Chapter 5 Konstantin
five
Konstantin
My body went rigid the moment Misha informed me that the security I had placed on Cressida said she was at Embers nightclub.
With her fucking boyfriend, Dane.
A snarl curls my lip as I watch them with clenched fists. Darkness swirls in the air around me as my rage builds. People eye me warily and keep a wide berth.
“Death is in your eyes, brat,” Misha points out from my side in our native language.
“It is fitting for the man who dared place his lips on what is mine, no?”
“I would expect no less.”
How dare Cressida continue with her little toy as if she were not engaged? I have killed men for less disrespect. Kingston assured me she knows of our ways. That she knew what her role was in this life. Yet here she is in public with another man as if she is free to do so.
The enhancement to my vision allows me to see through the darkness and flashing of lights to the way she has her head back against him. I see the enjoyment on her face and the hunger on his. Then his lips drop to her neck, and the rage explodes out of me.
People stagger when the force of it hits them.
Anyone else would not easily hear Cressida’s cry of surprise, but the zap hits me in the same place that he kissed her. The soon-to-be dead man rubs at his mouth furiously, as if he also felt the same thing.
I let out a delighted laugh when I realize that our flash bond was not pleased.
You are all mine, little fox.
As much as I want to fight the pull I feel toward this woman, there’s something delicious as fuck about having her all to myself.
My smile grows bigger when it registers with her that I’m here. So many emotions cross her face before settling on that rebellious one I’m coming to adore.
She pulls away from him, her eyes searching frantically through the club.
I move from the shadows and wait for her to find me.
When our eyes clash together, fire arcs between us, and a jolt hits my heart.
Fuck, I will never get used to the sensations that rush through me when our gazes meet.
Cressida narrows her eyes, and then she proves, once again, that she’s not afraid of me. She lifts her hand and slowly extends her middle finger in the air.
I toss my head back as laughter bursts from me.
“Remarkable,” Misha says.
When I turn his way, he’s watching me with curious eyes. “What?”
“I can’t recall the last time you were so carefree in your laughter.”
“She is a delight, is she not? No man would be brave enough to stare the Bogeyman in the eyes and tell them fuck you.”
“It is either brave or stupid. I have not decided which yet,” he replies.
Cressida turns from me to face her friends, and I finally make my way to her.
“Dane, there’s something we need to talk about,” she tells him.
“Yes, Lisichka, tell him how he is too stupid to live, considering he touched what does not belong to him,” I purr as I settle in at her back.
Wrapping my arm around her, I pull her into me and aim a sharp smile over her head at Dane. “Your head would look good on my mantle. Visitors can view it every day and know what happens when someone touches something of mine.”
Dane’s face loses color at the same time Cressida brings her elbow back into my stomach.
With a soft laugh, I lean my mouth down to her ear. “Keep going, wife. I like it rough.”
“Bloody wankstain,” she mutters.
Amusement tickles my throat, but I lean down to bite her neck in retaliation. “That spicy mouth is going to get you in trouble, Cressida.”
“Look, babe. There’s no pussy good enough worth giving up my life,” Dane squeaks, his hands up in front of him.
My movements are too quick for anyone to do anything as I move Cressida to the side and curl my fingers around Dane’s throat. The enhanced strength makes it easy to guide him to his knees. Then I project my voice to be heard over the music. “Apologize.”
His throat moves under my hand, but no sound comes out. With a sigh, I loosen my fingers.
“I’m sorry.”
“To her,” I snarl.
When he doesn’t speak fast enough, I tighten my grip again, cutting off his airway until his eyes bulge. “You either apologize to my wife, svoloch, or you will die here. It does not bother me which you choose but do it quickly.”
Cressida places her hand on my arm. “That’s enough, Kon. Release him.”
I turn my head to her. “He disrespected you. Nobody is allowed to do that.”
“Including you. Will you please release him?”
“After he apologizes to you.”
She sighs and peers at Dane. “Get on with it, you wanker.”
His eyes widen, shocked that she’s going along with this. Did he forget that she’s a mafia princess betrothed to the Pakhan of the Bratva? There is a steel core under all those delicious curves.
She’s perfect, and she’s all fucking mine.
Dane starts to speak, but just because I’m still pissed at him, I tighten my fingers again until he claws at my hand.
Cressida gives me a pointed look. “Oh, for bloody hell’s sake, he can’t speak if you don’t let go of his throat.”
“If you insist.”
The pathetic man slumps to the floor when I release him abruptly.
“I’m sorry, Cressida,” he croaks, lifting his hand to rub his throat.
With a sigh, I wave my hand at him. “Get your pathetic ass out of here.” He just stares up at me, so I lean down until our faces are close together. “Boo.”
His face loses color, and he jerks back with a yelp, causing Misha to laugh at my side.
I turn to Cressida with a lifted brow. “This is who you choose to fuck?”
She narrows her eyes at me. “Until you put your ring on my finger, it was no concern to you who I chose to bed, arsehole.”
Striking quickly, my fingers curl around her throat gently as I guide her to me. Bringing our faces closer, I run my tongue along the seam of her lips before nipping at them. “You dare taunt me?”
“What’s wrong, darling? Can’t handle competition?” she purrs, closing the distance between our bodies until she rests against me. “Afraid you won’t compare?”
“There is no competition, Lisichka. Shall I prove it to you right here in front of everyone?”
The expression in her eyes suggests she is truly considering it, and this surprises me, but the way the heat licks up my spine, it is not an unpleasant thought for her.
I will not take her for the first time with an audience, though.
“Don’t worry, wife. I will wait until our wedding night, and then I will leave your pretty little cunt in such a sopping mess that you will not forget who you belong to.”
Then I brush a kiss against her firm lips before releasing her to find a booth in the VIP lounge where I can keep her in my sight.