Page 24 of Cruel Love

“I’m sorry, Sofia,” I say. I place a gentle hand beneath her chin to tilt her upward and kiss her cheek.

“In Italiano,” she says.

“Mi dispiace.”

Her brow arches. “Na russkom.”

In Russian.

My heart pounds blood toward every crevice of my body. “Lucian...” I say, staring into Sofia’s eyes. “Go find your grandmother. Ask her to finish the story for you.”

He moves quickly, pumping his little legs toward the hallway with his book clenched tightly in his grip.

“And close the door...” I say. “I have to teach your mother a little Russian.”

Sofia’s chest heaves, softly quivering as she exhales through her parted lips.

Lucian does as he’s told and reaches up on his tippy toes to pull the door closed behind him.

As soon as it latches, I pull her in for a deep kiss. Sofia wraps her arms around me and her legs do the same as I pick her up off the floor.

“Prosti, Sofia,” I say.

She moans against my lips. “I forgive you, Luka.”

I twist to the bed and fall forward to drop us onto it. She cradles my waist with her wide-open knees, pulling me in as she slides a warm hand into my slacks. My hands roam up her thighs, pushing her dress up to find the thin strap of her panties beneath it.

Her fingers hug my shaft, bringing it to life in her hand. “I’ve missed you,” she says.

I kiss along her cheek toward her ear. “I know,” I say with a sigh. “I’m sorry.”

She smiles up at me as she lays her other palm on my chest. Her fingertip flicks back and forth along the tattoo of my arm. “Did you get him?” she asks.

I taste the sweet skin of her neck to block out the bloodshed flashing in my head. “Yes,” I answer.

Sofia guides my tip inside of her and lets out a smooth moan as I take her with one, quick thrust. “Good,” she says.

We grind together, our bodies surging with need.

It’s been days since we’ve been together. Nearly a week of coming home too late to say goodnight and waking long after good morning but that’s what we signed up for when I committed to ridding the world of Snake Eyes.

The master file. One name at a time crossed off with blood.

I thought we’d lost them. They were easy to find for months but then, after the organization was exposed three months ago, that task turned far too difficult. They all scurried underground like rodents, coming up only for the bare necessities that can’t easily be avoided. The ones still hiding out in Russia are few and far, but with the help of Stefan Petrovin and his son, Nikita, we’ve managed to smoke out quite a few.

Forty-two agents dead. So many left to go. Except one, of course. He earned his right to keep his life when he saved Sofia’s.

“Luka...” She cups my face and kisses me. “Why did you stop?”

I stare at her gorgeous face. I feel her inner muscles vibrating around me, urging me to take her to the end, but I give over to the moment.

My lips brush against hers. “You’re so beautiful, lyubov' moya,” I whisper.

She caresses my cheek. “Is that all?”

I chuckle and turn my head to kiss her palm. “No.”

Her eyes narrow. “What’s wrong, Luka?”

---