Page 45 of His to Own

“How does that make you feel?” he asks, pressing his body closer to mine.

“Scared,” I admit.

“Only fear?” I hesitate and Maxim spots it right away. “You don’t have to be afraid of me. I’ve told you before.”

“I’ve seen you murder a man right before my eyes. And you punched Alexei. How can I not be afraid of you?”

“Because I’ll never hurt you. I’ll never beat you. Punch you. Murder you. I have no desire to do those things. I made a deal with Nikolai and I’m not going to ruin it. Besides, I don’t want to hurt you, Elena. You seem so… fragile. Like you could break at any moment. I want to help lift you up. Not tear you down.”

“By controlling me?”

He sighs. “I’ll admit: I didn’t have to go after your friend. But I just don’t like him and I don’t want him around you.”

“Are you… jealous? Are you worried I’ll kiss him instead of you?”

“Yes,” he says point blank. “I am worried about that. I only want you kissing me.”

“But you’ve kissed other women.”

“I have.”

“Are you…”

“Ask me, Elena.”

I swallow hard. I’m sure Maxim can sense it. “Are you going to kiss other woman now that we’re married?”

“Right now, there’s no other woman I want to kiss.” Before I can react, he brings his lips to mine. It’s a light, airy kiss but I can feel it all the way down to my toes.

I gasp and that gives Maxim an advantage to kiss me deeper. My eyes flutter closed and I let myself sink into the kiss. It’s as easy and natural as breathing. My first kiss. My scary mafia husband claiming this part of me.

When he presses me harder against the tree, I feel a spike of fear. To give myself to Maxim is… intimidating. I don’t know what could happen then. What kind of person I’ll become. The kind of person who is all right with the things he’s done?

I gasp and step back from him. Maxim doesn’t push it for which I’m grateful.

“I…” I have no words.

He smirks, like he knows what kind of affect he has on me. I’m sure it’s the same kind of affect he’s had on a lot of different women.

“I have more homework,” I squeak out and brush past him. Maxim lets me go but I can feel his eyes on me the entire time.

Since our wedding was rushed, Maxim has decided to host a party at our house to celebrate our marriage. He plans it all since I’m busy with school.

All I have to do is show up. I’m grateful that I didn’t have to plan it. The last thing I want is to plan for a party I didn’t even ask for.

I’m working on homework in the library when I hear the guests arrive. I force myself to put my book down and stand up. My satin, pink dress is slightly wrinkled from sitting but nothing I can do about it now. With a sigh, I walk into the foyer where Maxim is to greet our incoming guests.

The majority of people are Maxim’s men and their wives that I have never met before. I keep sneaking glances at Maxim after our kiss the other night. I haven’t been able to stop thinking about it and he hasn’t brought it up since then, almost like he’s testing me or playing a game with me. I’m not sure which.

Nikolai and Lana arrive. The sight of my sister almost makes me cry but I hold it together.

“Elena,” she says, wrapping me into a hug. It’s the safest I have felt in days. Weeks even. “How have you been?” Her eyes flick to Maxim and the disapproving look on her face is obvious.

“Fine.”

“Just fine?”

“A lot of it is new for me, you know.”