Page 80 of Beautiful Broken Obsession

Milos chuckles, holding me tight and kissing me deep. “I was a horny little shit since I was fourteen. We were taking advantage of each other. At the same time, she wanted all of it—holding hands, kissing, cuddling. I was willing to do whatever the hell she wanted. So she would keep sucking my cock and let me fuck her. It lasted almost a year. Then she called me by my father's name. The first time she played it off. When she did it again, I got it out of her. I look just like my father except he has blue eyes. She loved him and couldn't have him, so she took me.”

“What a fucking bitch.” I exhale in shock.

A broad shoulder lifts. “After that it wasn’t much better. So many women were wannabe porn stars. Exaggerated moans and hands everywhere. They couldn't hide their feelings in their eyes, though. It was almost worse when they thought they were in love with me. I decided no more playing by rules that were only there for the both of you to feel like it's something more than it is—sex. It’s as necessary as eating, so why make such a big deal out of it?”

I can't help feeling there's something he isn't telling me. “But you didn't want that with me?” I run a finger over the Roman numerals on his chest. I wanted to ask him about it. I keep meaning to look it up, to see what they are. But I forget the moment he's away from me.

“No.” Just one word.

I take a deep breath. “Why?”

He sighs. “Celia, can you please accept this marriage can be a happy one without all the drama and emotional turmoil of a thing that’s called love, but is no more than a hormone that occurs to keep a mother from harming her children and men and women doing absurd things for a partner? The hormone will dissipate over time. Respect and genuine affection will not. I care deeply for you. I want to make you happy. There is nothing you will want for. Everything you need, I will give you.”

Blinking back tears, I don't dare lift my head from his shoulder. Everything but his love. I will not let him see how much it hurts when he's telling me everything I feared. Carina was wrong.

His phone rings, he sits up. Three words are all that is said, too fast for me to catch in Russian. Milos cuts the call then lifts me off him. The moment he does I feel empty without him inside me.

“I have to go. I'm not sure if I'll be home tonight. I might need to sleep in the city.”

Before I can say another word, he's gone. Sighing, I let my head fall to the sofa, wondering if all the pain the future promises without his love is worth it.

Chapter26

Celia

When I wake up,the air in the entire house has changed. There are no workers outside even though I don’t think they’re finished yet.

As I eat breakfast or rather brunch on the balcony, I spot men patrolling the grounds. Men who weren't there yesterday.

While I’m getting dressed for the day, I get a text from Milos, telling me his family has arrived. He'll be out of the house until dinner when he’ll be bringing them back with him. He asks me to wear something demure, no skin.

I bite my tongue against the drive to be a smart-ass and remind myself he’s stressed. I don't want to add to it and simply tell him, okay. Milos hadn't liked the fake nails and made me take them off. The problem was after all the preparation, they look awful. I decide to get a manicure to see if it can be hidden. Or if worse comes to worse, they could do shorter nails and cover them with nail polish.

Not wanting to go by myself, I text Carina but she can't go because she's with a client. I send Peter a text I want to leave to get my nails done in twenty minutes. When I'm done there, I want to check up on the progress of the rescue. Weird, Peter is taking forever to respond. Whatever, I'm going, he’d better not argue with me.

Downstairs I find Peter pacing the foyer.

“I believe it best to remain home today,” he says.

“Why?” I said I wasn't going to fight with Milos. He isn't Milos.

His jaw clenches tight. “Milos’s uncle brings negative attention. I can keep you safe here.”

I shake my head. “What the hell does his uncle have to do with me? Is Milos okay? Is he safe?” Fear is clogging my throat as my stomach twists. “If something is going on with Milos, you’d better tell me, damn it.”

For the first time ever, Peter’s face betrays conflict. “Of course, Milos is always safe. It's fine. Everything is fine.”

Relief almost sends me to my knees. “Quit stressing me out, Peter. I'll be out for less than two hours, come on.”

In the SUV on the way there, it's clear both Peter and the driver are tense. Frustration is building in me; I wish people would tell me what’s going on.

The nail appointment doesn't go the way I hoped. I had to tell the nail technician twice they were too long. I tried to be polite about it—if it weren’t for Milos already hating them once, I never would have said a word. She got annoyed I didn't like it and was bitchy after that. Because of how rude she was I didn’t give as large of a tip as I did last time, and she got even ruder.

So when I’m walking out of the nail place I’m out of sorts and teary-eyed. Being called a rich bitch didn’t feel fair. I only tipped ten dollars instead of the twenty last time, why was she— Sergei? Wiping my eyes, I call out to him but he keeps his back turned and walks away.

Peter appears. “What's the matter?”

“I thought I saw my friend. I guess I was wrong. He'd never walk away like that.” Maybe I missed something through the tears.

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