Chapter Three

Andrea.

“Are you going to hurt me?”

“No, Princess.”

“What do you want from me?”

Silence.

“Are my brothers behind this?” She laughs a bit. “Is this a prank?”

“No, Princess.”

“Did you…” She gulps. “Have I been kidnapped?”

I finally halt in my tracks to stare down at the woman in my arms.

I always knew Lily Rostova had a wildness in her but never as much as this. Well, whatever it is, it can be tamed. She’s young, healthy, beautiful—more beautiful than the information I received from her brothers.

Some part of me wishes the situation were different and she wasn't handed over to me this way.

But what can I say, she’ll be a good pet regardless. A good bride, Andrea, not a pet.

“You don’t remember anything, do you?” I ask with a head tilt.

The Princess shakes her head. I watch her pretty pink lips, then she decides against whatever she was going to say and shuts her eyes like she’s in pain.

I frown at the thought. I’ll have Scout call the Doctor to check on her.

I start to move at a steady pace, keeping my eyes ahead but I can feel Lily Rostova’s eyes burning a hole in my chest.

“You do know who my father is? Whatever you have in mind is a mistake. I’m sure they are searching all over for me and Rostova will burn this place down if he ever finds out you have me against my will.”

Her breath comes hard and fast when she’s done with her little speech.

So many words from her. Words and more words. I like to watch her when she goes silent and disappears in her head.

“You shouldn’t be running around like this, Princess. Not after what happened last night.”

“Then tell me, please. Tell me why you brought me here and I promise to sit and—“

“Lily,” I cut into her speech. “First, you wash. You eat and we talk.”

“I’m not hungry.” She grits.

“It’s a command, Lily.” I grind.

Her stomach grumbles.

I smile down at her and she clicks her tongue, looking in the other direction.

“Okay.” She accepts my offer quietly. Not like I would have given her a choice.

She’s lost in her thoughts for a minute then a smile creeps to her face.

When she meets my eyes, I mimic the action and her cheeks turn rosy. I feel the connection I felt on the first day: it’s there again, haunting me, making me want more than I probably fucking deserve from her.

She’ll be a good girl.

I carry her back to my bedroom, and she remains silent all the way.

When I open the door, she becomes stiff in my arms.

I gently drop her on the bed, running a hand down her arm in the process. Lily blinks, her eyes widening then she retreats to the bedpost.

“Don’t touch me.”

I grunt.

You’re mine, young Rostova. All mine.

“I’ll send Martha. She will clean you up.”

She gawks at me. “I can do that myself, thank you very much.”

I raise a brow. “It's either Martha or me, Princess.” I remind her.

She blinks faster and stares at the ground. I’m amused by the switch every time. I find the innocence endearing.

“I’ll be waiting in the dining hall.” I nod but she doesn’t respond. Her pretty face is set in a deep frown.

I leave the room and shut the door behind me. An hour later, Lily joins me in the dining hall, pausing by the stairs when she sees me sitting all alone in the vast space looking as radiant as the sun.

She looks fresh, clean, better. Martha did a good job.

“Come,” I say to her.

Her face squeezes in irritation. Then she folds her hands in front of her like a naughty child searching for extra attention.

“Come. Lily.”

With a gentle sway to her hip, Lily approaches the table.

She’s taunting me. I like that.

I can’t stop looking at her, no matter how hard I try.

I want to eat her up.

She observes the food, picks up a spoon then drops it to reach for her fork. Then she drops it again to go for the spoon.

I’m thoroughly entertained.

Her eyes are shooting lasers at her food as if it will magically disappear into her stomach if she stares long enough. She makes no attempt to touch the food. I drop my fork, clasp my hands before me and watch her.

She looks nothing like the rest of her Family. I know she’s adopted; an American Girl Rostova picked up from an auction when she was nothing more than a child. How old had she been when her mother was sold to Rostova? 7 or 8, I think.

I know this because I’d been in that auction too. I hated every single moment of it but my father insisted I came along so I’d make some good connections for the future. Every one of them who dug their hands in the slave business disgusted me. Everything had been a total bore until Lily climbed to the podium clutching her mother’s hands. Her glassy whiskey eyes had moved around the room, challenging anyone who dared to bid on her mother.

In the dark corners of the room, I spotted Rostova sitting up straighter in his chair. He was as fascinated as I was by her confidence. Her bravery.

They did all they could to take Lily off the stage but she kept running back to her mother.

For the first time in my fucking life, I wanted something so bad. I wanted to win that little girl into my care.

She wasn’t an item to be sold but Rostova and I fought over her like she was the fucking latest BMW model.

In the end, Rostova got the highest bid for both mother and child.

Well, here we are today. Rostova is gone and she’s here with me. All mine. And she has no fucking clue about her current situation.

Fuck.

I don’t want to be the one to break the news to her but sooner or later, I’ll be forced to.

I’m sure of one thing—I’m never letting her go again. And no one’s going to hurt her while she’s mine. I’d been mesmerized by her then just as I am now. When she was a child, all I wanted was to protect her. To keep her away from the world of crime as much as I could but now, seeing her all grown up, my cock has taken over my brain.

My eyes consume all over her because I can't get enough. Her hair is the richest tone of brown I’ve ever seen, the wavy mess tumbling down her shoulders, calling for my fingers. Her pretty pink lips open and close with each breath and I imagine how wide they’d grow when she’ll take my cock into her mouth.

She agreed to take a bath and I’m happy to see her wearing the white dress I’d left on the bed for her. Although I sense it's all a form of deception.

“Where are we?” Her soft voice travels to my ears, down my spine, and to my fucking cock.

A frown must have formed on my face because I notice her fear intensify once again.

I sigh and pick up a napkin.

“My estate,” I tell her.

“Where is your estate?”

I raise a brow to silence her. She doesn't care, her lips open again. “When can I leave?”

“Lily, eat your food.”

“I know who you are. I do. Calvesi. I’m very familiar with your Family’s history.”

I pick up my wine as she babbles and I sniff before I take a sip.

She eyes the Golden Ring on my finger. It bears the head of a snake on it. The Rostovas are the lions. We are the snakes. We always win a deal by any means possible and Rostova’s pride has been the reason for his downfall.

I wonder if his American daughter knows that history too.

“What happened last night?”

I pause and look at her. She straightens, setting her Amber eyes on mine. She finally asked the right question but I’m not sure the time is right to remind her of everything.

Now she just needs to learn to trust my pace. To obey my will. To understand that I’m taking the lead. There’s no rush. We have all the time to talk. She just doesn't know it yet.