Chapter Nine #2
Keira had tried to sneak out for a smoke break, only to find every exit blocked by O’Malley men.
None of them were too thrilled at the idea of her leaving the room.
Her constant disappearing acts had created more work for them, which was something she suspected she’d be paying for until she was shipped off to Dmitri.
At least his men won’t know to lock me down so tightly.
Wouldn’t they, though? Dmitri was the one who kept finding her, even when she thought she’d done a good job of slipping away unnoticed.
It didn’t matter. Nothing mattered anymore.
Keira walked into the ladies’ room, leaving a frustrated-looking Liam at the door, and hopped onto the counter.
She wouldn’t crawl out a window, no matter how much she wanted to.
Tonight was too important to her brother.
She didn’t like being traded like chattel, but if she left now, Aiden would catch heat for it.
So Keira didn’t run. She just pulled a joint out of her clutch and lit it.
The first inhale burned her throat like a hot poker, and she luxuriated in the feeling, even as her thoughts slowed down.
One toke wasn’t enough to blitz her out—or even half the damn joint—but she wouldn’t smoke the whole thing.
All she wanted was some much-needed distance to get through the night.
The door opened, and she spoke without looking up. “Bathroom is occupied.”
“There are several stalls. Greedy of you to deny them to ladies in need.”
She jerked her head up so fast, she almost fell off the counter. “What are you doing here?”
Dmitri closed the door behind him and flicked the lock. “Your brother and his men are aggravating in their zealous desire to protect you.” He crossed to stand in front of her. “Should I tell them exactly how many times you’ve been in my tender care and walked away unscathed?”
“Three.” She held up the appropriate number of fingers. “You talk like it happens on the regular. It doesn’t.”
He moved closer, and she didn’t realize his intent until his hand flashed out and snagged the joint from her. Keira grabbed for it, but Dmitri was too fast, flipping on the faucet and dousing it. “What the fuck?”
“Nasty habit of yours. Tell me something, Keira—when was the last time you spent an entire day sober?”
How dare he sit there and judge her. She started to hop off the counter, but Dmitri was there, his body between her knees. He braced his hands on either side of her, not quite touching her but leaving her feeling exposed all the same. “Answer the question.”
She froze, torn between the need to fight her way out and the traitorous desire to spread her legs a little more and invite him in.
She already knew how the latter would play out.
Dmitri might want her, at least in part, but he had turned her down too many times for her pride to allow her to keep throwing herself at him.
She tossed her hair over her shoulder and glared. “That’s none of your goddamn business.”
“Maybe not yet. But it will be.” His gaze raked over her, a heat like she’d never seen before kindling in his gray eyes. He seemed to realize he’d given her a glimpse of it, because he took a careful step back. “I got something for you.”
“I don’t want anything from you.”
“Liar.” There was the heat again, just as quickly smothered. “But that’s not what I’m offering at the moment.”
Of course it wasn’t. She refused to feel disappointed. Keira crossed her arms over her chest and waited. “Fine. Give it to me.”
He pulled a box out of his jacket pocket and opened it. Despite everything, she gasped. It was a huge diamond set in a platinum band with smaller pink diamonds framing it. It looked like something a duchess would wear. Or what she imagined a duchess would wear. “I thought this would suit you.”
It was the most beautiful thing she’d ever seen.
It actually made her heart lurch to turn her face away. “I don’t want it.”
“That’s the second time you’ve lied to me during this conversation.
” Dmitri took her hand, the heat of his skin against hers sparking things low in her stomach.
“Truth between us—that’s all I demand of you.
” He chuckled at the arch look she sent him.
“You’re right. That wasn’t the full truth.
We can come to terms later, but in the meantime—truth. ”
Terms.
Such a cold word to encompass all that marriage should be.
Then again, what did she know? Her parents seemed to like each other just fine, but her mother had essentially been sold to her father in a political marriage the same way Keira was being sold to Dmitri.
She knew it was for peace. That was the only thing that would keep her here when all she wanted to do was follow in Sloan’s footsteps and flee to a far corner of the world.
Liar. The voice in her head sounded so much like Dmitri that she blinked.
Okay, there are a few reasons I’m staying.
She watched him slide the massive ring onto her finger, half-surprised the weight of it didn’t drag her off the counter.
“I suppose after I pop out the requisite heir and a spare, you’ll let me come back to Boston.
” It was the same deal he had offered Carrigan.
She wasn’t sure what she thought about that.
“Hardly. Once we exchange those vows, moya koroleva, you’re mine.” He waited for her to meet his gaze, and then he dropped the mask. There was no ice, no pleasant gentleman-murderer there. No, there was only the monster beneath.
And that monster wanted her.