Page 32 of The Pakhan's Arranged Bride

I’ve carefully blow-dried her hair. I’ve helped her get dressed. I’ve fought against my raging desire every step of the way.

She is mine.

She is my beautiful wife, and she belongs to me.

I am responsible for keeping her safe.

She will do as I say.

“You are no longer allowed to leave this house anymore, Ulyana,” I say, a dark growl that spills from my lips and causes her eyes to flare wide.

“What?” she huffs. “You can’t lock me away. I’m not your prisoner.”

“No, but you aremineto keep safe,” I argue.

She pulls her face away from my hand and shifts backwards onto the bed to escape me.

“I amnot your prisoner,”she says again, angrier this time as she scoots over the bed, not wanting me near her.

I grab her ankle and tug her back towards me. She falls onto her back, and I pin myself over her, kneeling between her legs as I grab her face, forcing her to look at me. Her eyes are wild with emotion.

But I’m the one who’s angry.

I’m angry that her body could’ve been amongst the ones we found dead today. I’m angry that it would have been my fault for bringing her here. I’m angry that she won’t let me be with her.

I’m angry that I lose control around her and she has power over me.

“You aren’t my prisoner, you are my wife. And it’s time you started behaving like it,” I growl.

Ulyana kicks at me, but she doesn’t stand a chance.

“Get off me, Benedikt,” she shouts, punching at my chest.

I grab her wrists and pin them above her head, leaning the weight of my body onto hers, pinning her down. My cock grows hard, her legs spread around my waist as she tries to fight me off—all she’s doing is rubbing herself against me, making me harder, making me want her more.

“Get off me,” she shouts without conviction. Her breathing changes and catches in her throat, her lips parting as she takes a sharp breath in when I rock forward against her.

She turns her face towards mine and her lips are pink and swollen, begging to be kissed.

I lean closer to her, my lips brushing over hers, my cock throbbing against her. But then I see her tears.

Her vulnerability, her anger, her emotions running a million miles an hour.

Even if she is as heated with desire as I am, this isn’t the right time.

I can’t do this now. It’s not who I am.

I groan as I roll off her.

Ulyana doesn’t move away. She lies there, quickly wiping her tears as though they are embarrassing to her.

“I-I—" she stammers.

“I’m sorry,” I say quickly. “I’m the one who was in the wrong now. I’m sorry.”

She turns her head towards me, her eyes narrowed in confusion.

“Please don’t lock me away, Benedikt. My whole life, I’ve been sheltered and suffocated by my brother’s rules. Please don’t do the same thing to me. I’ll go crazy.”