Page 26 of Captive Union
“Because I’ve been planning this for an entire year, and I intend things to go according to my plan. Call me confident, I guess.”
“You can’t own another human being, Erik.”
His eyes rake over my body, settling on the bodice of my dress before moving up to my lips and landing on my eyes. My breath comes out faster. “I can do whatever I want. And I want you at my side.” His fingers graze the fabric of my skirt, not quite touching me. “Give in to me, Kira.”
Before I can answer, he steps back, dropping his hand. With space between us, I feel I can finally breathe again.
“Don’t answer now. Think about what I said.” Erik gives me one last look before leaving the room.
And I’m left there, standing all alone in my dream wedding dress, getting ready to marry a man I barely know in a week’s time. How did I end up here?
I’m not sure.
All I know is that I’m stuck in it now, and there’s no way out for me, whether I want there to be a way out or not.
And I’m not sure I want to be let out.
CHAPTER9
Erik
Kira unnerves me. No one has ever made me feel like this before. I thought it would be easy to get her to fall for me—a young woman who lived in solitude most of her life—surely she must crave an adventure. But not Kira. She seems content to live in the box she was put in by her family. I know it’s only been a week, but I feel like things should be progressing faster.
Patience, patience, I remind myself.
I’ve waited a year for this. I can wait a little bit longer for Kira to come to my side.
Fuck, I just want her so badly. But I’m not about to rape her. I’ve never had the urge to hurt a woman like that, and besides, I don’t want to lose whatever progress I’ve made with her. I can tell a part of her wants to kiss me. Whenever I get close to her, she always leans in like she’s expecting more. Those are good signs. I need to focus on that and not when she messes with my head by saying things like “Maxim is a good man” and how she “wants to go home.”
Kira will not convince me her brother is nice. I’ve lived in my fury for a long time. Nothing will change that.
And speaking of Maxim, the next day, I decide to call him again. I’m using a burner phone, so the bastard can’t trace where I am.
“Who is this?” Maxim growls when he answers.
“Who do you think?”
“Erik, you fucking bastard.”
I shrug. “I’ve been called worse.”
“Why are you calling? Are you ready to let my sister go?”
“Not in your wildest dreams. Kira is making herself comfortable in her new home. In fact, just yesterday, she picked out a dress for our wedding.”
“You liar. My sister would never go along with your plans. You’re forcing her.”
“I swear on my father’s grave that Kira chose her dress because she wanted to.”
“I don’t take stock in your promises.”
“You were the one who hated your father, not me. If I swear on my father’s grave, then you know I’m serious.”
Maxim curses. “Just let her go. I swear that when I get my hands on you, Erik, you’re going to beg for mercy.”
“That’s the thing, Maxim. I don’t plan on you catching me. So your threats are pointless. I just wanted to give you an update on the wedding planning. In less than a week, Kira will go from being a Petrov to a Novikoff. Unfortunately, you won't get to walk her down the aisle. It’s a small affair, you see.”
“Erik, I’m going to kill you for this.”
