Total pages in book: 51
Estimated words: 45957 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 230(@200wpm)___ 184(@250wpm)___ 153(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 45957 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 230(@200wpm)___ 184(@250wpm)___ 153(@300wpm)
“Good luck,” Igor called after me. “He’s pissed.”
I smirked. “Good. He’s so much more fun when he’s pretending to hate me.”
11
Ivan
It wasn’t hard to find Adrian. All I had to do was follow the sound of a slamming door, which led me straight to his room. The door was unlocked, so I twisted the handle and pushed it open. I knew if he truly wanted me to stay away, he would’ve locked it. It wasn’t like it would’ve actually kept me out, but I would’ve given him points for trying.
Adrian liked to pretend he couldn’t stand me half the time, but I knew he liked the chase I gave. That much had been proven just that morning when I’d backed him up against the wall and then dropped to my knees for him—something I never did. Everyone else dropped to their knees for me. But for him… yeah, I didn’t mind being on my knees for him. Besides, he and I both knew who was still in charge the entire time. And it wasn’t him.
“Get the hell out,” Adrian growled, turning to face me. The room was still dark due to the blackout drapes over the windows, save for the firelight behind him, casting an orange glow around his massive body. Adrian wasn’t small by any means. He took good care of himself and had the muscular, beefed-up physique to prove it. And damn, it made me salivate for him.
“If you truly wanted me to stay out, you would’ve locked that door,” I told him. “You don’t want me to stay away, kotik. Just admit it.”
He crossed his arms over his broad chest, making the sleeves of his shirt pull taught over his biceps. “I’m not your fucking kitten,” he snarled.
“No?” I asked, my voice low and soft. Dangerous. He swallowed thickly, his Adam’s apple bobbing. “Kittens are incredibly smart, and they’re conniving little fuckers. Their claws are sharp, and they’re not afraid to bite when they’re irritated. And when they’re content, their little bodies purr. And when they’re needy, they give cute little meows. I think kitten fits you perfectly, kotik.”
His teeth audibly ground together. He got worked up so easily, and shit, I really couldn’t get enough of it. Because forcing him to calm down and making him submit to me was fucking heady when I knew he would never submit to anyone else. He was too hot-headed and too controlling. But with me, he lost his composure. He began falling apart and ripping at the seams.
Only with me.
I’d known from the moment I laid my eyes on him that he was meant to be mine. I was meant to own him. Claim him. Marry him. Tie him to me for fucking eternity. But Adrian was the kind of man I had to wear down over time. And thankfully, I had endless patience for him. Years—fucking years—I’d waited for this moment.
And now, I had him right where I’d wanted him all along.
Watching him bow down to me and only me was going to be worth all the waiting.
“You get so angry so quickly,” I murmured, taking a step closer to him. He tensed, but he didn’t move back like he had earlier when I’d prowled toward him. My cock thickened behind the zipper of my slacks at the challenge he presented.
Go on, kotik. Bringing you to your knees will just be that much sweeter if you fight against me.
“You drive me fucking crazy,” he growled.
“Do I?” I asked, cocking my head to the side the slightest bit as I took another step closer. If he tensed any more, his clenched muscles were going to break a bone.
“Yes,” he growled, his arms falling to his sides. This time, he was the one who took a step forward, moving into my space. All I had to do was reach forward, and I’d be able to touch him. But I kept my hands to myself for the time being because I had a feeling we were about to have a revelation, and I was all ears.
“I can’t fucking think straight when you come around. Do you know how goddamn hard I work to keep myself under control? To remain calm and friendly and easy going? Do you know how fucking hard it already is to hide who I truly am from everyone, including my own family? And do you have any damn clue what it’s like to have someone step into your life and fucking blow it to pieces? Because that’s what you do, Ivan. You have this way of looking at me, like you see straight through me, and it makes me feel naked.”
He stepped forward again, his cheeks flushed and his eyes burning. I met his stare evenly, waiting for him to get it all out of his system and lay it on the ground for me. Despite his rage, he was being vulnerable, and I wanted more. I wanted it all.