What I didn’t expect was the slap to the face. I captured her hand and pulled her against me. She began to wriggle, and with how close her body was, I had no problem with it. Not that I’d force her. Rape wasn’t something I wanted to ever experience.

Staring into her eyes, I restrained her, making her pause with a single hand on her ass. I gripped her tightly, and tears filled her eyes.

“Don’t ever fucking do that again.”

“Why?”

“I don’t like being hit. I tend to hit back.”

“Then don’t accuse me of doing something I never did. I don’t flirt. I wouldn’t even know how.”

“My men know the rules. You’re a job to them, nothing more.”

She wore a good mask, but I saw my words had struck her hard. “You think I don’t know that? It’s all I do know. I’m a job. It’s why I don’t flirt. Now let me go, or is there something else you want from me?”

Her lips looked really tempting, but my anger was not in a good place. I released her, and without a backward glance, she left. The curves of her ass just begged for me to call her back and show her what real sex was all about. The two times I’d fucked her hadn’t been real. It had been mechanical, a necessity and then a release. I wanted her again, but not tonight. I never allowed my hormones to take charge. I was the one who held control over myself, no one else.

Chapter Four

Aurora

For the next week, I stopped talking to Sergei, and I ignored Slavik when he decided to join me for dinner or anything else. We did end up going to two different dinner parties, but like the ones before, I was able to sit without saying a single word.

Dinner invitations were offered, but I declined.

I’d come to the conclusion I didn’t want to make friends with Slavik’s world. So by the second week after my decision, I sat on the sofa, bored out of my mind. I’d read so many books I couldn’t even remember a single title or author. The stories had been great but it was like I hadn’t really taken them in.

There was nothing for me to do but stay here.

Sergei stood a few feet away as I stared down at my feet.

I’d already done my workout for the day. According to the scales today, I’d dropped another couple of pounds. Even as my stomach rumbled, I ignored the growl. Eating was done carefully and controlled.

“You need to eat something,” Sergei said.

“I’m fine.”

“Starving yourself is not the answer.”

I lifted my gaze. “You shouldn’t be talking to me.”

“Come on, Aurora, don’t be like that.”

“It’s Mrs. Ivanov,” I said. I heard him tut, and I glared at him. “Do you know what my husband thinks? He thinks I was flirting with you.” I laughed. “I’m not going to give him the satisfaction.”