the office for this asshole.
“Are you sure? The f*****g would be a lot less painful.” My body, the traitorous w***e, wants that, but considering where we are, and the fact I just found out I’m not the only woman Saint has probably f****d into submission, I nod firmly.
“No. I’d rather the punishment.”
Saint hums low; the scorching warmth of his body pressed to mine has me breaking out into a sweat. “Why is that? I promise I’ll make it feel good.”
To my horror, he presses his lips over my pulse and licks my slickened skin. I refuse to buckle.
“Thank you, мастер. I’m sure that you would. But I’m saving myself for marriage. Or at least, for someone I love.” The falter to Saint’s lips betrays his feelings as that comment had a double meaning. I’m not acting now, and he knows it.
I wanted to have s*x with him, so that must mean I…I don’t love him, well, I don’t think that I do, but I meant it when I said I wanted him. I am so f*****g confused, and the way my body responds to his touch doesn’t help.
“You are married,” he says, dousing my flames as he toys with his pinkie ring.
“I never got a chance to consummate my marriage,” I reply truthfully.
Aleksei smiles broadly, watching the shitstorm unfold.
“Your values are rather old fashioned, don’t you think?”
“My father was a Baptist minister, and it’s one principle he believed firmly in. I want to honor his memory by respecting something he had faith in.”
Christmas has come early in his eyes as he claps once. “You are so much more than I expected.” I’m the ultimate conquest, it seems.
“I think I can change your mind,” Saint says, interrupting the celebrations.
I don’t have time to ask Saint what he means because I’m robbed of air when he wraps his hand around my waist. Aleksei’s attention drops to Saint’s fingers as they walk their way over my hip and drift to the front of my underwear.
“Wh-what are you doing?” I ask, suddenly forgetting Aleksei is here.
“Shh,” he orders, rubbing slowly over my s*x.
He can feel my arousal, but this is so twisted. I don’t want to perform in front of Aleksei like some trained circus animal.
“Please, no, мастер.” And I mean it.
“Why not?” He suckles my earlobe all the while continuing to caress me.
My body craves his touch, just as it always does, but when I look at Aleksei and see his dilated pupils and labored breathing, I feel disgusting. I don’t want to share this with anyone. This is private.
Any other time, I would feel Saint being turned on, but the fact nothing prods me in the back confirms he’s doing this to prove a point.
“Because…” When he rubs over my ripened c**t, I gasp and sag forward, my entire body flushing in utter embarrassment. I’ve just gotten used to Saint touching me, especially after my childhood, so this PDA leaves me mortified.
- Writer
