Page 121 of Sinister Promise

More often than not, it would lure me into a waking sleep where I could pretend that this was real.

That he loved me and I loved him.

It was the only time I let myself succumb to the fantasy.

This time I couldn't give in to it. I laid my head on his shoulder; my heart pounded too hard as I chewed on my bottom lip. Could I ask him? Would he let me?

"I can practically hear your mind working overtime. What's wrong?" Pavel asked, placing a kiss on my shoulder.

"Nothing," I said, mostly meaning it.

"Tell me." This time, the kiss was followed by a nip.

With a deep breath, I shored up my courage and asked him again.

"Let me go to the gallery. Alone. Please. I want to go work at the gallery, see the paintings and people watch. If you went with me, I would feel like I had to rush because you have so much that keeps you busy."

"Alina," he said with a warning tone.

"Look, I won't go to the police. I would never go to the police. I'm not fighting this, I'm not fighting you, I'm accepting this marriage, but part of that is being part of your family and bonding with the other wives. Please, I want?—"

He cut me off with a sweet kiss.

"Okay," he said, wrapping his arms around me and pulling me against his chest.

"Okay?" I wasn't sure I heard him right.

I had meant what I said.

Nothing could make me run to the police.

It felt like this was changing, like we were changing.

And maybe… just maybe…

This wasn't love.

Not yet.

But it was something. The realization should have terrified me. Instead, a warm flutter of hope settled in my chest.

Despite everything—despite the lack of choice, the captivity, the way this all began—something real was growing between us. I just needed him to trust me, to give me some freedom.

Pavel was quiet for a long moment before he spoke again.

"Next week," he said. "You can go."

My breath caught.

"But with a guard."

I hesitated for only a second before nodding.

It was a compromise.

He was showing me some trust.

It was a baby step, and I'd take it.

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