Page 156 of His Ruin
My timer rings through the car, and my face heats as I quickly silence it.Fuck.
“What was that?” My bodyguard asks as he pulls us away from the store.
“Umm,” I dig through my purse before pulling out the plastic and foil blister pack. Can this get anymore embarrassing? Sergey is like a father figure at this point, and now I have to explain this to him. “It’s my birth control. I had an appointment last week, and my doctor messed up my routine, so now I have to take it in the middle of the day.”
He offers me an unopened bottle of water, and I take it with a small thank you before tossing the pill back and swallowing.
“You do not wish for a family?” Sergey asks as he joins traffic.
“I do,” I wince. “I started taking birth control while I was with my ex-fiancé because things became rocky and I was questioning our relationship. I didn’t want to bring a child into the picture while we were struggling, but it turns out, he was already three steps ahead with someone else.” My voice dips into a bitter, sarcastic bite as I cross my arms over my chest.
“Ah,” my bodyguard nods. “So, it is fruitless now. You are married to someone else.”
I blanch at his blunt words. “Well…I wouldn’t say that—”
He barks a laugh. “If you aren’t ready, then I understand. Children can be a handful. It takes a village. Take it from me. I have eight.”
My eyes widen as my jaw drops. “Eightkids?”
My bodyguard shrugs. “What can I say? My wife glows when she is pregnant. She always wanted a big family, and I was more than happy to give her that.”
I rest back in my seat, turning his words over in my head. For the first time in years, the thought of little pattering feet resurfaces. I once dreamed of Kaden and me starting a family of our own, living in those long, drawn-out visions of our make-believe domestic life. I was always so head-over-heels for him. I pictured something perfect for us…
Now, it’s leaving me feeling a little hollow. Fierce longing grips me as I stare out the window.
I still want that. I always have…
“Don’t rush things,” Sergey says easily as he pops a shoulder. “Enjoy each other while you can.”
Oh, I plan to enjoy our time. Kaden has no idea what he’s gotten himself into.
“I’m home!” I sing as I kick the door closed behind me. I set my bags down, putting my hands on my hips as I smile into the empty living room.
Kaden is right where I left him. Upstairs—
Cold metal clicks around my wrist as my heart stops. A presence lingers at my back, towering over me as I slowly turn my head to peer over my shoulder. My husband is no longer chained to the bed. No. He’s standing right behind me with a slight, tight smirk pulling at his lips.
“Had fun?” He croons dangerously.
My eyes flicker down to the black t-shirt stretching over his chest as I swallow. “Fuck…”
There isn’t any warning as he bends, hoists me over his shoulder, and carries me upstairs. The cuffs dangle from my right wrist, smacking into his back as we ascend. I try to smooth the situation over, but I know it’s no use.
“You probably weren’t even cuffed for long!” I exclaim as he nears our bedroom. “Come on! Let’s talk about this. Communication. It’s what marriage is built on—”
He slaps my exposed ass so hard that it makes my teeth click as heated pain sears into my backside. That’s definitely going to leave a mark…
Kaden uses his boot to shove the door open before he stalks over to the nightstand. The drawer slides open as he extracts something heavy from it. I try to peer over his shoulder, but he’s dangling me so far that I’m practically face-to-ass.
He spins around, making my vision blur before he allows me to slide down. I crane my neck to look up at him, and there’s a tense pause before I try to bolt for the door. He catches me quickly by wrapping something around my throat, and as the buckle clicks in place, my hand shoots up to the fucking collar.
There’s something bulky on the side, and two metal prongs gently bite into my neck. My eyes widen as my mouth falls open.
“Is this a fucking shock collar?!” I shriek.
Kaden curls a finger into the nylon, dragging me close to him as his eyes become half-lidded and menacing. He raises his other hand, flashing a small remote. “Do what I say, and I won’t have to use it, pretty girl. I told you your choices have consequences.”
My throat works against the collar in a gulp as my eyes ping-pong between him and the remote. “This is cruel…”
