Cunning Vows: Enemies to Lovers Dark Romance (Lethal Vows Book 3)
Chapter 34

The moment I come, I climb off him.

He says my name, but I’m already pulling my dress back on.

“I gave you a bonus-round fuck. Lucky you,” I say as I slip one of my heels on.

I need to get the fuck out of his house. If I don’t, I’ll stay here forever. It’s starting to feel like its own little oasis from the outside world and all the bullshit that’s happening. I can’t depend on him for this.

“I didn’t use protection,” River says, turning to his side on the bed.

“I won’t fall pregnant, so unless you have a disease…”

“No. I haven’t fucked anyone for months, and I used protection. Before that, I was checked.” I slip my other heel on. “Why won’t you get pregnant?” he asks.

“I fixed that situation years ago,” I reply.

I turn to leave, but he grabs my wrist. I try to free myself, avoiding his gaze. “We’re done now, right? Your blackmail didn’t work. I want you out of the city.”

“Look at me,” he says, and tries to navigate my chin toward him, but I pull away. “Look at me,” he says again, and it’s the same tone he used when he told me to crawl to him. And as I did then, I listen.

“Live a little for yourself. You’re spooked because I told you I want to marry you. Is that it? Is that all it takes to crumble the mighty Anya Ivanov?” he prods.

“Don’t pretend you know me,” I spit.

“I’m learning about you, and that’s what terrifies you. Run all you want, but I will always replace you. I’ll prove to you over and over again why we’re so good for each other.”

“So you can have a slice of my business and money? Isn’t that all you’ve wanted?” I seethe, and I realize they’re not even my thoughts or words anymore. They’re Meredith’s.

His eyebrows furrow in confusion. “You think I’m only here for the business? Let me assure you that if that’s all I wanted, I would’ve stolen it from you the moment I arrived here.”

I scoff as I yank myself free. “Our debt is settled.”

“Not in the slightest, Red,” he calls out behind me as I storm out of his room. “Didn’t you say we had to discuss business? Or are you just going to run off again as soon as it all gets a little too real?”

“Fuck off.” I flick him my middle finger as I dash down the stairs. As I hit the last step, Barry and Stan run up to me, tails wagging. I look over my shoulder and see River isn’t following me.

Thank fuck. I realize now that when I storm out, he gives me space. Other times, he’s entirely overbearing.

I crouch down and quickly pat the dogs. “You’re lucky you guys are cute,” I say quietly because I just can’t help myself. I might be pissed off at their asshole of a fur dad, but not them.

“Anya.” I hear him call out from the stairs, but I hurry out the door to the garage before he can catch up, grabbing his car keys on my way. I go straight to his car and start her up.

I’m reversing out of the garage by the time he reaches the door. He stands there, naked and smiling, arms crossed over his chest, shaking his head with disbelief. I flick him the middle finger again.

“Leave me the fuck alone, or I’ll use this car for target practice next!”

I zip out of the garage and onto the main street, all to enter the next driveway.

Me? Married? Is River out of his goddamn mind?

Marriage has never been part of my plan.

The mere thought of it implodes my brain.

He’s after something. Has to be. Men like him only want to take.

I’m confused as to why I’ve given him more and more these past few months.

I can’t even say I hate him anymore because I naturally gravitate back to him.

When I arrive home, I replace Vance and Clay waiting for me.

“Miss, you were gone longer than we anticipated,” Vance says.

“I was at River’s, and I was fine,” I tell him as I throw Clay the keys. “Make me some tea. Then after that I plan to sleep and not wake up for a full day.” I go straight to my room and undress.

Although I left River, I can’t get him out of my mind.

Pregnant? I scoff.

That could never happen. When I was twenty-one, I paid a private doctor a lot of money to fix it so I could never have a child. It was money well spent. I would never want to bring a child into my world. It’s already fucked-up and dangerous enough for me, and I’m a full-blown adult who knows how to use a weapon.

I strip down to nothing and beeline for my shower. I wait until the hot water steams up half the bathroom as I stare at myself in the mirror.

I didn’t even ask River why he was looking into my brother and Meredith. I just literally went over there and had my brains fucked out. I crawled to him. And the memory elicits goose bumps to pop out over my skin and stirs another pounding in my core. But fuck, it felt good. Every part of it. And him.

Running my hands through my hair when I step into the shower, I’m furious about giving so much of myself to him. He doesn’t deserve it. And when I tried to take it back, he just laughed and decided to make me come instead.

And damn, it was good.

So fucking good.

I know for certain that when I sleep tonight, my dreams will all center on him, and that annoys me so much more than I can say.

Running my hands down my body, I remember how he tied my wrists behind my back, how he stopped me from talking by gagging me.

Everything was somehow so perfect.

He seems so sure of himself, so arrogant in the way he assumes that I want anything more from him than sex. But it was only months ago that I said I’d never let him touch me, wasn’t it? Now it’s all I crave, and it’s becoming harder to remain mad at him.

He wants to marry me one day? I don’t want marriage; that’s the last thing in this life that I would ever want. Why would I want a man to control me or have any type of hold on me? I am my own woman and boss.

Yet when he does stifle my control in the bedroom, I feel free for the first time.

Fuck, my head’s a mess as I consider Meredith’s words. Is he using me?

But hasn’t she done the same all my life?

Or am I simply making an excuse for a man who I’ve undeniably somehow let slither a tendril into my heart.

Fuck. I’ve really fucked up.

My phone rings, and I ignore it. Usually, I would run to it, hoping it would be Alek. But tonight, I don’t want to know.

I don’t want to hear the outside noise or opinions of others on how I should live my life. It was perfect only months ago, and now it feels like it’s falling apart, no matter what way I try to direct it.

Besides all my riches, empire, and power, do I want anything more in life?

I’ve never really thought about it before. But now I am.