Chapter 11
11
Ivan
I t wasn’t hard to find Adrian. All I had to do was follow the sound of a slamming door, which led me straight to his room. The door was unlocked, so I twisted the handle and pushed it open. I knew if he truly wanted me to stay away, he would’ve locked it. It wasn’t like it would’ve actually kept me out, but I would’ve given him points for trying.
Adrian liked to pretend he couldn’t stand me half the time, but I knew he liked the chase I gave. That much had been proven just that morning when I’d backed him up against the wall and then dropped to my knees for him—something I never did. Everyone else dropped to their knees for me . But for him… yeah, I didn’t mind being on my knees for him. Besides, he and I both knew who was still in charge the entire time. And it wasn’t him.
“Get the hell out,” Adrian growled, turning to face me. The room was still dark due to the blackout drapes over the windows, save for the firelight behind him, casting an orange glow around his massive body. Adrian wasn’t small by any means. He took good care of himself and had the muscular, beefed-up physique to prove it. And damn, it made me salivate for him.
“If you truly wanted me to stay out, you would’ve locked that door,” I told him. “You don’t want me to stay away, kotik . Just admit it.”
He crossed his arms over his broad chest, making the sleeves of his shirt pull taught over his biceps. “I’m not your fucking kitten ,” he snarled.
“No?” I asked, my voice low and soft. Dangerous . He swallowed thickly, his Adam’s apple bobbing. “Kittens are incredibly smart, and they’re conniving little fuckers. Their claws are sharp, and they’re not afraid to bite when they’re irritated. And when they’re content, their little bodies purr. And when they’re needy, they give cute little meows. I think kitten fits you perfectly, kotik .”
His teeth audibly ground together. He got worked up so easily, and shit, I really couldn’t get enough of it. Because forcing him to calm down and making him submit to me was fucking heady when I knew he would never submit to anyone else. He was too hot-headed and too controlling. But with me, he lost his composure. He began falling apart and ripping at the seams.
Only with me .
I’d known from the moment I laid my eyes on him that he was meant to be mine . I was meant to own him. Claim him. Marry him. Tie him to me for fucking eternity. But Adrian was the kind of man I had to wear down over time. And thankfully, I had endless patience for him. Years— fucking years —I’d waited for this moment.
And now, I had him right where I’d wanted him all along.
Watching him bow down to me and only me was going to be worth all the waiting.
“You get so angry so quickly,” I murmured, taking a step closer to him. He tensed, but he didn’t move back like he had earlier when I’d prowled toward him. My cock thickened behind the zipper of my slacks at the challenge he presented.
Go on, kotik . Bringing you to your knees will just be that much sweeter if you fight against me .
“You drive me fucking crazy,” he growled.
“Do I?” I asked, cocking my head to the side the slightest bit as I took another step closer. If he tensed any more, his clenched muscles were going to break a bone.
“Yes,” he growled, his arms falling to his sides. This time, he was the one who took a step forward, moving into my space. All I had to do was reach forward, and I’d be able to touch him. But I kept my hands to myself for the time being because I had a feeling we were about to have a revelation, and I was all ears.
“I can’t fucking think straight when you come around. Do you know how goddamn hard I work to keep myself under control? To remain calm and friendly and easy going? Do you know how fucking hard it already is to hide who I truly am from everyone, including my own family? And do you have any damn clue what it’s like to have someone step into your life and fucking blow it to pieces? Because that’s what you do, Ivan. You have this way of looking at me, like you see straight through me, and it makes me feel naked .”
He stepped forward again, his cheeks flushed and his eyes burning . I met his stare evenly, waiting for him to get it all out of his system and lay it on the ground for me. Despite his rage, he was being vulnerable, and I wanted more . I wanted it all .
“I don’t work behind a desk because I like it, Ivan. I work behind a desk because I need to. I can’t be eyeballs deep in field work because of my diagnosis.” When I didn’t react, he narrowed his eyes at me and took another step forward, our toes touching now. With every heavy breath, his chest brushed mine. “But you already know about my diagnosis, don’t you? You’re not surprised.”
“I do,” I confirmed.
He looked like he wanted to punch me. For a split second, I wanted him to just so I could overpower him and force him to come to heel.
“Yet you dragged me out here anyway. You constantly test my limits. Constantly push me to break. Why ?” he asked, snarling the question.
“Because you’re mine ,” I bluntly told him. “You think I don’t know how to handle you, kotik ?” His nostrils flared at the pet name I’d given him. “I’m a diagnosed psychopath, Adrian. Who better to control you and teach you how to harness the gift you’ve been given than me?”
“You think this is a fucking gift ?” he growled.
“It is,” I assured him, nodding once. “You don’t think so now because you’re scared of that part of yourself. That darker part that makes you rage uncontrollably. You’re scared of the part of you that craves violence.” My hand snapped up and wrapped around his throat before he was even aware of what was happening. He swallowed thickly, his Adam’s apple bobbing beneath my palm. “On your knees,” I growled.
“Fuck you,” he seethed.
I leaned in so close to him, our breaths mingled. “Get. On. Your. Fucking. Knees,” I ordered, letting my mask fall away. My voice was cold and emotionless, and something inside him shifted at the change in me.
Silently, he lowered himself to his knees, tilting his head back to look up at me. I leaned over him, brushing my thumb over his plump bottom lip. “Let me be what you need, kotik ,” I murmured, my voice softening for him. His eyelids fluttered at the abrupt change, and something in his eyes softened. “Let me teach you how to be you without fearing any part of yourself. Let me give you the freedom I know you crave.”
His eyes locked on mine. “What’s the price, Ivan? There’s always a price with you.”
He was right. There was. I’d told James there would be no price for my help with this problem of his, but there’d been one. I just hadn’t named it because I knew James would never agree.
The price had been Adrian. And now, Adrian was going to pay it without even realizing it. His desperation would make him pay it. I was counting on that.
“ You ,” I said.
He stared at me for a good minute, but I never broke our stare. I kept my hand around his throat, letting my other hand glide over the stubble on his face and over the curve of his shoulder to his thick biceps.
Finally, his shoulders drooped, and he closed his eyes, drawing in a deep breath. His head lowered submissively, and Christ , it was perfect . He was perfect.
“Okay,” he said softly. “I’m…” He shuddered like his next words were painful to utter. I waited patiently for him to continue. “I’m trusting you, Ivan. Don’t make me regret it.”
“You won’t,” I swore. “If you can trust anyone in this world, kotik , you can trust me.” I released him and stepped back, giving him space to breathe. “Call James, kotik . Let him know what we’ve found out. Then come downstairs for breakfast. You need to eat.”
With that, I turned and quietly left his room, giving him the space he needed to come to terms with what his future was going to look like now.
He’d given himself to me, and now, there would be no escaping me. I owned him. Every breath, every beat of his heart, was mine .
His home was now with me .