Page 23 of The Bratva Queens' Kings

Roman: Agreed. I'll start drawing up plans.

I let out a breath I didn't realize I was holding, relief mingling with a twinge of guilt. This conversation, this moment, it's just a band-aid over a wound that's bound to bleed eventually.

There's a part of me that wants to know, that needs answers. But there's also a part of me that fears what those answers might bring.

I toss the phone aside, my gaze drifting back to the ceiling. The truth will out, it always does. But until then, I'll keep playing this dangerous game of secrets and lies, all while trying to protect what's mine.

A knock at the door jolts me from my thoughts. Irritation prickles at the edges of my mood. "What is it, Jules?" I call out, not bothering to mask the annoyance in my voice. The door opens, but it's not Julia who walks in.

"Oh... was it you?" My tone shifts, a mix of surprise and a residual hint of frustration lingering. Grigori stands there, his usual stoic self, but there's a concern in his eyes that he doesn't bother hiding.

"Yeah, I just wanted to check up on you."

I prop myself up on one elbow, trying to muster some of my usual bravado. "Worried that my sex appeal's gonna plummet along with my blood pressure?" The words are out before I can stop them, laced with a sardonic humor that fails to mask the underlying tension.

Grigori's expression shifts, a flicker of realization crossing his features. For all my swagger and my well-earned confidence, the barbs and the remarks get to me, slicing through my armor. "Nothing could make you unattractive, Lana."

"Well, well, is this the tough guy showing a soft side?" I tease, my voice dripping with playful sarcasm. Deep down, his show of care touches a part of me that I keep hidden beneath layers of bravado.

Grigori's lips twitch in a small smile,

"Just making sure you're holding up okay, Lana."

A wave of heat surges through me at the sound of my name on his lips. Despite my penchant for control and dominance, there's something about Grigori's genuine worry that stirs a different kind of desire within me. "You worry too much, big guy," I reply flippantly.

He steps closer, the distance between us diminishing with each measured stride. "And you don't worry enough," he counters, his voice a low rumble that seems to resonate in the space around us.

"Is that so?" I challenge, tilting my head to meet his gaze squarely. "Maybe I just hide it better."

Grigori is now close enough that I can make out the faintest hints of color in his otherwise dark eyes, a stormy sea of emotions usually kept hidden. "Or maybe you've got me to do the worrying for you.”

"Ah, so you're my personal worrywart? How did I ever get so lucky?" The sarcasm is thick, but it's laced with an undercurrent of affection that I don't bother to hide.

He doesn't miss a beat, leaning in just a fraction closer, his voice dropping to a whisper. "Guess you must have done something right."

The air between us crackles with an electric charge, the kind that precedes a storm. His proximity is a gravitational pull, and I find myself leaning in, drawn to him like a moth to flame.

"And if I asked you to stop worrying?" I murmur, our faces mere inches apart, the question hanging between us like a challenge.

Grigori's gaze deepens, intense and unyielding. "I'd say you're asking the impossible," he admits, his breath mingling with mine. "But for you, I'd try anything."

I feel Grigori's gaze intensify, a hunger sparking in his eyes that mirrors my own desires. Without a word, he closes the distance between us, his touch igniting a fire along my skin that I can't ignore. His hands roam with purpose, tracing every curve and dip of my body as if committing it to memory. My breath hitches at the sensation, craving more of his touch.

His lips crash against mine, fierce and demanding. There's an urgency in the way he kisses me, as if he's been holding back for too long. I respond eagerly, matching his fervor with equal passion.

I moan softly into his mouth, the sound muffled by our heated kiss. Grigori's hands slide down to cup my ass, pulling me closer to him.

I can feel the hardness of his body pressed against mine, igniting a primal need deep within me.

His teeth graze my lower lip, nipping and teasing in a way that sends shivers down my spine. I arch into his touch.

I feel a surge of heat between my legs as his fingers trail along my inner thighs, teasing but never quite reaching where I need him most. My nails dig into his back, urging him on without words.

I feel his hands slide up my thighs, teasingly brushing against my sensitive skin. Grigori's fingers hover over the lace of my panties, his warm breath caressing my neck as he leans in close.

"You're so fucking sexy," he whispers against my ear, his rough voice sending shivers down my spine.

I gasp as he suddenly pulls my panties down, exposing me to his hungry gaze. "Look at you," he breathes, his fingers tracing the outline of my soaking wet pussy. "You're so ready for me."

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