Page 24 of Baby for the Bratva

“Getting thirsty?” I tease.

“Nope, but I’m sure you are.”

“Nah, I’m used to the heat. It probably doesn’t get this hot in Russia, though.”

He laughs. “I’ve been to almost every country in South America, darling. I live for the heat.”

I pray that he’s bluffing. I’ve been doing okay because I haven’t been moving, but the minute I turn my head to look at him, I regret it. Sweat rolls into my eyes, and the heat seems to double.

“Shit,” I mutter, trying to wipe the sweat away, but my hands are also drenched, so it doesn’t do anything to help.

“You can admit that you’re weak. It’s fine,” Yuri says.

More of these games. God, he loves to play them, but I love to win them. I can’t back down now.

I blink the sweat out of my eyes and turn my head back up to the ceiling. “We’ll see who’s weak.”

“Whoever leaves the room first has to pay for drinks.”

I sigh. “I’m not going for drinks with you, especially not after you exposed yourself to me.”

“If it bothered you, you’d already have left.”

“Nice try,” I reply, “but I’m not leaving until after you.”

“Then you’ll die here,” he replies so calmly and casually that I’m afraid he isn’t joking.

I swallow hard, steering my mind back to the nothingness that was so therapeutic before. I’m starting to feel weak, and my heart is beating harder, but I can’t let him win.

“I could go all day,” Yuri says, breaking me out of my pseudo-meditative state.

“Just shut up,” I reply.

“You sound like you’re having a tough time.”

“No, just… ugh.” I can’t take the heat anymore. I get up, my head spinning as I stumble toward the door. I barely make it before my vision starts to go black, and then I’m falling. I don’t want to hurt myself, but I can’t control my muscles anymore.

I can’t see. I can’t hear.

I’m about to hit the floor when I feel a hand catch me. Cool air washes over my body, and then I feel the tiles beneath my skin. There’s a hand under my head, keeping it off the floor as I regain consciousness.

“Drink some water,” Yuri says, his voice tight with concern. “Here.” He presses a paper cup to my lips, and I taste the most delicious liquid I’ve ever had. Water. It’s funny how good it tastes when you don’t have any left in your body.

“There you go, just relax,” he says, hovering over me, his eyes studying my face closely. “You’re fine.”

I inhale deeply, his scent mixed with the smell of sweat tempting me to pretend like I’m worse than I really am. I don’t want him to call a doctor, but I also don’t want to get up just yet. His careful attention is like a drug.

“You’re going to be fine, darling,” he coos. “Just breathe.”

I close my eyes, trying to hide a smile as I take a deep breath. My heart is steady now, but I’m not ready to get up. Just a few more seconds in paradise. I need this more than he could ever understand.

“Looks like you lost, though,” he says as I open my eyes.

So much for paradise.

I sit up, pushing his hand away as he tries to steady me. “I’m fine, thank you.”

“You might need some more water,” he says, his voice hinting at concern again, but I’m not buying it this time.

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