Chapter 37

**ALINA**

"Say it," Alexander demanded, his voice rough, edged with an impatience that sent a shiver through me.

I glared up at him, my breath coming in short, defiant bursts.

"Never," I hissed.

His smirk didn’t waver, but something in his eyes darkened, a cruel shadow slipping across his features. Without warning, his fingers tightened around my throat—not enough to truly hurt, just enough to remind me how easily he could. How fragile my resistance was in his grasp.

"Never?" he mused, his tone almost amused. Almost. His thumb traced the erratic rhythm of my pulse, his head tilting like a predator indulging in the last moments of a chase.

"You say that word as if it carries weight," he murmured, his lips grazing the shell of my ear. "As if it means something."

His free hand slid down my side, slow and deliberate, fingertips ghosting over my ribs before settling on my hip. He squeezed, possessive, pressing me further into the mattress. His body pinned mine, a solid, unyielding force that made my breath hitch despite myself.

"You belong to me, Alina," he whispered, lips barely brushing the corner of my mouth, so close yet refusing to give.

"And the longer you fight it, the harder I’ll make you accept it."

I gritted my teeth, my body tense beneath him, refusing to yield.

His grip flexed, his fingers digging in just enough to send a warning.

"Say it," he commanded, his voice dropping to something dark, something dangerous.

"Or I’ll make sure the only thing leaving your lips tonight is my name—whether you're screaming it in surrender or begging me to stop."

His hand tightened, his body pressing closer, his breath ghosting over my lips.

"Either way," he whispered, his tone an unshakable promise,

"you will say it."

My pulse hammered beneath his grip, but I refused to give in. I refused to let him win.

Alexander’s smirk twitched, his patience unraveling. His fingers tightened around my throat—not enough to hurt, just enough to remind me of his control. His eyes flickered with something dark, something ruthless.

“Still stubborn,” he mused, tilting his head.

“I should break that little habit of yours.”

Before I could respond, he shifted, one arm sliding down to my waist. In a blur of movement, I was lifted, tossed onto the mattress.

A startled gasp left my lips as my back hit the bed, and before I could scramble away, he was on me—caging me in with his body, his hands planted on either side of my head.

His gaze dragged over me, slow and assessing, his smirk returning in full force.

“You keep fighting me like this, Alina,” he murmured, his fingers tracing the line of my jaw,

“and I’m going to have to start getting creative.”

I swallowed hard, forcing myself to glare up at him.

“I’ll never belong to you.”

Alexander’s smirk faded.

His expression turned unreadable, his jaw tightening. For a moment, he just looked at me, his eyes sharp, calculating.

Then, he leaned down, his lips brushing against my ear, his voice a promise and a warning all at once.

“We’ll see about that.”

In one swift motion, Alexander shoved my hands above my head, pinning them to the mattress as his body pressed down against mine.

His grip was bruising, unyielding, his weight a reminder that there was no escape.

"Say the fucking words, Alina," he growled, his lips brushing the corner of my mouth, his breath hot and demanding.

I turned my head, refusing to give him the satisfaction of even looking at him.

"Go to hell," I spat, my voice laced with venom.

His grip tightened around my wrists, pressing them harder into the sheets. His chuckle was low, dark, sending a shiver down my spine.

"Oh, dove," he murmured, dragging his nose along my jaw, inhaling deeply.

"Still fighting me. Still pretending you have a choice."

His lips grazed my ear, slow and deliberate. "Let me remind you, little one—I don’t ask twice."

A tremor ran through me, but I kept my jaw tight, my glare locked on the ceiling.

His free hand trailed down my side, a slow, possessive touch that set my skin aflame. Then, just when I thought he’d push further, he stopped. Letting the moment stretch, letting me feel his control.

“I admire your spirit, dove.” His fingers traced down my jaw, slow and deliberate.

“But let’s be honest…” His grip tightened just enough to make me swallow hard.

“It’s only a matter of time before you’re begging to say it.”

“Mr. Dimitri, let me go,” I seethed, my voice shaking with frustration.

He chuckled the sound dark and edged with something almost cruel.

“Mr. Dimitri?” His eyes gleamed with amusement as he pressed me even closer until there wasn’t even air between us.

"Interesting. Maybe when you’re tied to my bed, screaming my name, I’d like to hear you call me that.”

His lips brushed against the shell of my ear, his voice nothing but a dark whisper, laced with amusement and something far more dangerous.

Heat burned through me—whether from rage or something else, I refused to acknowledge.

“But since you’re not in such a position… yet…” His lips brushed the shell of my ear, his voice a wicked whisper.

"Let's keep it simple. Call me Alexander."

His grip was ironclad, his dominance absolute, and I loathed how effortlessly he bent me to his will.

I refused to respond, my silence my last shred of defiance.

But then he pulled me closer, the heat of his body searing against mine, his breath a whisper of control against my skin. A shudder coursed through me, unbidden, unwelcome. My heart slammed against my ribs, my pulse a deafening drum in my ears.

"Say my name," he ordered, his voice a dark caress, coaxing and commanding all at once.

My fingers curled into fists, my teeth clenched against the pull of his presence.

"Fine," I bit out, venom lacing every syllable.

“Alexander. Now let me go.”

Alexander let out a low, amused chuckle, his grip on me tightening rather than loosening. His fingers pressed firmly against my waist, holding me in place.

“Oh, dove, we both know you don’t really want me to let go.”

He nipped at my earlobe, a sharp tease of possession that sent a jolt through me. I jerked in his hold, but his grip remained unyielding.

His fingers trailed up my spine, slow and deliberate, sending an involuntary shiver through me.

“The more you fight, the more fun it is for me.” He tilted his head, eyes gleaming with something wicked.

“So by all means, keep resisting.”

Alexander’s breath fanned against my skin, warm and maddening, just before his lips met my neck.

A shiver betrayed me, my body reacting against my will as he pressed soft, open-mouthed kisses along my throat.

The contrast of gentle lips and ruthless intent sent a wave of panic crashing through me.

I stiffened, but his arms tightened like steel bands, holding me in place. His lips moved lower, his teeth grazing over my pulse before biting down—not hard enough to break the skin, but enough to make me gasp.

The sound only seemed to encourage him. He sucked at the sensitive spot he had claimed, his tongue soothing the sting, leaving behind a wet, searing trail.

I clenched my jaw. No. I wouldn’t let him do this.

As my fingers tangled in his hair, I yanked hard, determined to tear him away from me.

Alexander let out a sharp curse, his head snapping back, a growl rumbling deep in his chest.

His grip on me tightened like a vice, his entire body going rigid with tension. For a fleeting moment, I thought I had gained the upper hand—until he slowly lifted his head, his dark gaze burning with something far more dangerous than anger.

A wicked smirk curved his lips, though his eyes held a warning that sent a chill down my spine.

"You’ve got some fight in you, don’t you?" His voice was low, lethal.

"Fuck. I like a challenge."

Before I could react, his grip shifted, his hands locking around my waist with an unrelenting force.

"But don’t think for a second that I won’t put you in your place, dove."

His grip tightened, his thumb grazing the corner of my mouth, his smirk sharp as a blade.

"Now! For the last time, Alina," he murmured, his voice a dark caress laced with quiet menace.

"Tell me you belong to me."

His grip tightened, unyielding, his breath hot against my skin. His next words were a whisper, a cruel imitation of tenderness.

"I don’t like repeating myself." His lips barely brushed my ear.

"Say it... and I’ll let you go."