Page 92 of His to Own

“Leave me alone,” I whisper. “I don’t want you to get hurt.”

“But you look hurt. Is it Maxim again? Let me help you.”

“It’s not Maxim,” I snap. “Not everything is about my husband. He’s not evil.” But maybe he is. God, I don’t even know anything anymore. I was so studious. I had my brain, which was the one thing my father could never fully take from me. But now my mind is completely scrambled. I don’t know what’s real or not anymore.

Alexei holds his hands up in surrender. “Sorry. Are you all right though? You don’t seem all right.”

“I’m fine,” I lie. The shame creeping up my neck is preventing me from speaking. If I speak, my father is going to pop out of the bushes and scold me again. I have failed. Completely and utterly failed. “Just leave me alone, Alexei.”

“No,” he says in a firm voice. He sits down beside me. “Even if you don’t want to talk, I’ll stay here. You need a friend right now.”

True to his word, Alexei remains by my side, not saying a word and not pushing me to talk. This is how Maxim finds us when he comes to pick me up.

I notice his shoes before I look up to see his angry expression.

“What is this?” he asks. “Bothering my wife again?”

Alexei slowly gets to his feet. “Elena was upset. I was just being a good friend.”

Maxim’s eyes flick to mine. “You’re upset? About what?”

I duck my chin to my chest. It’s safer this way.

“Elena,” Maxim warns. “Talk to me.”

“She doesn’t want to talk,” Alexei snaps. “You need to respect that.”

I glance up at Maxim. The look of pure fury is unmistakable in his eyes. And it’s all directed at Alexei. “Are you asking to die?” he says in an eerily calm voice.

Alexei’s swallow is visible. “Just be kind to Elena. It’s what she needs.”

“I am kind to my wife. Stay out of my marriage.” Maxim extends his hand to me. “We’re going home. Now.”

I take Maxim’s hand because I’m not sure I can stand on my own two feet right now. His hand feels nice around mine. Comforting. It only makes me want to cry more.

On the drive home, Maxim asks me what’s wrong but I can’t give him an answer. I can’t say it out loud. It’s all too shameful.

Once we make it home, the tension between us has reached a boiling point. “Talk to me,” he says after we walk through the front door.

I keep my lips sealed.

“Your father’s party is tomorrow night. You need to talk to me before then.”

“Why?”

“Because I don’t want this to be our future. You are making yourself miserable, Elena. Just talk to me. If you don’t, I’ll spank you again. I will get you to talk.”

I still don’t speak.

Slowly, Maxim approaches me until I have nowhere to run. “Is that what you want? You want me to spank you? Do you need me to take this pain away? Whatever it is you’re feeling?”

My lips don’t move.

Maxim’s eyes flick over my face. What can he see? Into my soul? The true pain I bear?

“Go lean over the couch,” he commands in a soft voice. “Now.”

I let out a small whimper. For some reason, I want him to do this to me. I need him to take my pain away.