Page 37

CHAPTER 37

CILLIAN

Skipping this party for her brother’s tenth birthday would’ve been smarter, but I couldn’t stay away. I need to see her.

I know she doesn’t want me here, and I pretend it doesn’t bother me, but it does. Fucking her at the club just isn’t enough. I want more. I need more. And I want her to give it to me. Willingly.

I watch her, the wind stirring her dark hair, soft waves dancing in the breeze. My eyes drink in the sight of her, so fucking perfect in that pale blue dress that hits just above her knees, those long legs tucked into heels that make my blood simmer. She's perfection.

And when she sees me, I catch the fleeting panic in her eyes. She squeezes the hand of the woman beside her, a silent signal to escape, but she doesn’t move fast enough.

“Dinara.” Her name is like a command on my tongue.

I close the distance, my fingers snapping around her wrist before she can vanish into the crowd. The guests glance at us, curiosity written all over their faces, but I don’t care. I pull her into a quiet corner of Konstantin’s estate, away from prying eyes.

“What do you want, Cillian?” Her voice cuts through the air, stony and sharp. “I thought we agreed we don’t exchange words unless your dick is inside me.”

I can’t help the chuckle that rumbles from my chest. “If that’s the case, I’ll take you upstairs right now. We can have a proper discussion.”

Those cheeks flush, eyes narrowing with disdain.

“Not happening,” she shoots back. “The club is all you’ll have, and even that’s more than you deserve.”

I lean in closer, my thumb brushing under her jaw. “That’s not enough.”

“It’ll have to be.” Her brow lifts in defiance. “I told you, you and I are in the past. There’s nothing left between us. Not anything that matters, anyway.”

The words land like a punch. “Is that what you tell yourself when you’re alone in bed, thinking about me?” I trail my knuckles up her arm, slow and deliberate, and she inhales sharply. “Tell me, Dinara. When you’re touching that perfect pussy, are you pretending it’s someone else in your bed, or is it still me?”

She huffs, her finger digging into my chest as if to push me away. “You don’t occupy any of my private thoughts. And you never will.”

I grab her wrist, yanking it toward my mouth. I kiss the pulse point, the delicate skin there, feeling the rapid beat under my lips.

“You’re such a dirty liar, baby.” The truth slides off my tongue like honey, thick with temptation. “I bet if I touched you right now, you'd be wet and greedy for me to make it better.”

A sharp slap across my face cuts through the tension. I laugh, low and dark, because I’ve gotten under her skin, and she knows it. My hand slips toward the V of her dress, knuckles brushing down the flesh peeking through. Goose bumps rise in the wake of my touch, and my grin deepens.

“I love getting a rise out of you.”

Her lips part, breaths quickening as if she's losing the battle against whatever's building between us.

“I heard Konstantin wants to find you a husband. You know I can’t ever let that happen.”

“It’s funny that you still think you have some say in my life.”

“It’s funny that you’re still in denial about it.” I move in closer, my tone thick with possessiveness. “I can’t let you marry anyone else. You’re mine, Dinara. In whatever way you'll let me have you.”

Her eyes turn hooded, dark and full of something else—something dangerous. And I’m lost in it.

“You’re never gonna have me, Cillian Quinn.” The words spill like venom from her lips, a challenge in them. “I hope you're okay with that.”

She pats my face condescendingly, and I fight not to put her over my knee and give her the punishment she deserves for that.

“And I hope you're ready for the fight that’ll come if you ever let another man touch you.” My lips fall to her throat, lightly grazing her skin. “Or taste you.”

Her hand crashes into my hair, fingers sinking, owning me in a way only she can.

I don't care what she says. I don’t care how much she fights it. This woman’s mine, and nothing will change that.

The clink of glass cuts through the noise, and suddenly the space is still. The music halts in an instant, and Konstantin stands at the center of the dance floor, a drink in hand, his voice booming through the quiet.

“My dear friends and family. It is a pleasure to welcome you all into my home. To share my food and my hospitality with each one of you for our dear Gregory’s birthday is a gift to me.” His gaze sweeps across the room, landing on Gregory. “Come, come,” he calls, and the boy steps forward, joining him.

Both of us move in closer as Konstantin continues.

“Gregory and his two sisters, Tatiana and Dinara, mean a lot to me.”

At her name, Dinara’s smile tightens like she hates being the center of attention, her eyes flickering toward me before quickly turning away.

“I’m sure they know how much I love them,” Konstantin goes on. “And it’s why today is a special day. Not only because our dear Gregory is practically a man, but because today I announce something else special to me. Something that I have planned for a very long time.”

