Page 18 of Wicked Proposal

But before he can, someone steps between us.

A very large, wealthy, pissed-off somebody.

“Not if I have anything to say about it,” he growls.

My drink disappears from my hand.

“Hey!”

I try to get it back, but I’m too slow. All I can do is watch with mounting horror as Yulian tips the glass back, drains the whole thing, then thumps it down in front of the bartender.

“Thanks for the drink,” he drawls with simmering venom. “If I find out you’ve served my date another one, though, I’ll shatter it and shove the broken glass down your throat.”

The bartender is stunned into silence. I’m not totally sure what you’d say to that kind of thing, anyway.

Because Yulian looks like he fuckingmeansit.

When the silence stretches to a satisfying length, Yulian nods once. Then he turns to me. “Let’s go.”

Just like that, he grabs my arm and drags me back to the hall.

As soon as we’re there, I yank my arm out of his grip. “What’s your problem?!” I ask furiously. “I was just?—”

“Flirting. You wereflirting.” His voice is scalding now, fire smoldering just beneath the ashes of his gray eyes. “I get that you don’t do this for a living, Ms. Winters, but let me give you a tip: If you’re looking to get paid for your services, running off with the help is not the way to do that.”

“Running—? Oh myGod.” My cheeks burn with shame. “I was literally getting one drink.One. Drink.”

“Seems to me you were out to get more than that.”

“Not even a little bit! He’s not my type whatsoever. He was just?—”

“I don’t care who wanted what or why,” he snarls. Suddenly, his Ice King aura is nowhere to be found. I can see rage burning in the depths of his irises, hot and blazing. “Until the sun rises,you aremine. So do not wander off again. Have I made myself clear?”

Tears prickle at the corners of my eyes. I force myself to swallow the lump in my throat, the bitter disappointment that this is what it’s come to: me, being treated like property.

Again.

You belong to me, sweet thing. Now and always.Brad’s voice just will not leave me alone tonight.

“Crystal,” I bite out.

Yulian considers me for a moment longer. The smoldering ashes of his eyes revert back to the cold, smooth surface of a frozen lake.

“Good,” he says. “Now, keep up. And give me your phone.”

I blink. “My?—?”

“I don’t like to repeat myself, Ms. Winters.” His face clouds over again. “You’re here to perform a job. I won’t have you be distracted again.”

Right.Tonight, I’m not my own person.

I’m not my own anything.

“Fine,” I snap, handing him my phone with all the lack of grace I can muster. “But I need to be reachable for emergencies.”

He doesn’t even bother answering me. Just pockets my phone like that’s his property, too, and beckons me to his side.

For the rest of the night, I keep my feelings close to my chest. I don’t let him see how hurt I feel, or how badly he’s disappointed me.