Lies of My Monster (Monster Trilogy, #2)

by Rina Kent

“For staying ...

She g...

“And for calling me Sas...

I did? Before I can reply, she clutches ...

“Let’s go. I’ll get us safel...

And this fucking woman does e...

One moment I’m standing there speaking, and the next, the breath is knocked out of my lungs when strong fingers wrap around my throat and slam me against the nearest wall. Kirill’s face is inches from mine. The bandage wrapped around his head takes nothing away from the pure fire that devours me in seconds. It’s been a long time since he’s been this close, and I find it hard to breathe. That has less to do with his grip on my neck and more to do with the fact that I’m inhaling him and his addictive scent with each intake of air.

“I told you to shut the fuck up, Sasha.”

His nostrils flare as tension rises from his shoulders to the tendons of his neck, and he clenches his jaw. I swallow, and he must feel it against ...

“Did I or did I not ask you t...

“You did,...

“It’s a yes or no question. Did I or did I not tell you to...

“You did, but I had a bad feeling and had to follow. Besides, I saved you, okay? If I hadn’t bee...

He doesn’t like that. Not one bit. His hand tightens around...

“And if there had been anyone else there, they would’ve...

“But there wasn’t. It en...

“After you disobeyed a dir...

“I still saved your life. Seriously, you should be rewarding me instead...

“Reward...

“Yeah. That’s commo...

“Here’s another piece of common sense for you. In cases of disobeying a direct order...

A war of shivers break out over my skin at the way his voice drops wh...

“I…can accept punishment for disobeying orders, but o...

“What makes you think you have the right to make ...

I lift my...

“The fact that I saved your life and proved my ...

“Debatable. But let’s...

“I want to choose my...

“I never said I was grantin...

“Well, you have to. Otherwise, I’ll be punished for nothing, and I’...

I can almost swear that his lips twitch in what seems to be a smile, b...

“It’s for disobeying an order, not ...

“I’m afraid that’s a dealbrea...

“...

he trails off, closing his eyes for a brief second, and I wish I could touch his face. I don’t dare to, though. Obviously, I don’t have the same confidence I did when I shamelessly kissed his cheek earlier. Since I was overwhelmed by emotions, I didn’t quite think about the consequences of my actions. My only concern was having him ther...

“You get your ...

he lets out begrudgingly and...

“but only within ...

I can work wi...

“Right now, however, is the time for you...

My yelp echoes in the air when he uses his hold on my throat to drag me to the bed and then unapologetically throws me on top of the mattress. I prop myself up on my elbows and try, then fail, to control the chaos that’s whirling inside me. It doesn’t help that I’m on this bed that I haven’t been on in ages. The last time was when I fainted outside and he carried me here. It used to smell like me a few months ago, but now, it’s only him, which is weird since I know for a fact that he barely sleeps. Kirill stands opposite me and unhurriedly removes his jacket, revealing his white shirt that’s molded against hi...

“What’s goi...

My voice comes out shaky despite myself, and I have to clear my throat in...

“I thought my punishment would be push-ups or ...

“You thought ...

The whip of his words hits me across the skin, and I...

“But that’s how the others ar...

“This isn’t about the others; this i...

He unbuckles his belt, and my eyes fly to his large veiny hands as he methodically removes it. Without realizing it, I’m pushing b...

“What type of punishment...