Page 18 of Dangerous Promises

He takes one step towards me and instinctively I take one back. I am tentative and unsure as he looks at me. But something in his eyes goes dark and predatory as he takes another step closer.

It's only natural for me to try and get away, but my next step back has me tripping on a tree branch and falling backward. Alexei is there within the instant, cradling my back with his arm and stopping my descent to the ground.

I gasp, shocked as he steadies me. His response was instinct too. Natural.

"Are you scared, princess?" he asks, the pupils in his eyes going wide as we lock onto each other.

"Of you? Never," I say, far more breathless than I intend and I know my eyes must be as wide as saucers.

Alexei runs his tongue over his teeth, like the whole encounter makes him suspicious. His calloused hand is rough as he grabs my jaw, forcing me to open my mouth on a gasp.

"You always get yourself into the most ridiculously submissive positions," Alexei says on a grunt. He lets go of my jaw and my head flops back in agony.

When I look up at him again to frown and call him a host of horrible names, he smirks. "Always at my whim, princess."

"Dic-" I only get a second of confusion before his arms sink away. My eyes widen as I fall down onto the forest floor, landing on my ass with a thud.

"What the fuck!" I yell. He chuckles as he walks away but I get a running start at him and dive onto him, pushing him against a tree and raising my fist.

He's still chuckling as he grabs my wrist to stop me.

"What are you gonna do with these tiny little hands princess?"

He laughs as he grips my hand harder and spreads my finger. Before I can protest, he sucks my finger into his mouth. But itisn't gentle and lustrous. It's rough and painful. Especially when he bites down.

He releases me with a chuckle and I clutch onto my finger, where he's left teeth marks in my flesh. Amusement is all I get from him as he folds his tattooed arms and watches where I try not to squeal at the pain just from a single bite.

He looks at me like I'm nothing but a toy and I always hate when it gets to this part. The part where he'll be done playing and want to finish the job. Where my only choices are run away or accept death.

Alexei frowns, a small dimple appearing between his brows.

"Isla might be right. You are a distraction," he mutters under his breath, but still I hear it. He grabs for me and I squeal until his hand goes over my mouth to muzzle me.

He holds me like that, dragging me through the woods. I almost trip trying to keep up with him but eventually we come to the edge.

"Fuck, stop!" he says, steadying me as I wiggle. "I'm not going to push you."

I open my mouth to scream but he covers it again.

"For fuck's sake," he mutters. "This is why we're not finishing anything out here in these woods. Look!"

I finally stop struggling and look down to where he's directing me.

Oh.

I see it now.

The familiar white suburban house with the wrap-around porch. There's still a pool in the backyard but now it's been filled in, or rather, filled up with things. The place is lit up with activity. There's a bonfire in the backyard and more people than I can count rushing around down there. I can't quite make it out from this distance, but I suspect they will all have that familiar tattoo on their temples as well.

They are everywhere. On the patio. Inside the house. Opening the hatch down to the wine cellar… My skin shivers at the thought and I wrap my arms around myself, suddenly feeling cold.

"That's Chet's house," I say, as the goosebumps run up my arms.

"Yes."

"It's busy," I note, hearing the tremor in my voice as I say it. This is the place that I was destroyed when I was younger. Such a beautiful house meant for a family. But instead he used it to scar both my body and my mind.

My lip quivers, and I bite down to stop it. Not wanting Alexei to see this particular weakness in me. He was never going to be terrified of me, but I wanted him to at least take me seriously.