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Chapter thirty-four

D imitri was being sent away on an assassination mission. Astrid hid her smile. She couldn’t ask for a better opportunity to escape.

A knock sounded at his door. “My lord?” a female’s voice called from the other side.

“Come,” Dimitri answered.

The door clicked open, and he made no move to stand or release her. Three females entered holding furred bundles. They placed the blankets at the end of his imposing, four post bed and bowed before hurriedly retreating.

Astrid untangled herself from her demented host and moved closer to inspect the bundles. They were thick and soft. She took the ends of the gray one and flung it open before popping it over the bed. A light floral scent met her senses. Dimitri must have requested they be freshly laundered.

He appeared behind her and smoothed his hand over her waist. The heat of his touch warmed her skin. He drew her into him, and her back met his firm body.

“Keres will bring you a gift while I’m gone,” he rasped against her hair.

Astrid nodded in agreement, then asked, “You’re returning after two evenings?”

“I hope to be sleeping beside you on the second,” he murmured.

Astrid turned in his arms and studied his expression.

Tension hid behind his eyes and the corners of his mouth were downturned.

This was a male torn. He would complete his task as quickly as possible and rush back to her.

A single night wouldn’t give her enough time to escape.

She needed him at ease , which meant she needed to prove she would be here. ..

Obediently waiting for him.

“I’ll write my letter in the morning. You’ve exhausted me,” Astrid said, flattening her hand over his lapel.

“Lay back. I’ll do all the work,” he said, leaning into her.

His insistence grated her, but arguing would only set Dimitri on edge. She wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him sweetly. “You had me on the altar before your god,” she whispered at his lips. “Let me rest, my lord.”

A rakish grin flashed across his lips. “Am I too rough with you?” he asked, as he unbuttoned the topcoat she wore. Then, he started on the shirt beneath it.

“I’m not acclimated to your… size,” she said, gracefully stroking his ego.

“I’ll have another set of plugs made for you. You’ll wear them during the day until you can take me.”

Astrid paled as Dimitri pushed her clothing over her shoulders and they fell in a heap. She blinked, searching for a response. “You’re too kind, but that won’t be necessary.”

Dimitri stroked her hair and lifted his chin toward the bed. A command.

She reconciled her fate, tucking herself under the furs and curling up on her side of the bed while Dimitri stripped. He placed her golden lotus belt on his desk and their clothes in the hamper before joining her.

Astrid rolled onto her side, facing away from him as she pulled the furs up to her chin. The sheets rustled and a muscular arm circled her waist and dragged her backward. The length of his cock prodded her ass as her spine met the chiseled planes of his chest.

“Dimitri,” she hissed, unable to break free from his hold.

He wedged an arm under her and palmed her breast, squeezing her curves as she fought. Dimitri rolled her nipple between his thumb and forefinger. Pleasure ricochetted through her, and Astrid kicked her legs.

The head of his cock glided through her pussy, and he groaned at the warm pressure. “You’re so wet for me already, neva,” he purred, tugging on the tight peak until it plucked through his fingers. He immediately pinched her again. “Do you like being overpowered? Having your legs spread?”

The blunt tip of his cock pressed against her cunt and Astrid swallowed a moan as he stretched her. He was rough, purposefully hurting her, and his treatment made heat pool between her thighs.

What’s wrong with me?

Astrid stilled. Keeping the illusion of his tamed wife was essential to her escape. This was an asset. He knew how to make her wet, but it meant nothing. He was nothing.

Dimitri gentled his touch, circling her stinging nipple with the pad of his finger. She fought the sensation and prayed he couldn’t feel how close she already was to coming.

“I’ll never share you, neva,” he said before kissing the tapered point of her ear. “No one will ever know the things I do to you, or how hard I make you come.”

It was freeing, knowing everything he’d done to her would remain with him. Her secrets encapsulated in one male. They would die alongside him when she found a way to liberate his soul from his body.

“I’m exhausted and tender. I don’t want to be fucked. I want to rest,” she said.

He shifted his hips and Astrid braced for his brutal rhythm. He moved slow, thrusting deeper with each of his calculated strokes. When she’d taken his considerable length, he tangled his legs with hers and held her against him.

Astrid’s brow drew together when he laid his head on the back of her pillow. His wing draped over her legs, and he remained still.

“What are you doing?” she asked, perplexed.

“Sleeping,” he answered from behind her.

Astrid’s temper spiked. She shoved away from him and gasped when inches of his hard cock slid out of her and slowly pressed back in.

“Dimitri, I can’t sleep like this.”

He held her tighter, and murmured, “You will.”

Astrid stewed, counting his breaths warming her hair.

“If you’re sexually frustrated, you can ride me until you come. But I’ll be sleeping with my cock inside my wife.”