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Aleksei circles me slowly as it seems he needs to observe me from every angle. He comes to a stop when he’s at my back. His warm breath bathes my neck as he twirls a strand of my hair around his finger. “Pictures don’t do you justice.”
I know he’s talking about the photograph Saint sent to him.
“May I see you?”
He’s asking me as though I have a choice.
Saint’s poker face hasn’t slipped, reminding me of our plans. This is my opportunity to play Aleksei. I just hope it works.
When I nod shyly, a hiss leaves Aleksei as my submission pleases him. I’m not sure if he wants to do it himself, but I’d rather remain in control of at least one aspect of my life, so I lift the dress over my head, then drop it to pool by my feet.
Saint and I face one another, and when the green of his eyes are consumed by black, I know the sight of me standing in nothing but my underwear affects him. The moment shatters, however, when Aleksei walks around me.
He stands in front of me but takes a step back as he devours me whole. I want to cover myself, but I don’t. I allow him to view his property because that’s what I am to him. The thought has me locking eyes with Saint, which is a mistake on my behalf.
“Why do you keep looking at him? Can he provide you something that I cannot?”
I avert my gaze quickly, but it’s too late.
“She obeys me, Alek,” Saint says stiffly. “Nothing more. Don’t you, ??????”
I nod, too afraid to speak because Aleksei has clearly seen what I thought were discreet exchanges with Saint.
Aleksei seems convinced. “I’ve seen you do this to other women, break them, I mean, but she’s different.”
Time stands still as I take a moment to process what Aleksei just revealed about Saint.
Other women? How manyotherwomen? Saint never told me there were others. I thought I was the first one to take Zoey’s place. But I suppose his comment earlier now makes sense. He knows Aleksei’s track record with women because it seems he’s trained them all.
I suddenly feel sickened by the fact. I knew he wasn’t, well, a saint but other women? I don’t know how to feel. Betrayed comes to mind. But I rein in my emotion and remain passive.
“Something about her intrigues you, and well, that intrigues me.”
The more Aleksei speaks, the angrier I become. I am not a science project. I am also in the room and to hear him speak about me like I’m not pisses me off.
“Sheisdifferent,” Saint says, staring me straight in the eyes.
Only he can read my annoyance because he knows me. But it seems I don’t know him.
“How so?” Aleksei asks, looking at me like an anomaly.
Every part of my body challenges him to explain because I, too, am curious to know the answer.
“She is good. Pure,” he says, which has my mouth parting in surprise. “She fights so hard because she is virtuous.”
Aleksei’s brow lifts. “Virtuous?”
Saint nods and kicks our plan into motion. “Yes. She is still a virgin.”
I stand tall even though my heart threatens to burst from my chest.
Aleksei’s mask slips as he zeroes in on the cross around my neck. “Is this true?” he asks me, visibly stunned by Saint’s revelation.
I am not ashamed. “Yes.”
A string of Russian words leaves him as he grins and shakes his head in awe. “That useless American really came through,” he mumbles under his breath.
I remain unaffected because just the thought of Drew will ruin this innocent act.
