Page 37 of His to Own

“Elena!” Alexei calls out, approaching me. He goes to give me a hug but I back away and glance at Maxim, who’s only glaring in Alexei’s direction. Alexei finally seems to notice Maxim.

“Oh,” he says. “You.”

Maxim crosses his arms. “Yes. Me.”

“Is he bothering you?” Alexei asks to me.

“How can I bother her? I’m her husband.”

Alexei looks like he was just punched in the face. “H-husband? I… I don’t understand.”

“What’s so hard to understand?” Maxim asks flatly. “Elena and I got married. I’m her husband.”

“You never told me.”

“It all happened so fast,” I explain. “I’m sorry.”

Maxim huffs. “Why do you have to apologize to him? You said you two were just friends. Did you not?”

He’s possessive, I realize. And jealous. “Alexei and I are just friends.”

“Mmm.” Maxim sounds like he doesn’t believe me.

“We are,” Alexei says. “I’m just shocked. That’s all. Elena never told me she was getting married.” The hurt on Alexei’s face is palpable.

“So why do you look so upset?” Maxim asks. “If you’re just friends, it shouldn’t matter.”

Alexei blows out an annoyed breath and turns to me. “Are you ok, Elena? I’m not sure if you should be with this guy. He doesn’t seem… nice.”

I want to beg Alexei to not say any of this in front of Maxim but I don’t want to insult my husband. My scary, murderous husband.

“How bold of you to say this right in front of me,” Maxim says. “You have guts. I’ll give you that. But I’ll let you in on a little secret. I don’t like men with guts. They get arrogant. They get in my way. And I don’t let anyone get in my way.”

Alexei frowns. “Are you threatening me? Elena, I don’t think you’re safe with him. Let’s go.” He grabs my arm and tugs me along but Maxim grips Alexei’s hand and rips it off me.

“Did I say you could touch my wife?”

“Elena is her own person.”

Elena is right here and can speak for herself, I want to say, but my tongue gets caught in my throat. Why is it so hard for me to speak?

“I just need to get to class,” I whisper. “Please.”

Maxim glares down at Alexei before taking a step back. “Then get to class.”

I hurry into Professor Romanov’s room, only for her to snap at me for being a minute late again.

“I will have to mark you absent,” she says.

“But I’m here,” I gasp.

She doesn’t show me any sympathy. “You know what time to get here. It’s not my fault you’re late.”

No. It’s my husband’s fault. He and Alexei acting like dogs rather than men.

“Please,” I whisper. “I can’t get a bad grade. Please.” Then all my hopes of going out for Professor Burgov’s internship will be completely gone.

“Then you should have thought about that before you showed up late. Either leave or stay. I don’t care. You are an adult. But I am marking you absent for the day.”