Dinara’s eyes widen, the color draining from her face.

What the hell is happening?

“Tatiana, may I please ask you to come here with me?” He outstretches his hand toward Dinara’s sister. “My Tatiana turned eighteen not too long ago, and I wanted to find her a suitable match who would provide her with the same care I have provided her for these past years.”

He pauses, his eyes meeting mine across the room. A sudden cold feeling strikes deep inside me.

“And who better than you, Cillian Quinn, wouldn’t you say?”

My blood boils, fists curling tight at my sides as I fight to keep my composure.

“Are you crazy?! What are you doing?” Dinara shouts, drawing the attention of the guests.

Konstantin waves a hand dismissively, as if he hasn’t just dropped a bomb.

“Is this a problem?” he asks, an amused tilt to his lips.

“Of course it’s a problem!” Fury flashes in her eyes. “You know how I feel about him! How much I despise the man!”

I step forward, my jaw clenched, heart pounding in my chest.

Despises me, huh?

Konstantin chuckles, unbothered. “Of course I know that.” He glances at Tatiana. “But Tatiana doesn’t have to hate him. Right, my darling?”

She awkwardly nods.

“So, what do you say, Cillian? Will you accept this marriage arrangement so we can finally unite our two families?”

“Over my fucking dead body.” My teeth grind. “I’ll never marry her. Or her .” My glare lands on Dinara.

Two can play that game, baby.

Her mouth curls into a sneer. “Ha!” She turns to me, features filled with disdain. “You think I’d ever want you? Maybe you think you’re some kind of prize every woman wants to be with.”

I smirk, stepping toward her. “You once thought so.”

Her gaze turns hard as she stares me down. “I’m not that girl anymore. You’re nothing to me, Cillian Quinn. Nothing!”

The bite in her words doesn’t match the storm in her eyes, a storm that pulls me in despite the walls between us.

“Nothing, huh?” I step closer.

“That’s right.” She hits me with a defiant glint in her eyes.

“Say it again.”

She laughs, a cold and lethal laugh. “You’re. Nothing .”

The second she turns to walk away, I grab the back of her head, pulling her into me. Before she can protest, I crash my lips against hers, claiming the kiss she’s been fighting so hard to resist.

At first, she fights me, hands gripping my jacket like she wants to push me away. But I don’t let her. I pull her closer, and slowly, she unravels. Her resistance slowly fades and she melts into me, the years of pain, anger, and distance evaporating with every breath. This kiss—this raw, desperate kiss—wipes away everything we’ve been through. Or at least I’d like to believe it does.

When she finally pulls back, her lips are swollen from the intensity, breathing coming in shallow gasps. Desire flickers in her eyes, a fire I’ve seen before. Undeniable. Uncontrollable.

She wants me. Just as much as I want her.

Konstantin’s voice breaks through the haze between us. “Let’s raise a toast to the new happy couple. Dinara and Cillian!”

She recoils. “What? No!” Her eyes dart between Konstantin and me, disbelief and fury flooding her features. “This isn’t happening, Cillian. We’re not getting married.”

“For once, we agree.” I cross my arms over my chest, enjoying this game.

Her eyes narrow, determination hardening her stare. “Great. So we’ll both go to Konstantin and tell him this is not happening.”

I chuckle. “I don’t think he’d care what I have to say.”

The amusement flickers in my eyes as I try unsuccessfully to hide my grin. She looks too damn cute when she’s pissed.

“Fine,” she huffs. “I’ll go talk to him myself.”

“Sounds good, baby.”

“Don’t call me ‘baby.’” Her glare could melt steel.

I step into her space, my fingers brushing through her hair as I pull her closer, my voice rough with a challenge. “What would you like me to call you, hmm? Mine. Is that better?”

She grinds her teeth, eyes shooting fire. “Never.”

I laugh softly, letting her go just as Tynan approaches, his gaze flicking between us with curiosity.

“Excuse me,” Dinara mutters, slipping past me, her form graceful despite the fire in her eyes.

I watch her walk away, her every movement like a challenge I’m determined to meet.

“You okay?” Tynan asks, and I finally give him my attention.

I take a long breath, shaking my head, clearing the fog from my thoughts. “I don’t know, man. Back then, I didn’t want this. But the moment she walked away from me, I realized I couldn’t live without her. Now I can’t walk away from her. Not anymore.”

He smirks.

I grip the back of my head. “You think Mom would be pissed?”

He shakes his head. “Nah. She’d be proud of you. She’d want you to fight for her.”

I hope he’s right, because I’m not letting Dinara go this time.

I’ve always wanted her. Always needed her. And now I’m gonna have her.