Page 67 of Consumed By Fire
The bastard doesn’t care about rules and regulations. My heart pounds just thinking about him. Igor is alive. Not only that, but he looks more unhinged than when I last saw him. I’ve made a promise to mate with him, to share his bed, and to pretend to enjoy it. Not just for a day or two, either. It makes my stomach churn, and my hands feel clammy.
I will escape.
I will find a way.
I won’t go through with it.
We reach the fence, and Ranger holds a section open. It’s been cut along the side but is hard to see unless you’re up close.
“Where were you?” I ask Igor. “Last I heard, you went down on Draig and were presumed dead.”
“I’m not that easy to kill, sweetheart.” He winks at me.
“Did you live off the land?” I somehow can’t see it. Igor is nothing like Octane.
He shakes his head. “If I told you, I’d have to kill you, and you’re far more valuable to me alive.” He chuckles, which is like chalk on a board. Grating!
I leave it alone. I can tell he isn’t going to say anything useful.
One by one, we duck through and quickly find the path that leads to the back of the house. Twenty minutes later, we reach the familiar wooden back gate that leads to the large Victorian-style house. I feel ill looking at it. I had only ever planned to come back to get my things.
“Home sweet home, princess.” Igor slings an arm around me and kisses the side of my head.
The house itself is tall and imposing, its grand architecture characterized by ornate details and elaborate trimmings. The roof is steeply pitched and adorned with intricately designed shingles, while the windows have decorative frames. A wraparound porch marks the front and side of the house, lined with delicate spindles and carved railings. It could have been beautiful if it had been looked after.
Igor and Titan inherited the house from their grandmother a couple of years ago. It’s been left to go to ruin. Vines crawl up one side of the decaying walls, and some of the windows are broken and have been boarded up. The paint is peeling off in long, curling strips, and the wood is cracked in places. Some of the planks are broken on the porch and the railing, too.
Titan opens the wooden gate, which creaks as he does it. The garden is badly overgrown, with weeds so tall they come up to my chest. The tree in the middle of the garden is dead. Its leaves have long since withered and fallen, leaving the branches bare. The saddest part of all is a broken swing that still dangles from one of the branches.
“We’ll fix it up, angel.” Igor winks at me. He’s been saying that since we first met. I don’t mind the house. The plumbing makes a noise, but it works. There is a roof over our heads, even if it leaks in places. I don’t care about that.
“You can decorate it however you want. We need to start on the nursery,” he says as we walk through the back door that leads to the kitchen.
It’s a mess. Dishes are piled high in the sink, and the bin is overflowing. It stinks.
“You guys are a bunch of pigs,” Igor growls. “Look at this place. I leave for a few weeks, and it looks like this.”
“I’ll clean it,” I tell him. “Then I’ll fix something to eat. I’m sure that you’re all very hungry.”
“Actually, sweetheart…” He still has his arm around me; he squeezes my breast. “I think you should go and take a hot bath. Get cleaned up and get into bed. I believe you promised me a couple of things that involve my cock inside every part of you.” He sniggers.
I have to stop myself from gagging. My stomach clenches tight, and I taste bile, but I smile anyway.
“I’m really hungry, my love,” I push the words out. I hate lying. I’m sure he’ll see right through it. “I didn’t eat much while on Draig. I feel lightheaded. Please, can we eat first? Then I’m all yours.”
No!
No! Please!
Not yet.
“I have to say,” Igor pats me on the ass, “you look well-fed. Like you could skip a meal or two.” He clutches my hip. He’s looking at me like he’s appraising a heifer at an auction.
“Maybe I could do with a meal less, but the baby can’t. He needs to grow up big and strong like his daddy.” I would hate for him to be anything like his father. Right now, I’ll say anything to avoid the bedroom.
“Okay, then. Make it quick. I’ve missed you.” He leans in and kisses me on the side of my mouth.
I start to pull away but manage to stop myself at the last second. I don’t want his mouth on me. I don’t want him touching me. My skin crawls at the thought. I can’t go through with it. I can’t! I made those promises to save Octane’s life. I would have said just about anything.