Chapter 5: Heated Arguments

SERAPHINA

I kept my mouth shut, my throat already raw from the heat of the stage lights and the climax of my performance. Jack was throwing a tantrum because I had shrugged him off, refusing to let him watch me undress in the dressing room, let alone touch me again.

I continued my silence, sitting at the large vanity that could easily accommodate four or five people. Calmly, I removed my makeup despite my heart still pounding and my body humming with adrenaline. I was wrapped in a thick black cotton robe, facing away from him and holding it tightly around me as I wiped off my makeup.

“You’re doing this to yourself,” he yelled, standing behind me again, daring to come closer than three feet. “You think not talking to me is going to make this any better? You knew it was a fundraiser—and he didn’t even fuck you. Why does this even matter? You got off plenty. Don’t say you didn’t enjoy it.”

I met his gaze in the mirror, my jaw set and my eyes steady. He froze at my look, a cold, empty anger that made him step back instead of forward. He sighed deeply, crossing his arms as he looked away, sulking.

He knew he was in the wrong, but he was still being himself. Unapologetic when it mattered most.

“I have to go get ready for tonight’s ritual. That’s what this whole thing is about, so your little ~selfish~ episode between us can be at rest. You can sit here and cry about it or whatever, but just know, my life won’t stop if you’re gone. So get the fuck home.”

“Don’t think for a moment you’ll tell me what to do,” I replied coldly, my eyes narrowing in the mirror. The first words I finally said tonight, clear and hard.

Angry.

Jack’s jaw ticked as he glared down at me, even as I stood my ground in my chair. A mountain of history between us in unspoken words passing between us. The violence he knew I was capable of if I wanted to.

Nothing else needed to be said, and Jack had places that were decidedly more important. The sound of the slamming door rang in my ears as tears began to form in my eyes. The pain of tonight soaked into me like a thousand shards of glass already.

I picked up my phone, considering for a moment to text Lilith, but unable to sit from the amount of pain and rage coursing through my body. Everything was shaking as I let out a quiet scream. I clenched my jaw.

Tears threatened to spill as I let it out, pain after wave of pain bursting through me. I threw out my phone in anger, hitting the center vanity. All adjoining mirrors shattered and fell from the heavy impact.

The glass made a satisfying crash as I fell to my knees, watching the scene. I gripped my hair, doing everything I could to stay together, even as my soul felt what I had done to the mirror down to my very core.

It was ripping me apart, trying to make me crumble.

I was still trying to process how I felt as I stared at the gigantic mess—suddenly able to breathe. Aleksandr’s eyes flashed over my mind over and over like a fevered dream. Jack was right, I had liked it on some level; but I didn’t even want to think about it.

Leaving the dressing room, I headed down the hallway to the nearest bathroom to get away from the scene. I needed to pee. I had to figure out my next move as I played with my wedding ring, considering removing it and just leaving in the dead of night.

I ran straight into a large male figure as I rushed around the corner. Steady arms helped me regain my balance. My breathing was uneven and my large warm robe still felt like less than enough clothing after tonight’s endeavors as I took a step back, clutching it.

My eyes flicked up to see who I had assaulted, my heart still pounding in my ears and feeling as if it was being ripped apart. Piercing blue ones met mine, his strange nebula musk erupting my senses as I forgot to breathe for a moment.

“Fuck.”

Aleksandr’s face was one of confusion, a small little smile appearing on his features as he let go of my arms and took a respectful step back.

“Is that a formal invitation? Your tone suggests otherwise,” he said.

I held up my hands, shaking my head as my lips went thin. “No, nope. No. I can’t right now. This is—” I took a deep breath, trying to slow my beating heart. I felt close to breaking once more.

Fury and embarrassment overtook every bone in my body. My eyes darted to the women’s room behind him before I closed them for a second to compose myself.

When I finally opened my eyes, Aleksandr was still there. He hadn’t moved an inch, studying my features with intensity as his jaw seemed to lock with understanding.

“What happened up there. Was it fully consented to? You look…shaken.”

I chewed on my lip and ground my teeth, not meeting his eyes as I took another deep breath, shaking my head again. I was trying to keep my tears at bay, trying desperately to not make a scene.

“I can handle myself,” I replied, not answering while answering all in one breath.

His eyes searched mine once more. It was as if he was processing my words and deciding on something, without letting me in on what.

“Clearly. I know it wasn’t exactly what you intended, but I enjoyed every moment I got to have of your…delightful company. I missed it after our last encounter, if I’m being perfectly honest.”

The rage I felt was palpable. I was not even remotely in the mood to deal with his dark flattery.

“Oh yes, much sexier than shooting my husband and forcing me to suck your cock at gun point. Now that you’ve paid for it. I ~really~ want your compliments.”

Aleksandr’s immediate grin was enough for me to try and hit the smart look off his face. My hand snapped out, fueled by my raging anger. His movements were swift and firm, like iron around my forearm—yanking me forward to him before pinning my entire body against the wall with his frame.

He bent his face so that his eyes and nose were millimeters from mine.

“Now, now kitten, no need to pull out your claws,” he said. “I won’t touch you again after this, but you’ll have to refrain from trying to gouge my eyes out first. I won’t hold back if you won’t respect my boundaries. I learned my lesson, remember? You shot me and left me for dead in my car, we’re even. I paid my dues tonight as well, didn’t I?”

