“It was free of charge.”

“That’s not funny.”

“If you’re me, it’s hilarious.”

“I don’t think you’re funny at all.”

He winked at me and I couldn’t help but smile.

“This is nice,” I said.

“What?”

“Talking. Not being afraid to say the wrong thing.”

“I scare you that much?”

“No. I think this life scares me that much.” I shrugged. “People die. Men, women, children, it’s all part of this world. There are times I sit and wonder what it would be like to be a normal person. How they can go out and live their lives. Be free.”

“You are free.”

I averted my gaze.

“Why don’t you feel free?”

“I couldn’t even go on a shopping trip. You’re always around,” I said. “You’re waiting to find me a guard.” I blew out a breath. “College was a big no as well.”

“You wanted to go to college?”

I nodded. “My dad said no.”

“What would you have studied?”

“Business, I think. I like numbers. English as well. I love to read.”

“You’ve done a lot of reading while you’ve been here.”

“True, but then I haven’t done anything else.”

He stroked a curl back from my face. Slavik didn’t look as dangerous or as scary as he stroked my cheek. I started to feel his cock swell inside me.

As she touched me, Cara had told me to be honest with Slavik. He needed to know what I wanted in order for him to be able to give it to me.

Staring at him now, he no longer seemed scary.

“I don’t want to hate this marriage,” I said. “I … I don’t want you to hate coming home or to regret marrying me.”

“I don’t regret it.”

“I know it’s the peace treaty, but I know I’m not your first choice. Do you think it would be possible to make this work?”

He stayed silent.

Had I made a mistake?

Had Cara given me really bad advice?

I felt sick.

Panic flooded me.

“Touch me,” he said.

“What?”

“I don’t like to repeat myself.”

I rolled my eyes and put my hand flat on his chest. I felt the scars beneath the ink and I waited.

“I don’t want to hate this marriage either,” he said. “How do you suggest we change this path that we’re on?”

“We … on our dates, you don’t look at your cell phone. You talk to me. We communicate through words.”

“I can do that.”

“I…” I held up my wrist. “I’m loyal to you. To Volkov. Is there any way you can trust me?”

Slavik stared at my wrist and said nothing.

I knew it was a long shot.

Why would he trust the woman he married? I wasn’t a choice for him. He didn’t care about me. I was just another job to him. One he needed to keep alive because his boss told him to.

This was never going to work, and I was a fool for believing it would.