Page 151 of Bleed with Me

“Okay, you know what?” I turned to him, feeling annoyed now, too. “If you’re going to act like marrying me was such a fucking mistake, maybe we should just destroy the marriage certificate.”

“What?” he spat, whipping his head toward me, and our gazes clashed.

“You heard me.” I shrugged as if it was no big deal. “You’re certainly acting like you wish it never happened, so—”

He slammed the brakes so hard, the seatbelt dug into my shoulder, and I was violently pushed forward.

“What did you fucking say?” he growled with menace lacing every syllable, forcing all the tiny hairs on my neck to stand on end.

“It’s the easiest—”

He didn’t let me finish. His hand shot up, grasping the back of my head and pulling me to him so our noses almost touched, making me gasp.

“Listen to me very carefully, Mrs. Zhumagulov,” he whispered, his grip and fierce gaze momentarily immobilizing me. “If you ever suggest something like that again, I’ll tattoo my fucking surname between your delicious breasts. Do you understand?”

“That’s actually pretty hot.” My teeth sank into my lower lip as I wiggled my eyebrows playfully.

“Don’t push me, Nina.” He brushed his nose against mine. “Or you’ll find out who the real villain is.”

My grin widened.

“Threatening me with a good time?” I pecked his captivating lips, unable to fight the urge to have him, and he reacted instantly.

Our mouths collided in a heated, passionate kiss. It was rough, possessive, and absolutely perfect. Heat rushed through me so quickly it stole the rest of my anger, and in its place settled a dangerous addiction that always pulled me to him.

“You’re so infuriating,” Dorian muttered against my swollen lips, grazing his thumb gently down my cheek. The cars behind us honked like crazy, but he didn’t care one bit. His entire attention was on me.

“Look at the bright side,” I breathed, leaning into his palm. “You’ll never be bored with me.”

A humorless chuckle escaped him.

“If they trapped you inside,” he said, his expression changing from pleased to severe in a millisecond.

“Would you burn the building down?” I joked, teasing him with another seductive smile.

“Maybe.” His head tilted. “Or I’d start praying for those trapped with you.” He shrugged, a tiny smile lifting a corner of his mouth as the tension slowly evaporated. “You’re competent enough to burn the police station down by yourself.”

“That’s the sweetest thing you’ve ever said to me.”

I captured him in another kiss, the loud police sirens that appeared out of nowhere making us both jump.

“What the…” Dorian turned toward the car that had pulled up beside ours. Two officers stared at us, unimpressed. We were blocking the whole lane at a busy intersection.

“Is there a problem, officer?” Dorian asked casually after he rolled the window down.

“You tell me,” the man in the passenger seat replied. “Can you move the vehicle?”

“I can try.” Dorian slowly drove the car to the side of the road, grimacing. “I hope they like cash.”

A laugh spilled out of me as he checked his wallet and impatiently awaited the officer. Three minutes later and two hundred bucks lighter, we were back on the road.

I replayed the conversation with the officers all the way to Greenwich. One moment Dorian was ready to tattoo his surname onto my skin, and the next, he smiled at two cops as if he were their favorite neighbor. He apologized without sounding weak, bribed them without making it obvious, and drove away as if nothing happened. Watching him slip from possessive husband to charming surgeon in a minute should’ve unsettled me. Instead, it made him even more irresistible.

“Pull over,” I said out of the blue, pointing at a small turnout overlooking the woods.

“Why?” Dorian slowed, frowning.

“Just stop,” I groaned, unfastening my seatbelt.