A shiver of delicious dread ran down my spine, as if I’d stepped into another dangerous game, facing Aleksandr once more. I didn’t even care. I took a moment to gather myself, swallowing hard.

Then, I spat the saliva I’d gathered straight into his face.

Aleksandr didn’t wipe it away. His eyebrows lifted as he licked his lower lip, his face filled with pure, dark malice. It was a look that told a thousand stories.

The spit that now dripped back onto me, his jaw ticking as his eyes searched mine.

“I’ll let you have that one since I deserved it. But let me make something clear.”

His fingers went straight to my throat, pressing two fingers into my flesh as his thumb encircled it. Forcing my face to meet his intense gaze. The pressure was painful, yet somehow arousing, not fully cutting off my airway.

It was a sensation I’d never experienced before, a strange splash of pleasure coursing through my body at the lack of oxygen. My heart pounded, and my brain screamed at me to run.

His head lowered, his lips brushing my ear gently. A slow, soft moan followed by a sigh made the feeling that much worse as my body responded to his noises.

It showed me that I wasn’t the only one affected by our chemistry.

“Touch me again, spit on me, do ~anything~ to my body whatsoever, I won’t hesitate to fuck your brains out. That’s what we’re calling consent, sweetheart.”

I stared up at him as he pulled away, my heart stopping for several reasons as he let go of me. Not only because of the promise he’d made, but also because of the sight of fresh blood on his white cuff as he removed his hand from my throat and took a few steps back.

He tucked his hand into his pocket, tilting his head toward me and giving a slight bow.

He was saying goodbye.

My glare followed him as he left, despite my mental panic about the situation and the possibility that I might have been hurt by the glass without realizing it.

I wondered if that was why he’d released me. Had the blood stained his cuff?

I rushed into the women’s bathroom to check myself in the mirror for any head or chest wounds.

I was relieved to see that the blood wasn’t mine. My skin was intact.

Relief washed over me as I thought about what Aleksandr was capable of. I wondered how he would react if he thought Jack was hurting or abusing me, the way his hungry eyes had devoured me.

I leaned forward, poking at the bags under my eyes. My mind was struggling to catch up. My thoughts drifted to Aleksandr as I checked my head for cuts once more.

I found it easier to think about him than my husband, with whom I was currently angry.

~If the blood wasn’t mine, whose was it?~ The image of Aleksandr walking away from what might have been this very restroom flashed across my mind.

I quickly checked the other stalls. A wave of paranoia washed over me as adrenaline surged through my veins.

I felt a sense of duty to ensure no one else was hurt.

Finding nothing but clean toilets and the smell of sanitizer, I left.

I pushed open the door to the men’s bathroom, pausing to look in, listen for anyone, and try to detect the scent of blood.

“Seraphina. What are you doing?”

I jumped. Damien’s voice came from behind me. Damien Cross was another of Jack’s personal assistants, a bodyguard, and likely my keeper after our fight.

While I doubted Damien would force me to stay with him if I chose to leave Jack, he was still respectful of his boss’s relationship.

“I’m fine, I just ran into Aleksandr,” I said.

Damien crossed his arms, frowning.

“He’s a hard man to keep track of. I apologize for the failure of my men, they had strict orders to keep you two apart. But that doesn’t explain why you’re poking your head into the men’s restroom.”

I shook my head, running a hand through my hair and letting the door fall closed. I let out a long, tired sigh, ignoring his question.

“You’re here to take me home?” I asked.

“If that’s where you want to go. I wouldn’t put it past you to stay in a hotel for the night, considering how Jack…explained his part of tonight’s events,” Damien offered, likely knowing more than just Jack’s side of the story after watching our every move for months.

“To have Jack make a scene there later?” I scoffed, wrapping my arms around myself.

I decided not to bother, wanting to sleep in my own bed.

“It’s fine. I’ll handle him at home,” I said.

Damien gave me a half-sad smile, knowing I’d made up my mind. He reached out to steady me as a wave of dizziness washed over me.

“Very well then. Let’s get you somewhere with slippers and tea. You seem to be fading again,” he said.

I sighed in response, shaking my head, and let him escort me out of the building.

I left the pain of tonight behind me, at least for the moment.

I didn’t bother to set an alarm when we got home. I locked our bedroom door out of spite and curled up to sleep after a quick shower, leaving my wedding ring next to the sink.

I thought about the small, petty victories. My anger burned like a hot iron.

I was surprised when sleep came easily. Dreams and nightmares were replaced with the image of Aleksandr Vasiliev seared into my mind.

The darkness wrapped around me like a warm, comforting blanket.

I felt his eyes tearing me apart in the best ways as I slept, his words curling into my ear and stomach like a dark desire.

My heart pounded even before the sound of the door echoing the same beat woke me from the sweet, beautiful darkness.

I realized I’d locked the door and now had to face Jack.

I wasn’t ready for the confrontation. I rubbed sleep from my eyes as I slowly unlocked and opened the door.

But it wasn’t Jack or his rival Aleksandr on the other side.

It was Damien and Evelyn, and the looks on their faces were very wrong.