His head tilts slightly, his lips curling into a smirk that makes my pulse spike with irritation. “Is that so?” he murmurs, his voice laced with mockery.

“Want to test that theory?” I fire back, my jaw clenching.

For a moment, neither of us moves. The tension between us crackles, thick and suffocating. Igor’s hands flex at his sides, his fingers curling into fists as if he’s fighting the urge to grab me again.

He takes a step closer. “Get. In. The. Room. Now.”

With a huff, I shove past him and step inside the room. “Satisfied?” I snap over my shoulder, refusing to look at him.

He follows me in, shutting the door firmly behind him.

I’ve never felt so inexplicably vulnerable in all my life. To hate him and want him with the same intensity is messing with my head. Because when he fucks me, our connection runs deep, deeper than I’ve experienced with anyone else before. My very sanity comes undone underneath him.

It’s no wonder that I crave for him to take control again. He’ll give me exactly what I need. And yet I won’t ask for what I want. My only other option is to dare him to do the opposite, hoping he’ll want to prove me wrong.

“Touch me again, and see what happens,” I repeat my threat defiantly.

My heart jumps in my chest. The corner of his mouth curls in a slow smile, and before I know it, his hand moves behind my neck, yanking me toward him. His body is an iron wall, cold and unforgiving.

His dark energy breaks my resolve in a few short seconds.

Instead of pulling back, my own hand brushes along his hard shaft, palming him through his pants. Feeling my fingers on his the length has his breath quickening.

“Is that how you want to be touched, you sick fuck?” I snarl. “By someone who’ll never be yours no matter how much you might try to tell yourself otherwise?”

“Don’t kid yourself,volchitsa,” he spits. “No matter how much you roar, you’re mine.”

“Oh, yeah?” I challenge. “Prove it.”

Igor’s eyes burn with rage. His other hand cups my chin and pulls me close, like we’re lovers about to kiss. His touch leaves behind a strange sensation. I’m cold but hot at the same time.

Laughing quietly, he regards me with a triumphant grin.

“As you command,” he purrs.

A moment passes in which I’m trying to figure out his next move. He catches me by surprise. A heavy spank on my behind forces a pained moan out of me.

I shouldn’t be into it. This should make me even madder at him, but instead, it excites me, making my skin buzz.

I stop dead in my tracks and lunge my hand toward his balls, stopping short of touching them. He’s so close that his cock is less than an inch away from me. If he shuffles closer, my fingers could press against his full length, wrap around it and jerk it painfully hard. The thought of making him writhe in pain makes heat spread between my thighs.

He stands his ground, unflinching at my obvious intent. I reach further forward and watch in disappointment when he effortlessly grabs my wrist with a loud chuckle, stopping me from hurting him.

I step back and try to lift my hands again, but this time, he’s prepared and pushes me against the wall.

“First things first,” he hisses. “While I like my woman to have sass and personality, you must show me respect when in company. For failing to do that, I’ll punish you.”

“And then?” I dare him.

He smirks. “And then I’ll rail you so hard you won’t remember your own name.” He grabs my arm and pulls me toward his bed. “On your knees.”

“No.”

“I think it’s about time you get a proper lesson,” Igor declares casually, opening the top two buttons of his dress shirt. His voice lacks the steel and ice I’ve gotten used to, and his wholedemeanor has changed, but he doesn’t inspire fear. More like curiosity. Anticipation of his next move. Unbridled excitement.

“What?”

His eyes glimmer mischievously as if there were several secrets hidden inside them. Each one of them a dirty one.