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I let out a breath.
“Elena,” Maxim says, turning to me and reaching out his hand. “Are you all right?”
I smack his hand away. “No. You just told Alexei that I asked you to…”
“To fuck you?”
I flush. “Yes. That. You told him I begged for it. That wasn’t for him to know. You shouldn’t have said anything. You should respect me more than that.”
I walk away from him before he can say anything more but Maxim follows. I pick up my pace and start to run. Maxim gives chase.
Like he’s hunting me.
Chapter Sixteen
Maxim
My blood is boiling. That fucker was inserting himself in our relationship and I stood up to him over it but instead, Elena took it as a bad thing. I’m not going to let her run away from me this time.
The part of the library we’re in is quiet. No one else around. I’ve committed bad crimes and yet, right now, I’m worried I might get scolded by the librarian for making too much noise. That doesn’t matter though. What matters is Elena.
She runs quietly through the stacks and I follow. Unlike her, I don’t have to run as my legs are much longer. For every few steps she takes, I only have to take one.
Elena keeps running until I have her cornered in a back area. Bookshelves all around us. A wall on one side. Elena stops, looking around, until she realizes that there’s nowhere else to go.
“I was defending you,” I say. “That asshole was talking like we had done something. Like you had done something bad. But we didn’t.”
“I know we didn’t,” she says in her quiet voice. Sometimes I wish she would just scream her lungs out. I haven’t been able to make her do it yet. “But I still didn’t like you telling Alexei those personal details. That wasn’t for him to know.”
“Why are you friends with him?” I ask as I approach her. Her back hits the wall and I place my hands on either side of her head, locking her in.
“We’ve been friends all year.”
“That’s not an answer.”
“Because Alexei is kind.”
“Because Alexei wants to get in your panties.”
She flushes. I can’t help but kiss her cheek. Her eyes widen.
“You know I’m right,” I say. “I overheard you two talking. He wants you, Elena. He’s always wanted you. It’s the only reason he’s been kind to you.”
“And you? Why are you kind to me?”
“Because I’m your husband. That’s my reason. I have no reason to hurt you. Now, I didn’t mean to show you any disrespect. But I don’t like little fuckers coming between me and my wife. And right now, I want nothing more than to kiss you.”
She looks around, searching for other people. “We’re in a public library.”
“And there’s no one else around right now.” I cup her face and kiss her before she can object. Elena instantly melts into my arms. Fuck, it’s a good feeling.
I kiss her harder and harder until I can’t breathe and I have no choice but to pull back and plant kisses on her neck. “I need you again,” I say.
She gasps. “We’re not at home.”
“Don’t you want to experience the thrill of life, Elena? You’ve been sheltered for so long. Hidden away for so long. Don’t you want to do something a little dangerous?”
“Like what?” she breathes out.
