Page 14 of Hostage of the Bratva

“Let’s go to the office so we can talk.” He said as he started walking out before me. Luder opened the door at the end of the passage and waited for me to follow. As I passed him and scanned the room, I noticed him checking his watch.

The room was a similar size to the one in the warehouse. However, it was filled with cabinets, shelves, two tables, and a couple of chairs. On the shelves were a variety of books. What caught my eye was one in particular. The cover was old, but the name was clear.

Stepping closer, the title readThe Art of War. This was out of place as most other books were on business management or food and related topics.

“I’m sorry, are you late for something?” I asked, turning to him while raising my eyebrows.

“It’s fine,” he replied, closing the door. “This is important. So, you said you are pregnant, and you are sure the baby is mine?” he asked, coming closer.

I turned and walked to the table in the middle of the room. “Yes, I only found out now,” I said, stopping and leaning against the table. “You are the father; there is no man in my life currently. What do you think of me, I told you, I don’t do things like that.” I added, grinning.

How could he ask something like that? What kind of woman did he think I was? I felt my anger rising as I considered his words.

“Look,” I said, stepping forward with my hands in my sides. “I only came here to inform you I was keeping the child. We are not a couple or anything and that is fine by me. I don’t mind if you want to be part of the baby's life. It is up to you, though.”

Luder stood frozen as I spoke. His eye appeared to develop a shimmer and glaze over. I felt a knot forming in my stomach, and I burned to reach out and touch his cheek. But I knew this wasn’t a good idea. This life wasn’t for me and surely not something I wanted for my child.

Pushing the feelings down and clearing my mind, I took a piece of paper from my pocket. “This is my number if you want to contact me,” I said as I held it out for him to take.

Luder looked at the paper with a blank expression. I wondered if my handwriting was clear enough. I stepped closer and pushed it into his jacket pocket. Walking around him to the door, I glanced back.

“No strings, Luder,” I said as I reached for the door handle. I felt his hand closing gently around my arm as hestepped up behind me. He pushed the door closed again and turned me to face him.

Chapter 9 - Luder

Looking down into her eyes, I understood why she was shining so brightly. I have heard people say a woman glows when she’s carrying a child, but Skyler was sparkling. Her beauty was just filling the room, and my heart swelled.

“No,” I stated. “This is preposterous.” Once the words left my mouth, I realized they sounded very harsh. My voice rose as I spoke, and the result wasn’t what I intended.

“What is?” Skyler asked softly as she tried to move backward. Her eyes were wide and filled with what I could only imagine was fear.

But I wasn’t about to let her go. I walked forward as she moved back until she stood against the door. I placed my hands beside her head on both sides, pressing up against her, basically pinning her to the door.

“Family is everything,” I whispered, leaning closer. “I will not have my child growing up in a broken home, hun.” I could feel her breath touching my lips.

Skyler glanced from side to side at my hands. She placed hers against my chest and tried to push me back. “It’s not your choice. I am the mother, and we aren’t married.” She spat at me. I could hear a minor quiver in her voice as she spoke.

Her hands were burning my chest where they lay, and I felt my heart rate picking up. If she only knew what she was doing to me. My blood rushed through my body, traveling southward. Soon, my mind would be invaded with other ideas. I had to stay focused, I thought, shaking my head slightly.

“Oh, but it is, and we are to be married right now. You are the mother. The mother of my child.” I huffed as she forcefully pushed at my chest. She was waking the beast without even knowing it. She glanced up with a fire in her eyes.

I thought if she only knew how alluring she was at this moment while trying to calm my emotions. The fire in this woman was something new. It was the ultimate turn-on. She didn’t know how she was driving me mad with lust.

“No, there is no way I am marrying you,” she shot out at me as she ducked to try and get out under my arm.

I grabbed her around the waist and pulled her into my arms, holding her a bit tighter. Her demeanor changed as I tried to keep her calm. I knew this was now going to be a struggle. She might disappear if I let her go, and I couldn’t have that. I had to take control of the situation without scaring her.

“Look,” I said, twisting her around so she could face me. “I can provide you and our child with a good life, and I want to do it. Family is more important to me than you will ever know.” I was hoping to convince her that marrying me was the only thing to do, the right thing.

“No,” she said, pulling back. She had more strength than I imagined, but it could be adrenaline. “I came to you so you could have a part in the child’s life. But I am not going to marry you, Luder. Now let me go.”

“It really wasn’t that bad, was it?” I inquired softly, looking into her eyes. “Didn’t you enjoy my company,” I added, smiling broadly. “And all that followed, the reason we are here now?”

Skyler turned her gaze away as a soft grin formed on her luscious lips. She remembered, and she enjoyed it too, I felt sure of this. But if she wasn’t going to agree, I would have to do what was needed.

“So,” I said, taking her by her shoulders and pushing her back against the door. Moving up against her, I asked again. “Let’s get married, yes.”

My mind was traveling a hundred miles an hour. Her juicy lips were so tempting that I just wanted to kiss her. Thethrobbing in my pants and the stiffening weren’t ideal, but I would calm the beast in a bit.

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