Heart of My Monster (Monster Trilogy #3) by Rina Kent

This shows that she cares, no matter how much she denies it.

She can fight me all she wants as long as she stays by my side.

I will make sure she never has a way out.

Not even one.

Divorce? I don’t believe in that fucking word when it comes to her.

“Why did you marry me, anyway?” she asks after a while. “You could’ve easily gotten yourself another bargain or partnership through marriage.”

“Because you asked me for it.”

She swallows thickly and her next word comes out as a whisper. “What?”

“You said, and I quote, ‘If I wanted to be your wife, would you make it happen?’ So I made it happen.”

“Even though you don’t believe in the institution?”

“I do now. And you know what? I’m still fucking enraged that you faked your death, but I’ll have no other wife but you.”

Her lips part, and slowly, too slowly, she lays her head on my shoulder.

Now, I’d like to point out that my cock is not amused at the prospect of having his promised round two sabotaged, but she’s been through a lot today, and I can allow her to sleep.

Or that’s what I think as I, myself, close my eyes. She grips my hand and places my palm on her steady heartbeat.

And just like that, I’m out.





18





SASHA





Apparently, Kirill’s plan all along was to bring me here.

It’s been a week since we got to this cabin, and he’s refusing to leave.

Honestly, I don’t think I want to leave either. But unlike him, I can’t completely disregard the real-life problems waiting for us out there.

Kirill should be the one who’s more concerned about that, considering he’s the Pakhan and all. He’s new in the role, too, so he can’t afford to stay away from the action while depending on Viktor, who’s his only source as to what’s happening out there.

That doesn’t seem to deter him, though.

Not even a little.

He’s more concerned about fucking me every chance he gets. I’d be lying if I said I don’t enjoy being cornered by him all day long. I’ve been weirdly horny lately, and he indulges me whenever possible.

Kirill has always had an animalistic sex drive, but I never thought it’d get worse.

Not only does he view every opportunity as a chance to fuck my brains out, but he also doesn’t finish and goes on and on until I’m spent, motionless, and on the verge of collapsing.

I think he does that so he’ll have the chance to help me shower and bathe and then make me sleep cocooned in his arms.

And the greatest miracle? He’s actually been sleeping. Every night. Sometimes with his head on my chest. Other times with my head on his.

He doesn’t sleep the whole night, but he does get his few much-needed hours of rest.

Part of the reason why I’m willingly here, aside from the fact that he took me to see Anton again a few days ago, is the surreal change I’m witnessing in him.

It’s like I’m in the company of a completely different Kirill, but not really.

He’s the same enigmatic, slightly—okay, very much—unhinged man who’s a distrustful manipulator with a beef with the world. But during the time I’ve spent with him in this cabin, I’ve discovered that he’s…more.

For instance, he likes to cook and he’s actually damn good at it. He says it’s because when they were children, he liked to make Konstantin and Karina’s favorite dishes.

Since he’s Kirill, he’d never admit that deep down, he has a caretaker, protector side to him. Not everyone is entitled to that privilege, but the few who belong to that list get his unconditional support.

I was happy to see his relationship with Konstantin improve tremendously after he married Kristina. When I brought that subject up, Kirill was like, “I was only interested in the business transaction.”

He’s such a liar. If that were the case, he wouldn’t have gone out of his way to lie for them and make sure they got married on the spot in case Igor changed his mind.

During the past few days, he’s been so amicable, it’s a little scary.

He’s offered to teach me how to cook since I’ve always mentioned I wanted to learn how. He brings me flowers every morning, then places them in a vase.

No kidding. Kirill, who kills for sport, is picking flowers for me like some doting lover.

Sometimes, we talk until late into the night. Other times, we go hiking until we reach the peak and then he watches me scream at the top of my lungs with a huge grin on his face.

He’s been giving me deep massages to loosen my muscles. In part, he’s doing it so I’m more energized for the next fucking session, but I take it with gratefulness.

I know these things don’t come naturally to him. He’s putting in the effort for me. He’s letting me see the side of him that I’ve only dreamed of.

Kirill’s time all for myself?

His smiles?

His laughs?

His fooling around?

His whole attention?

Not in my wildest imagination would I have thought this would be possible.

But it is. And it’s starting to terrify the shit out of me.

Every morning, I wake up dreading that the honeymoon phase is over. We’ll have to go back to a world where he’s my family’s enemy.