Page 23 of Kidnapped By the Bratva

The second the hot water touches my skin, some of the tension eases from my body. My muscles uncoil as I sink deep beneath the water, only my head visible. Hair floats on the water beside me as I stretch one foot out of the water.

After a few minutes of soaking, I grab a bottle of body wash and a loofah. I scrub my skin, but all I can feel are Nik’s fingers drifting across my collarbone. The gentle pressure of his hands on my hip still has my core pulsing.

I need to think about what I’m going to do. I must get out of here.

Joseph is dead and there’s no changing that. I’m an eyewitness to his murder. If I escape and go to the police with what I know, then Nik will be arrested.

He deserves to go to jail for what he’s done. I should hate him for killing Joseph.

But my current feelings are like a wild roller coaster ride, trying to fight the force that pulls me into the depths of the unknown. I can’t bring myself to hate him. Not when the way he looks at me sends my heart galloping like a racehorse.

I long for another spine-tingling, mind-altering kiss, erasing the memories of every other kiss before that. I want to feel his hands on my body burning my skin, even though I should shove him away.

“Gosh, get it together,” I say out loud, standing at the washbasin, my reflection staring back at me, confusion in my eyes.

As I splash the cold water against my face, footsteps echo in the hallway.

When I step out of the bathroom, Nik is standing in the middle of the room. His hooded eyes fall on the towel wrapped around my body. The Adam’s apple in his throat bobs as he swallows, and his gaze connects with mine.

Damn, there is something about the way he stares at me.

He opens his mouth, but it snaps shut again. Those stormy grey eyes roam my body freely and I don’t miss the way the front of his pants bulge.

This is it. Bring out confident Hazel again.

I plant my hands on my hips and arch an eyebrow. “What are you gawking at? See something you like?”

Even though sarcasm drips from my words, he crosses his arms and smirks. He makes a point of checking me out and a chaotic mess of butterflies erupts in my stomach.

What would it feel like to have him hovering over me like a thunderous cloud?

Stop it. He’s an evil man. He deserves to be in prison.

“Hm, maybe.” He edges closer and the timbre rumbles over my skin like the roar of a forest fire. Suddenly the air between us becomes a thousand degrees warmer. His eyes dark and heavy with lust, ignite an inferno inside me.

“Leave.” I compose myself and point at the door, but Nik doesn’t budge. “Unless … unless you want to see more? But I’m sure you’ve seen plenty of women in just a bath towel.”

“But none as pretty as you, malyshka. I want to see all of you.”

His rugged tenor has my body humming in new ways.

Shit! Focus, keep it together.

I could give him a peek, and then manipulate him into letting me go.

Without another thought, I open the towel for a few seconds. My damp hair clings to my body and drops of water roll down the valley of my breasts. He swallows hard and lowers his arms. His fingers curl at his sides before his hands relax again.

I tie the bath towel tightly to my body again. “That’s it. Now leave, I need to get dressed.”

His chuckle is rich and dark, making my toes curl. Nik stalks toward me, his stride is slow and purposeful. “If you thought that was enough, you’re sadly mistaken.”

My entire body is on fire as he lunges forward, and his strong arms grab me around the waist. A heavy pull is gathering behind my belly button and desire has my pussy clenching as he spins me onto the bed. Soft silk greets my bare skin as the towel falls away completely.

Okay, just this one time, just this one time, raced through my brain on repeat like a broken record.

I watch as he takes his time unbuttoning his shirt and lets the fabric slide off his broad shoulders like a curtain for the opening act.

“You think you can tease me just like that?” His eyes blazed with provocation.

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