Page 42 of Lord of Justice

"You have no idea," I say fervently.

"Your father… no." She shakes her head decisively. "He worships your mom."

"As is Nikandr with Caroline, and they had an impressively rocky start."

"Yeah, she hated his guts," she agrees. "But they love each other now. It's not like that for you, though, is it?"

I won't lie to her. Iris knows I'm different from the rest of my family. "My feelings aren't the same, it's true. That doesn't mean I'm an emotionless monster. I admire you. I respect you. You are, without a doubt, the mostbeautifulwoman."

She looks so fragile, sitting there in her pretty dress, her little shoulders back and her spine rigid.

I know the words the average man would use to tell her that I want her. I've observed Nikandr and dozens of other men tell a woman that they're falling for her, that she turns them on and if they can't get inside her, they'll die. I've used the script myself, though I've never lied to a woman about how I feel about her.

The words are sawdust in my mouth. It would be an abomination to manipulate Iris. I'm not certain if she's ready for my truth, that I'm fascinated by her to an infuriating degree. I've watched too much surveillance footage of her, I insisted that Melina and her team give me a play-by-play account of her day. I want my wife. The sad truth is that I'm constantly hard around her and I've come by my own hand a dozen times, thinking about her this week.

But I can wait.

"Remember this, wife. When you're ready, there aresomany things I can show you." My voice drops to a whisper. There's blood surging through me, not like when I hunt but some driving desperation toact."You can pick and choose. We can try everything. Decide what you like, what you want more of. What you never want to do again. And I will gladly guide you through it. I may not feel the way other people do, but…"

I frown, searching for the words. This is unlike me. Of course, this kind of obsessive fascination is unlike me, too. "I want you to be happy."

Her eyes are wide and her mouth is open. Not afraid then, or angry. A good start.

"Oh." Iris licks her lips. "That's…"

The car pulls up in front of Lindon Planetarium. The four-story glass front is ablaze with light with a soaring constellation of planets above the crowded Grand Hall.

Iris looks over my shoulder. "I thought this was supposed to be a little party?"

We stare at the crowd of people, laughing and drinking, even the massive marble hall isn't big enough to hold them, and they spill out onto the terrace.

"So did I," I admit sourly. "I suspect the Morozovwomen's view of small and simple, is different from ours."

The parking attendant darts forward and Trofim gets out to block him. The attendant suddenly finds something to do on the far end of the circular driveway and Trofim opens my door.

"Which part of his body did you threaten to sever?" I ask, straightening my jacket.

"Nothing so boorish, boss. You wound me." I raise a brow and he says, "I might have mentioned his liver."

"Of course you did." Walking around the car to open Iris's door, I hold out my hand. "We should get in there before everyone's had too much vodka and then the speeches will run on for hours."

I get a glimpse of her long, toned leg and I want nothing more than to push her back onto the seat, spread her legs wide and bury my face in her pussy.

"You okay?" She's looking up at me and sweeping her hair back over her shoulder.

"Shall we?" I hold out my hand, she looks at it for a moment, then links her hand with mine, fingers laced together.

Taking a deep breath, she faces the blazing lights of the party.

"There better be cupcakes."

Chapter Twenty

In which there had better be cupcakes.

Iris…

The tall bronze doors open and we pause as everyone bursts into applause. "Holy shit," I say from between clenched teeth, attempting to shape a smile. "I can't decide whether to be touched or terrified."