Page 48 of Auctioned to the Bratva

But I hadn’t lost her; she was safely back home, and the danger had been taken out. She would never again in her life know of any danger, I promised as I rubbed her hand.

Damn, I thought, I couldn’t have done this without the family. If not for all of them, we could have both died. Or worse, I could have lost her forever.

I leaned over and kissed her forehead. Her temperature had returned to normal. Sitting back, I noticed her color was also returning. Smiling, I felt grateful that the family was there to assist.

Picking up Irina’s hand, I resolved to put my feelings and reservations on the back burner. It was time to accept thefamily, all previous convictions about them were over. They have stepped up every time I needed them. Now it was my turn.

Deciding to embrace my new life, I stared at Irina lying on my bed. I shifted down beside the bed grinning at my sleeping beauty.

“I am going to marry you Irina,” I professed taking her hand in mine. “I don’t care whether you agree or not, but I am never leaving your side ever again.”

My mind traveled back to the warehouse, seeing her there, the torture in her eyes. I almost lost her. I was not going to lose her I swore to myself as I stood and sat back down on the bed.

Irina started stirring as if she heard my thoughts. Leaning closer I kissed her cheek. “I love you, Irina,” I whispered.

Her eyes fluttered as she started regaining consciousness. “Irina,” I said caressing her cheek. “You’re safe, dear.”

My heart skipped a beat as she pulled her hand from mine and reached up. Feeling her tender touch on my cheek heated all my senses. I leaned in and embraced her. She was going to be fine, I saved her, and she was going to be here with me.

“I’ll keep you safe,” I whispered into her ear as I pulled her tight into my embrace. The bed and covers were slightly moist where she lay. Why didn’t I take off her wet clothes, I thought to myself as I felt the slight breeze blowing in.

I could only think of warming her and keeping her safe once we entered the house. I covered her with a blanket without even considering how drenched she was.

“Sergei,” Irina whispered, and I felt a soft kiss touch my cheek. Her lips were warm and tender even though her hands were still slightly cool.

I released my grip allowing her to pull back slightly. Looking into her eyes, I felt my heart leaping as an intense love filled my being. There was a split second where fear crossed her face before she fully comprehended, she was safe. Well, I hoped that she realized it.

She was perfect; she was everything I could ever have dreamed of having in a woman. I would never let her go. I would make her mine forever. The feelings inside me bubbled up, my body heated up and my mind calmed even though my heart was racing.

She was everything and more that I could ever need or want in life. I realized I loved her so much that I would die for her as I kissed her cold hands.

Chapter 28 - Irina

Waking from my nightmare, I reached out. Glancing around the room, I noticed I was home, in our room, and safe. Sergei pulled me up into his arms holding me against him. “Sergei,” I said as I kissed his cheek relieved that I was safe.

As his grip softened, I could ease back and look into his majestic eyes. He radiated love and care.

“Sergei, thank you,” I said softly as he kissed my hands.

Before I could continue, he shifted off the bed kneeling beside me.

“Irina,” he started taking a deep breath. “This last month with you has been like a fairytale. You fill my life with love, excitement, and feelings I can’t even describe. I can’t even imagine life without you anymore.”

Leaning in, Sergei pulled me closer to him, placing his hands around my hips. “I can’t let you go; you won’t be returning to your old life or your apartment. Even with the bastard dead, I can’t let go. I love you.”

Easing back slightly Sergei smiled up at me as he took both my hands in his. “Irina, my love, I want to marry you. I want nothing more than to spend the rest of my life growing old with you in my arms.”

“Sergei,” I said through the tears streaking my face. I gasped for air as my lungs tightened and my heart sped up. Trying to straighten the smile off my face was useless as my body refused to cooperate.

“You know,” I said, finally catching my breath. “With the looming danger removed, you may want to wait withthe marriage proposal. For all you know, we won’t get along anymore with no danger in our lives.”

Sergei rose and sat back down before me on the bed clutching my hands. “There is no way that we won’t work my love.” He breathed out between kisses as he laid them all over my hands.

Laughing I tried to contain my excitement. “I love you too, Sergei,” I replied. “But I still think we should wait on the whole marriage thing.”

Leaning forward I pushed out my lips forming a kiss on them. Without hesitation, Sergei leaned in, took my face in his hands, and kissed me passionately.

“Let’s just take it one day at a time for now,” I added as he pulled back for air.

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