Heart of My Monster (Monster Trilogy, #3)(41)

Could it be that I’m imagining things?

That’s the only explanation for this sensory overload or why I’m leaning closer to the source.

Warmth engulfs my body and spreads to my chest and core, so I inch over farther, needing more.

My movements pause when something hard nudges my stomach, poking me through my clothes.

“Mmm.”

The rumble of a very familiar deep voice causes my eyes to pop open.

Please tell me this is my imagination—

No.

Nope.

It’s definitely real. I’m actually trapped in Kirill’s embrace, my face resting on his neck until I can almost taste his shower gel on my tongue. I realize with horror that this is what I’ve been smelling since I woke up.

Our fronts are glued together, and the thing that’s poking my stomach? It’s his erection.

Oh, and one more thing.

He’s naked.

What gives him the right to touch me? Hold me as if he owns me?

How dare he?

I jerk away, forcing his hand to fall from around my waist.

Kirill grunts since that happens to be his injured arm. My eyes meet his arctic ones, and judging by the focused look in them, he probably woke up much earlier than I did. Or maybe he didn’t sleep at all.

I scoot to the other side of the bed, trying not to ogle his hard inked chest and arms. Under the morning light that’s slipping in from the windows and balcony, his tattoos appear darker. Menacing, too. Like everything about him.

I can’t help staring at the two bullet scars on his chest. They’re covered up with a new intricate tattoo and would be invisible to someone who doesn’t look hard enough. I, however, could find them even if I were blind.

After everything, the thought that he nearly died in Russia because of me still turns my stomach.

You’re playing a dangerous game, Sasha. You’re having empathy for the monster who wouldn’t hesitate to destroy you.

He sits up, and the covers drop to below his navel, revealing the defined V-line that leads to— I snap my attention back to his face and purse my lips when I find him smirking.

“Morning, wife. Did you sleep well?”

“No, I didn’t.”

Oh, wait. I actually did.

My lips part. I didn’t have any nightmares last night. Or dreams.

I had nothing. For the first time in a very long time, I just did something normal and slept.

“Is it the mattress?” He presses down on it, then on the covers. “The pillow? The bed itself?”

“More like the one in the bed,” I mutter under my breath.

“That’s your defense mechanism speaking, but that’s fine. I can wait.”

“Wait for what?”

“For the day you become my wife again.”

“I was never your wife, Kirill.”

“Yes, you are. You said ‘I do’ and took my cock like a very good wife that same night. Besides, I have a marriage certificate to prove it.”

“That doesn’t count since we’re getting a divorce.”

His permanent smirk disappears, but his expression remains light, playful even, but it doesn’t appear natural. “Until then, you’re still my wife.”

“Reluctantly.”

“Legally.”

I lift my chin. “Temporarily.”

“Currently.”

The bastard gets off on any war I attempt to start. If I want to get anywhere in this situation, I need to stop feeding his perversion.

I cross my arms over my chest, and his gaze falls to my breasts, catching fire and causing my body to heat. I clear my throat. “When are you going to release Anton?”

“Once I make sure you’re keeping your word.”

“I’m here, aren’t I?”

His ethereal eyes slowly slide to my face. “Not fully.”

“What is that supposed to mean?”

“Nothing worth explaining.”

“You can’t just keep holding him hostage against me.”

“That’s exactly what I plan to do.”

“And you think that will make me accept you?”

“I don’t believe anything I do will make you accept me at this point, so I might as well create some leverage in the form of your brother.”

“You’re a damn asshole.”

His lips twitch. “You know I love it when you compliment me.”

“That was the exact opposite of a compliment.”

“Not from you.”

I release an exasperated sigh. “At least take me to see him.”

“Not yet.”

“Why not?”

“He enjoyed your company for two months after having the audacity to take you away from me.” His voice deepens with every word until my skin crawls.

“He’s my brother.”

“Doesn’t excuse his actions. The only reason I’m stopping myself from chopping him into pieces is you, so don’t test my already limited patience.”

“Your patience is limited? Yours? Are you kidding me right now? My patience should be the one that’s drained. Not yours!”

He watches me for a beat, his eyebrows dipping. “Is this your attempt at channeling Karina’s over-the-top emotional state?”