(Emily's POV)I lazily flipped through the pages of the brochure catalog, where luxury clothes were compiled according to their brand. This is my seventh catalog, after Dolce and Gabbana, Louis Vuitton, Prada, Burberry, Dior, Channel, and now Gucci. I was done browsing underwear from Calvin Klein, and now he wanted me to pick more than a hundred clothes from these catalogs, which is absurd.Is he planning to build his clothing store? As if I last long here. "Okay! That's it! That would be all." I exclaimed, slouching on the couch.He sighs. "I said more than a hundred, that's only 39.""Are you nuts? I am not going to the runaway and show off the expensive clothes coming from different brands. I just need 10 or 15, why a hundred?""To make use of your wardrobe room." lazily glance at me wearing a sly smile before he returned his focus to his phone. I believe he was playing cards on his iPhone 14, I envy his expensive phone.I miss my Samsung.Rolling my eyes in annoyance, "Do I even
(Emily's POV)"Which of you is Dimitri?""On the left."I jump off the floor when I heard his voice. Goddamn it! I gulp the remaining saliva I have in my mouth. "D-Dimitri?" stuttered, my head was messed up right now, seeing his presence, leaning on the door with his arms crossed on his chest, wearing his grumpy face.I can't distinguish if he was angry or what."Who give you permission to be so nosy?" he firmly asked, and this time, he was killing me with his raging eyes."My conscience?""Get out.""Okay." I immediately rush out of the room, without looking into his eyes as I passed him by. "The brochure is on the table!" I yelled.Once I left the storage room, I had to get away. I went straight to my room and locked the door. I must be dumb thinking that he won't open the door, but I was just being safe at least. The latter part is the bathroom though.The sun was setting by now, making the sky mix with pink, orange, and red. It was a sight to behold. Sitting here alone, peaceful
(Emily's POV)Dimitri and I did the same routine for three days. We ate breakfast together like a couple with serious marital problems then he went outside the mansion to manipulate and maim most likely, and I was escorted back to my room.In an effort to earn some freedom and a way out of this nightmare, I behaved as best as my mouth would allow even though I wanted to scream inside.Dimitri, Leila, Cleo, Lucio, Aly, and the woman from the island whom I believe was Cleo's mother, were the only faces I saw day in and out, and was starting to mess with my head. I didn't know when the shift happened, but I began to look forward to breakfast if only to escape the mind-creating boredom.On the third morning. I came to a realization. "I know what you're doing," I announced at the dining table.Dimitri lifted his gaze from the iPhone that was probably glued to his hand. If "Tasty" and "Delicious!" in a deep Candy Crush voice weren't coming from the stupid device, it constantly pinged with t
(Emily's POV)"I'm thirsty, wife."Fork halfway to my lips, I stilled at the tone in his voice that practically demanded I serve him. He has a lot of servants, why is he acting childish right now?After a disbelieving beat ticked by, I allowed my gaze to travel to the lazy bastard, who goofed off in his chair and, I knew from experience, had full use of both of his hands."Then? Should I pour a liter of water into your lazy mouth?" I said with humor.He smirked, "I will give you a privilege.""I'm not interested." shutting him down with my sharp tongue."In everything?" he questioned, lazily."Particularly related to you."He softly chuckles, which I find amusing to my ears. He sounded genuine with his little laughs, but I won't get into that trap. I need to focus on pissing him off and making his day worst, dragging him, as my day was worst because of this Goddamn period."My throat is almost drained."And that amusement shattered, same as I glare at his countenance, with a sly smil
(Emily's POV)My eyes lifted to meet black ones that didn't hold a sparkle, a toothbrush slipped from my fingers. Cold fear paralyzed me to the spot. I stared at him, chest heaving with the expectation of his vengeance. Regardless of what he had in store for me. I refused to plead for my life. If price sent me to hell, so be it. At least I would leave this world with my dignity intact.Dimitri moved toward me, those expensive boots walking on the fallen door. The clank of metal brought my gaze to his hands, and as I watch him pull his belt from its loops, my heart fell through my stomach.He was going to whip me.Screw dignity.Is that what he called 'soft'?"I'm sorry." the words escaped on the uneven breath."No, your not."Legs carrying me backward, he followed my pullback. The coolness of the stone shower floor met my feet. I was trapped, and he was closing in on me with that lax belt in his grip. I should accept the pain to bring me back to reality; to remember his company was no
(Emily's POV)"It is time for lunch." The lace hem of Alya's dress which went out of fashion two centuries ago, swayed as she came to a stop in the doorway.I sat on the couch in the drawing room, staring out the large front window. "I'm busy." Stewing in my own despair... But busy all the same.Her eyes narrowed.I'd thrown tea into Dimitri's face, and he didn't kill me. He didn't even leave a permanent mark. On my body at least. As for my mind, pride wouldn't let me dwell on it, especially because the burn of his scruff and the ache that came to life still hadn't dissolved. It was there, a perverse and restless coil of need.Now I had the gut instinct he didn't want to torture me physically, but I was also sure he found it a diverting amusement to smash my soft heart beneath his boot. "He will lock you back in your room," Alya warned.I gave her a look of resentment, then got to my feet and followed her to the dining room.That sounds scary. Being in a room with four corner walls is
