Page 66 of Bought By the Ruthless Pakhan

She sat up fast, pushing at my chest. Her palms burned against my skin. "You need to go, I—"

I pulled her back down, locked my arm around her waist. Her back pressed against my chest. Smooth. Soft.

I felt her trembling. Like a deer caught by the neck.

"Relax," I bit her earlobe, breathed in that clean scent from her hair, "let him knock. He'll get tired and leave."

"No, Ivan, please. You have to go."

Anna's hands scrambled against my chest. "I'm begging you."

I laughed, cold.

Leave? Through the window? Or the door?

I wasn't some hidden lover. Never had been.

I threw off the covers, grabbed yesterday's pants from the floor.

Anna was still in bed, sheet sliding to her waist, exposing marks in varying shades of red. I'd spent all night leaving those. Each one said the same thing—she belonged to me.

I walked to the door, gripped the handle, looked back at her. "I'm not going anywhere. You're my woman. Were five years ago. Still are."

Then I opened the door.

Chris stood there in a crisp white shirt, sleeves rolled neatly to his forearms. He held a paper bag. Breakfast, probably.

He looked like the type who'd wake at six to buy coffee for the whole family.

When he saw me—shirtless, wearing only pants in Anna's doorway—his expression froze in slow motion. The smile stuck at the corners of his mouth. The light died in his eyes. His shoulders sagged half an inch.

His gaze went past me, into the room.

The bed was a mess. Anna was frantically pulling the sheets up, only half her face visible. Pale as paper.

Chris didn't speak. But his grip on that breakfast bag gave him away.

I leaned against the doorframe and looked down at him.

I didn't think I'd done anything wrong. I was just helping Anna face reality—she couldn't keep hiding behind excuses.

After a few seconds, Chris spoke. His voice held steady, but the end wavered.

"What are you doing here?"

I didn't rush to answer. Found my cigarettes, lit one.

"That's a question for Anna."

"Anna," Chris raised his voice, fighting for calm, "did he force you?"

Anna closed her eyes.

She sat in bed, sheet clutched to her chest, hiding last night's evidence.

I watched her take a deep breath. Her voice came out quiet. "No."

She looked up at Chris, tried to smile. "Chris, just go. We'll talk later."