“I hate snoopers,” he says, voice low and rough. “What the hell do you think you are doing? First, in the basement? And second, what the fuck are you doing in my office?”
I lift my chin, refusing to cower. “I was bored. Since you didn’t have the courtesy to give me a tour of my new home, I decided to give myself one. I stumbled into the basement. How was I supposed to know you were busy torturing someone? Next time, maybe hang a sign on the door that says ‘Killing In Progress’ and I’ll stay away.”
His eyes flash with irritation. He takes a slow, deliberate breath, clearly trying to rein in his temper. “And what are you doing in my office?” he asks, voice dangerously quiet.
“I was still on my tour,” I snap. I wave a hand around the room, looking for anything to needle him with. “Though I have to say, your taste in decoration is… poor. Cold. Predictable. A bit cliché.”
There’s nothing actually wrong with the office. It’s sleek and expensive. But I’ll say anything right now if it rattles him.
Maxim ignores my jab completely. He starts walking toward me in slow, measured steps that make my heart slam against my ribs.
“There are rules in this house you will abide by,” he says. “The basement and this office are strictly off-limits. Under no circumstance are you to come down here or touch anything in this room again.”
I swallow hard as he keeps advancing. The air between us grows thicker, charged with something dark and electric. My skin prickles. I can feel the heat rolling off his body even though he’s still a few feet away. My breath comes shallower. I hate how aware I am of him, the width of his shoulders, the way his shirt stretches across his chest, the intensity in his eyes that makes my thighs press together involuntarily.
Why the hell am I reacting to him like this?
I swallow hard. “And what other rules might you have?”
He stops barely a foot away from me, towering over me, close enough that I have to tilt my head back to meet his gaze.
“When I say something… you obey,” he murmurs, voice dropping even lower.
I throw my head back and let out a humorless laugh that echoes in the office. When I look at him again, my eyes are blazing.
“Really?” I say, voice dripping with disbelief. “That’s how this is going to be? You say jump and I’m supposed to ask how high?”
“Yes,” he answers without hesitation, voice low and deadly.
“Well, newsflash, Maxim,” I snap. “If we’re really doing this, if we’re getting married like you so badly want, then you need to understand something right now. I will not be your obedient little yes-woman. I’m not a dog you can command. I expect to be respected. And you will respect me.”
His eyes darken, jaw flexing. “Respect is earned.”
I tilt my head, a bitter smile curling my lips. “Really? You don’t say.” I step even closer, refusing to back down even though every instinct is screaming at me. “Then I can say the same thing to you. You want my respect? Earn it.”
We’re standing so close now that I can feel the heat radiating from his body. Barely half a foot separates us. He’s so tall, I have to tilt my head back to keep glaring at him, and my gaze keeps dropping to his mouth, those firm, cruel lips that are far too close to mine.
My heart is hammering so hard I’m sure he can hear it. My skin feels too tight, too hot. A traitorous ache pulses low in my belly, and warmth spreads between my thighs.
What on earth is going on with me?
I’ve never reacted to any man like this. Not once. He kidnapped me. He’s forcing me into marriage. He’s dangerous. Violent. Everything I should despise. And yet my body is betraying me, nipples tightening, breath shallow, every nerve ending alive and aware of how close he is. How easily he could reach out and pull me against him.
Maxim’s gaze drops to my mouth for a fraction of a second. His hands twitch at his sides like he’s fighting the urge to grab me. For one dizzying moment, I think he might kiss me.
I force myself to smirk, even though my knees feel weak.
“Earn it,” I repeat softly, then step around him and walk out of the office with my head held high, refusing to let him see how badly he affects me.
My legs are shaking again and continue to do so the entire way down the hall.
CHAPTER SEVEN
Calina
I still can’t explain what happened in his office.
That electric zap that shot through my entire body when he stood so close… the way my breath caught, the way my skin heated, the way I stupidly wanted for one insane second, to feel his lips on mine. We were so close. Our mouths were barely inches apart. And some traitorous part of me wanted him to close the distance.