(Dimitri's POV)Hands in my pockets, I stood in front of the library window watching the light, in search of the horizon. The old clock chimed at eight in the morning, signaling I got less than three hours of sleep after returning from Rome last night. But as soon as the sun rose, so did I. Old habits die hard.The quiet winter morning remained still when the first ray of light reached the toes of my boots. When light glimmered on a flaxen head of hair, a lash of heat licked through me, slid down to harden in my groin, and stretched my body taut. The rising sun created the perfect illusion of a halo on top of Emily's head before she disappeared behind the trees that outlined my property. For a second. I thought I was so sexually repressed when I was imagining her. God only knows how many times I'd thought about fisting a hand in that hair while she sucked me off. The skirt of a flowery dress slipped into view, and I am sure as f*ck knew my imagination wouldn't come up with floral pa
(Emily's POV)I stared at Dimitri at the window with his hand in his pocket and the other one was on his iPhone, clearly busy texting with someone I did not know. The hell I care.Without knowing he came back last night from whatever business he had outside this town. Again, the hell I care.I'm skipping breakfast today and I was hoping he won't intervene in my decision. I had dumplings and milk this early morning, prepared by Leila since I was awakened at quarter to five in the early morning before the sun rose to the horizon.I take my time playing with the dogs, except Ravi, who might be having a period for his cold shoulder towards me, although he was a male. Clearly, I was just taking my time here, killing my boredom inside the mansion, until that awful handsome creature look at me. He glared his eyes towards mine as if I'd thrown him a ball of snow at his back. He's at it again.Didn't t know that he has the guts to come home? Or is he?"Miss, it's time for breakfast.""I'll s
(Emily's POV)Eight hours later. I glanced out the window of the private jet. I'm finally seeing again the tall Eiffel Tower. I glance at Dimitri and had been his attitude the entire flight: indifferent. He and those stupid 'Delicious!' sounds coming from his phone were driving me crazy. Lucio wasn't any better company. He was flipping through a Cosmo in the row of seats at the front of the plane. And Mali was sleeping in the corner while snoring.After we got married two days ago, even though I'm pregnant, I'd been burning up, waiting for him to touch me, kiss me, and drag me to the convenient bed in the back. But he hadn't done any of that. When I got tired of waiting. I'd straddled his lap, ran my lips down his neck, and cupped his erection as it grew harder beneath my hand.I thought I was finally going to get what I wanted, but then he shoved me off him to the couch and said, "I'm saving myself for our honeymoon, wife"I glared at him.He thought it was funny.Frustrated, I got u
(Emily's POV)The next day, something smelled like pancakes. It made my stomach churn.I loved pancakes.I rolled out of bed, brushed my teeth, and combed my hair, then padded out to the kitchen to find Dimitri at the stove, shirtless, his hair wet. I loved him like this, the casual side of him not many got to see. Like this, he was mine.But when I wrapped my arms around his waist, he tensed. Uncertainty flickered through me. He'd been quiet since last night after our wedding yesterday. I woke him up when he was having a nightmare, and an insecure part of me was obsessing over what could be his dream."Are you hungry?" he asked when I stepped away from him. I looked at the plate of pancakes on the counter and wrinkled my nose."Not right now." Grabbing the orange juice from the fridge, I poured a glass. "Is there something wrong?" I asked."Nothing.""Stop hiding anything, Dimitri. I want to know what's on your mind. I want to know more about you."I was sitting on my couch, not su
One month later(Emily's POV)Sunlight shone through the high windows of the church's bridal suite, lighting dust particles in the air like tiny flickers of gold. Nausea swirled in my belly, and I pressed a hand to my stomach and tried to breathe through it.It's our second wedding but I'm fucking nervous.I swayed as Lea tugged at my laces. "You've got to suck in, Emily. I've barely begun tightening it up."It felt like she was squeezing the life out of me. "For goodness sake, Lea, she can't suck in her boobs," Carol commented from her seat in the corner. She had a Vanity Fair magazine in one hand and a cup of coffee in the other."It's her backside I'm having trouble with. The laces are gonna be gaping at the seams if I can't cinch them in any tighter."And they wonder how I could ever be depressed...With another jerk on my laces, I breathed, "Oh, God," and covered my mouth as nausea traveled up my throat."Quick, Carol! The waste bin!" Lea exclaimed.My best friend hopped from he
