“Or I can just take my daughter back and make you pay what you owe me. What you should have paid me when you first married my daughter.”
Nikolai smirks, like he thinks my dad is amusing. “You’re not getting your hands on my wife. Now, think about the offer. I’ll give you a day. And you better choose wisely. Now, get out of my house.”
“But my sandwich –,”
“Get out,” Nikolai says in a calm yet strict voice. He doesn’t have to get loud to exude power.
My father shoots me a glare like this is allmyfault and storms out of the dining room.
“Now, it’s time for us to talk.” Nikolai’s simple sentence sends a weight right to my chest.
“Talk about what?”
“How you handled yourself around your father. He gets under your skin.”
“I think that’s understandable given what he did to me.”
“It is. But I don’t want you worrying about your father ever again. He’s a problem I’ll handle. Not you.”
“So, I’m just supposed to not have any thoughts in my head?” I ask.
“No. I just don’t want you worrying. There’s a difference. I am your husband now. It’s my job to protect you and I will. You still have to trust, Irina.” He leans back in his seat, looking like the definition of power. “Come here. Sit on my lap.”
I hesitate. “What?”
“I’m not going to hurt you. I want you to sit on my lap.”
“But you said you weren’t going to touch me without my consent.”
“Irina. I am not going to hurt you. Trust.”
I know he’s right but it’s hard getting my mind to believe it. Slowly, I walk over to him and stare down at his lap. His large thighs. Strong from exercise. He’s a man who works on every part of him.
But just above his thighs is a part of his body I’m not sure I’m ready for yet. It’s a part that could hurt me. It’s a part that could feel good if I let him touch me. If I can learn to trust him.
I sit down on his lap.
Nikolai pulls me in closer, clearly comfortable where I’m not. “There. This isn’t so bad, is it?”
“No,” I admit. “It’s not.” In fact, Nikolai’s legs are softer than I thought they would be. I fit into the nook of his body perfectly. Like we were meant to be. I’m really not sure how to feel about that.
“I’m glad.” He rests his hands on my hips, not moving up and not moving down. Staying in neutral territory. “Now, I wanted you to sit here because I want you to see that I won’t hurt you.That in fact, I can be gentle. I can be good to you. And I can show you pleasure, more than you can imagine. If you just let me.”
My breath hitches. “Pleasure?”
The temperature in the room seems to heat up in an instant.
“Yes, pleasure.” His voice deepens. “So much pleasure. I know you haven’t been touched before. And I’m glad I’ll get to be the one to touch you for the first time. To awaken the woman inside of you.”
“I’m not sure…”
“Irina, look at me.”
I force my eyes to meet his. He places his finger under my chin, keeping me locked in place.
“I know you’re afraid. But all you have to do is give in to me. Listen to my words: I will not hurt you. Let me touch you.”
“How?” I whisper.