Christ.

The taste of her is like an adrenaline shot to my system, my cock straining against my zipper to get to her.

But this isn’t about pleasure. It’s a show of control.

Taking hold of her arms, I pull them from my neck and take a step away from her.

“Your body already belongs to me. Soon I’ll have your heart. Then your soul.”

Ariana places a hand over her stomach, just taking deep breaths as she stares at me.

“But first, I need to take care of Tao. Don’t leave the apartment. Nikhil will stay with you. You’ll be safe.”

Leaving Ariana in her room, I go back to the living room and say, “Let’s go, Alexei.” I glance at Nikhil. “Nothing happens to Ariana. Protect her with your last breath.”

“Yes, boss,” Nikhil replies while he rises from the couch he was sitting on.

Alexei follows me out the front door, and then only does he ask, “Everything okay?”

“Of course,” I mutter, resisting the urge to bring my fingers to my nose so I can inhale Ariana’s scent.

ARIANA

I barely make it to the bed, and slumping down on the edge of the mattress, I try to gather my bearings that were just steam-rolled by Demitri.

All I can do is breathe through the searing desire still burning inside me. The orgasm was unexpected and mind-blowing, but not enough to satisfy my need for Demitri.

Girl, I don’t think therapy is going to help anymore.

I know I should be angry, but instead, I’m so freaking turned on by how dominant he is.

Yep, I’m a lost cause.

The way he looked at me, all possessive, his features cut out of granite. Swoon.

The part of me that’s still sane says I should be terrified and try to escape while I still can.

But I don’t want to.

It’s pathetic, I know, but all I want to do is hand the pieces of my life over to Demitri and let him take control.

Letting out a sigh, I rise to my feet, and hoping to get some of my old self back, I walk to the bathroom so I can take a bath in my own tub.

I try not to think that Demitri and Alexei are out there killing a man because of me. Instead, I take my time washing my hair and giving myself a facial. I even pluck and tint my eyebrows. Anything to keep busy.

Next, I open my closet, and figuring I’ll have to pack a bag for Russia, I pull a small suitcase from the top shelf and set it down on the bed.

I pack enough clothes for a couple of days, and setting the bag down by the door, I then change out of my bathrobe into a pair of faded, black skinny jeans, a light gray t-shirt, and my favorite ankle boots. I tie my hair in a high ponytail so it will be out of my face, and then I look at my reflection in the mirror.