(Emily's POV)Dimitri and I turn onto the main road right as the fire truck comes roaring up the lane, headed for the Castle's beach house, or what's left of it, anyway.I can see the firemen's faces as our car passes their truck, they're looking down at us, eyebrows raised, but unable to stop us from fleeing the scene."What a fucking trip!" I shout, my heart still galloping like a racehorse. "I did not know he was that crazy! I thought he was just normal crazy, like 'I don't want my food to touch,' or 'talking to yourself in the shower' crazy, not like full-out Shining."Dimitri is driving way too fast, hands locked on the steering wheel. Improbably, he's grinning almost as much as I am. Could my uptight husband be starting to enjoy our adventures?"I can't believe I found you," he says."Yeah, Did you find my shoe?" "Yes, I found it! And I remembered."He looks over at me, his blue eyes brilliant against his smoky skin. I don't know how I ever thought his eyes were cold. They're f
(Dimitri's POV)I roll down the window to try to get a better look at some of the cabins that are set back from the road, half-hidden in trees.Some of the driveways are so faint I can barely see them. In fact, I almost pass one by, failing to see the faint tracks through the grass. Until I smell a hint of smoke. It's so mild that I hardly know what scent I caught. Then I feel the automatic reaction, the hair on the back of my neck standing up, and my heart starting to race. It's a primal, terrifying smell. A warning of danger.I slam on the brakes, whipping the wheel to the left. I follow the long, winding path toward a double stand of trees. Between those trees sits a small blue beach house that I've seen once before in a battered photograph.I stop my car, hoping Oliver hasn't already heard the engine or seen me driving up the road. I slip out of the driver's side and crouch down behind the car, trying to peer around at the house.I send a quick text to Emily's brother. I'm an ho
(Emily's POV)"I need to pee," I tell him again as he forgot."You can do it with the door open," he says.I glare at him, in a stand-off between his stubbornness and my throbbing bladder.I can only last a few seconds. I drop my pants and sit down on the toilet, letting go. The pee comes thundering out, with more pain than relief.Oliver stands in the doorway, watching me. There's a tiny smile at the corner of his mouth. His eyes look hooded and pleased.I wish he would turn the fuck around and give me some privacy. Or at the very least, I wish I wasn't peeing for so long. It seems to go on forever, and it's fucking humiliating.He's right, though, if he'd left me alone in the bathroom, I would have climbed out the window in five seconds.When I'm finished at last, I pull up my pants and wash my hands, wiping them dry again on my clothes, since there aren't any towels.Oliver watches this too, with a scowling expression. I think he's looking at the cast again. Then I realize he's act
(Emily's POV)I wouldn't have gotten in the fucking trunk if I knew how far Oliver was going to drive. I feel like I've been in here forever. Also, I drank a lot of water with lunch, and I really have to pee. Also, I'm worried about what Oliver might have done with my purse. He wasn't stupid enough to put it in here with me, unfortunately. I'm anxious that he just chucked it out of the window or something, which means that my precious little package is already missing again.For a long time, I can feel that we're on the freeway smooth, steady progress in the same direction. Eventually, we turn off and start driving slowly and erratically down roads that are obviously narrower and less well-maintained. A couple of times the car jolts hard enough that I do hit my head on the top of the trunk.I've been hunting around in the dark, looking for anything useful. If there was a tire iron back here, I'd use it to brain Oliver the second he opened the trunk.At last, the car slows down. I thi
(Emily's POV)I'm sitting across the table from my new friend, Drake Lee. He passes me the little box I've been waiting and hoping for all week long, and I open the lid to peek inside."Oh my god, I can't believe it," I breathe. "I know," he laughs. "This was the hardest one I've ever done. Took me three whole days." "You're a miracle worker. Honestly."He grins, almost as gleeful as I am."You mind if I put the whole thing up on my YouTube channel?" he says. "I was wearing my GoPro the whole time, got some great footage.""Of course!" I say.I close the box, still hardly believing what I'm holding in my hand, and I stow it back in my purse. I give Drake a slim envelope of cash in return, the amount we agreed upon, plus a bonus for saving my fucking ass. "Well, call me if you ever need me again," he says, giving me a little salute."I hope I won't need you," I laugh. "No offense.""None was taken," he chuckles. He raises his hand to signal for the waitress."I already paid for the
(Dimitri's POV)I'm sitting at the table, surrounded by my men, basking in the glow of victory. We just got back in California. Our days in Bali will remain a memory. I'm also thankful that it's not our honeymoon or Zajac's head would float all over Bali's ocean.I find myself tuning out of the conversation because I want to look at Emily instead.I can't believe she stayed at Zajac's warehouse, looking for me.She could have been killed, or at the very least, recaptured and held hostage until my men returned the money they stole.She could have just run the moment she escaped the office. But she didn't. Because she knew I was somewhere in the building, probably being tortured, possibly being killed.I was frightened to see her hurt again because of me and I don't want to lose her.I've come to respect Emily and love her, too. I like the effect she has on me. She makes me more reckless, but also more focused. Before I met her, I was going through the motions. Doing what I was supposed