Page 43 of The Pakhan's Arranged Bride

“Why Ardalion? Of everyone in that room, why would you flirt with Ardalion?” His voice is low and dangerous.

“Iwasn’t flirting,” I shout in exasperation, kicking my high heels off. With my change of clothes in my hands, and march towards the bedroom door. “Move,” I demand.

“I saw himtouchyou, Ulyana. Again, you think I’m blind? Do you think I don’t know what men have on their mind when they look at you? And you let Ardaliontouchyou.”

“Touch me?” I blurt out, staring up at him, ready to challenge his stupid ideas.

His eyes are wild with emotion and suddenly it snaps into place.

He’s jealous.

All of this anger, this overreaction because some asshole was flirting with me—it’s because he’s jealous.

The idea of Benedikt being jealous sends a bolt of desire through me. I try to push it away, but his possessive anger has my skin burning and my heart racing.

This is stupid. I shouldn’t be reacting like this.

His eyes are still locked with mine and I can feel my cheeks heating and my breath catching as my thoughts spin wildly.

My gaze drifts over him. His wide shoulders and broad chest. His perfectly chiseled muscles, pressing against the fitted shirt.

The thick tension of his neck. His shirt, unbuttoned at the top, leaving a glimpse of his collarbone.

I bite my lip, wondering how to handle this.

“Don’t do that,” he growls dangerously, his eyes on my mouth.

“You’re jealous,” I blurt out. “That’s why you dragged me out of there like that. Because you got jealous.”

His eyes flare. He stares at me in silence. He hasn’t denied it.

He hasn’t said anything.

I wait, my eyes burning into his.

“Why would you be this jealous, Benedikt? Our marriage is a business deal. It’s a matter of convenience.” The challenge in my voice is clear. I dare him to explain himself.

Benedikt takes a step closer to me, and my body hums with anticipation.

His eyes narrow, as he lifts his hand and threads it around the side of my face, cupping my cheek and my jaw. He tilts my head back.

I stare at him in silence.

Waiting.

But instead of answering me with words, he leans closer.

My heart beats faster.

His lips crash into mine, his mouth locking over mine as he pushes my lips apart with his.

I moan against his mouth as he kisses me.

His other hand wraps around the other side of my face as he holds me in place.

I wouldn’t have moved anyway. I can’t even remember my name as he pushes his tongue into my mouth and his body presses against mine.

He spins me around and pushes my back against the bedroom wall. I moan again as he pins me beneath him, grabbing my wrists and locking them behind my back with one hand. His other hand around my throat, he uses his thumb to push my jaw up so that he can deepen the kiss.