Page 72 of Deceptive Vows

I gaze out at the rippling waters of the lake before me. I’ve been out here since after dinner just biding my time. It was already dark when I came out for one last walk.

Now it’s getting darker. I know I need to head back. Aleksander told me to be inside the house by eight unless I was supervised. As if I’d really try to escape or something.

I make my way back inside the house. The moment I reach the bedroom door, I know Mikhail is inside.

The door is closed, but I sense him, and my body awakens at the prospect of his touch.

I don’t know if I can handle another night like last night. I can’t handle what he does to me yet be nothing but a toy to him. What am I thinking, though?

That I want to mean more to him?

I don’t want that.

I can’t have that.

I dare not think that because it would mean factoring in more on my part, too, and I don’t want to do that.

I don’t want to yearn after a man who’s wrong for me in every sense.

So, I’ll be the toy.

Another toy in his game. Another pawn.

Pulling in a deep breath, I decide to open the door and walk in.

Like last night, cold hits me first, but it’s not the window that’s open this time; it’s the sliding door.

It’s only partially open, but it’s enough to let the cold air in to drop the temperature in the room.

I’m guessing he’s out on the balcony, but I don’t know if I should go out there.

He’s going to know I’m in here. He would have heard me.

Maybe this is part of tonight’s game where I have to guess what he wants me to do with the clues I see. The opened sliding door suggests he wants me to meet him outside, and once again, I have no choice other than to follow his rules.

I keep my coat on and walk out onto the balcony. Then I see him.

He’s smoking again. Smoking the same type of cigar he did last night.

He’s got his shirt sleeves rolled up his thick forearms, and the muscle looks more pronounced with him leaning against the stone railing.

Mikhail continues to gaze ahead at the clear night sky for a few awkward moments before addressing me.

The same way I sensed his presence before I entered the room, I know something’s not right when he looks at me.

He looks like something is on his mind. I have no idea what it could be. I can’t even guess. All I hope for is that it’s not something to do with me.

“Either you need to come inside before it gets dark or get one of the guards to accompany you if you want to stay out later,” he says.

“I thought I could stay out until eight.”

“Rules have changed.”

“Why?”

“I don’t want my wife-to-be wandering around in the dark woods by herself.”

Something has happened. I can definitely feel it now.