Page 113

Yeah, okay, we’re definitely putting a limit. The man is clearly losing brain cells with every sperm ejaculation.

47

ILYA

If a head could explode, I think I’m looking at what it looks like before the detonation. Lane is staring at me, naked and holding a towel at her side, face flushing with the frustration building.

Good. The more she’s focused on me, the more time I have to convince her to stay.

I’m not an idiot. I knew the moment I suggested we grab a bath before we settled into bed for the night that I made a mistake. Or at least, I rushed it. I should have kept my mouth shut, simply done what I was thinking, instead of voicing it.

Live and learn, I suppose.

I’ve had enough time to really think through what the next few days will be like. Sure, Lane might busy herself with the security of this place or annoying the shit out of everyone as much as possible, but it’s only to distract herself from what it all means.

What being with me will mean.

So the longer I keep her off balance, the more time I have to nudge her in the direction we both need. The first step of that is to keep her ass right here. With me. Preferably in the bed with me, and if I have to fuck her into exhaustion, I’ll do it.

Or I set up those restraints I bought after our last time earlier than I planned, and we put them to the test.

After I hide all the weapons, of course.

“Would you care to explain what the hell you’re talking about?” she demands. “Are men always this hard to understand?”

“Funny. Usually it’s the other way around.”

“Women are far simpler to understand than men think. Most of you overcomplicate shit for fun. Now, stop talking in fucking riddles and get to the point.”

“The point is that everyone you’ve manipulated and used up until now was a means to an end. An assignment from the Butcher, or whoever hired you, right? Me, you saw me, you wanted me, and you saw the opportunity to have me when you realized Mila was in trouble. Which I don’t think I’ve thanked you properly for, by the way.” I give her a salacious smile. “I’ll be sure to remedy that shortly.”

She’s unimpressed and ignores that.

Well, I tried.

“You were a means to an end, Ilya, not the entire reason. Timur and Pasha kidnapping Mila put you on my radar; the same for her. I have spent a lot of years planning this takedown, and you gave me the avenue to do that. Have I wanted you? Yes, but that doesn’t mean I wouldn’t have ignored that if I didn’t want to.”

Oh, someone doesn’t like having that put back in her face, does she?

“Lisichka, you wanting me has nothing to do with Mila or what happened. Attraction like ours can’t be faked. You coming to my office, drugging the escort, and making her watch you fuck me out of jealousy had nothing to do with Mila. You weren’t there to take down Pasha or Timur. You were there for me.”

She stiffens slightly. Oh, the truth doesn’t look so nice now, does it? I nearly laugh, but instead, I wrap the towel around my waist, tie it, and sit on the tub’s edge. Might as well get comfortable. Something tells me we might be here awhile.

“You see, Lane, while you’re running around and doing whatever the hell it was, I’ve had more than enough time to think everything over. To read your letter a few more times and realize some things.”

“I really should have fucking burned that damn thing.” She jerks the towel around herself, her mouth twisting into a scowl as she knots it in place.

“Too late. I’ve memorized it just in case. As for the rest of it, the only part that pisses me off is that I didn’t realize what you were from the beginning. All the outfit changes, appearance changes, that should have been a dead giveaway, but I was too blind to put it all together. I just thought you were a serial killer with a taste for stalking.”

That makes her smirk. “You’re not exactly far off. I do love killing people.”

“And cutting off their dicks and feeding it to them.”

Her smirk widens to a satisfied smile. “Well, we all have to have a hobby.”

“As long as it’s not my dick, I think we’ll be all right. And speaking of, I think we should make a rule that if I piss you off, it’s not on the list of things that get threatened.”

“No promises, but lucky for you, I have far better uses for it, which means it’s probably safe. Though, I do have that clone…”