Page 16 of Deceptive Vows

If that part of me breaks, I’m dead.

“Your marriage to me will seal the deal on my control of the cartel. It is formalities and the easy way to conquer your father’s empire without rebellion. But I could do it the other way, princess. The harder, hellish way where I kill you and reign hell on Mexico. So, Malyshka, your choices are marry me, or die.”

My mouth goes dry, as if someone has stuffed it with sand.

Marry him or die? Those are my choices. They both sound like the same thing to me. Like death. It’s just that one might prolong my life a little longer.

“What’s it going to be, Malyshka?”

“I don’t want to die,” I choke out because that’s the truth. I don’t want to die, and anything I do now will be because of that.

He nods and brushes his lips so briefly over mine it’s as if the mere kiss never happened.

“I didn’t think so. Now that’s settled, I’d like to see what’s under this dress.”

“What?”

He tugs on the edge of the bodice of the dress on a spot that’s still white. That’s when I remember his taunt to fuck me.

“Strip. Now. Take everything off, Malyshka.”

5

Natalia

Oh God.

He’s going to do it now.

He’s actually going to fuck me now.

My eyes bulge, and waves of terror crash against the walls of my soul.

I don’t know what I’m supposed to do. I never thought it would happen like this, or that my first time would be rape.

What did I expect, though? I was to be sold in the virgin auction in a matter of days. Did I believe I’d magically have feelings for whoever bought me?

This situation is just as fucked up.

I’m owned in a different way.

Given the state I’m in, I thought I’d buy myself some time, but this man is clearly some kind of psycho. Maybe this is his thing, and the blood of his enemies on me will make taking me that much sweeter.

“Now,” he adds with insistence and steps back to give me space.

Swallowing past the lump in my throat, I lift one trembling hand and pull down the little zipper on the side of my gown. Seconds later, the dress floats down my body, revealing my nude lace panties and matching bra.

“I said everything,” he reminds me when I stall.

I struggle with what to take off first—my panties or my bra. Deciding either will still make me feel aware of him being the first man to see me fully naked, I start with my bra.

Obediently, I undo the little butterfly clasp in the front, and my breasts fall free. He watches them bobble, and I’m embarrassed when he looks at the taut, tight peaks of my nipples. When the cool air hit them, they tightened, but they’re painfully tight because of him.

Despite my embarrassment, the heat flowing through my body rises when I take note of the hungry look in his eyes.

He’s looking at me like he wants to eat me.

When I bend down to take off my panties, he catches my right nipple between his thumb and forefinger, giving me a gentle squeeze.