Page 109 of Bride By Coronation

He grinds his molars, replying, "I know what I look like, Fiona."

I scoff. "I think you're sexy. Your scars give you a bad boy vibe, but that's not a turn-off."

"You don't have to say that. I'm fully aware of the disgust women feel when they see me," he claims.

I jerk my head back.

He clenches his jaw.

Anger fills me. It erupts from the way he's been treated due to whatever it is that happened to him and resulted in permanent marks all over his body. But it's also for another reason. I growl, "Don't do that to me."

Surprised, he asks, "Do what?"

"Don't talk to me like I'm pitying you. I just told you I wouldn't lie to you. And the first night I met you, I very embarrassingly blurted out that I thought the scar on your face was sexy. Or did you forget?" I accuse.

His eyes widen.

I scoff. "What about Valentina? You two seem super close."

"She's my only friend," he announces.

The claw in my gut reappears. I huff. "So she says."

In a stern tone, he scolds, "I told you at the restaurant she was my friend and nothing more."

I glare at him. "So I'm supposed to believe she's never been in your bed?"

His eyes narrow. "Of course she hasn't. And I just told you that no one has."

Internal chaos ensues from my jealousy, spinning with sadness, and thinking of how alone he must have been. Then, a new insecurity takes over. I blurt out, "So whenever we're at an Underworld event, women you've fucked are going to be trying to get your attention?"

He chuckles. "That'll be the day."

"It's not funny."

His face falls. "Every woman I've ever fucked has looked at me in disgust. Even with a mask on and tattoos covering my scarred skin, there's no escaping it."

"Everywoman, huh?" I challenge.

"Yes. I'm being honest with you," he retorts.

I jab him in the chest. "I'm not every woman. Or am I?"

He looks at me in confusion.

My emotions ball up in my chest. In a shaky voice, I point out, "I've never looked at you with disgust. I've only ever looked at you with the exact opposite. So you're not looking close enough or not interested in my attraction for you." Hurt, I turn away from him, blinking hard, suddenly exhausted from too much stress and not enough sleep.

"Jesus, I'm a fool," he mutters, then tugs me into him and curls his body around mine.

"Yeah, Kirill, you are," I mumble into my pillow.

He sighs, and the weight of the world flares around us. He tightens his arms around me and presses his mouth to my neck, kissing me, then adding, "I don't know what I'm doing, my beautiful bride."

I take a few deep breaths, then turn onto my back. "And you think I do?"

He studies me for a moment, then slowly smiles. "I guess not." His grin grows.

I softly laugh.

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