Page 99 of Disguised as Love

He frowned, gaze searching mine. “I’ll never hurt you. Never.”

“But what if…what if my life…my world…hurts you?”

He ran his hands in circles over my back, soothing me.

“It’s my choice to stay. To be here. I want this. I want you,” he said calmly.

“I’d never forgive myself…” I couldn’t say the words, but they were true. If something happened to him because of me…because of my family, I’d hate myself forever. I’d rather him be alive, out there finding someone else to love, than end up dead.

“I love you, little one,” he said softly, and my stomach flipped with joy and fear. “And I want to spend my days and nights showing you just how much, but I would also never forgive myself if something happened to you while I was at your side. So, I’ve compromised.”

I rolled my eyes. “You, compromise?”

He smiled and continued, “I’ve compromised and hired Ito-san to watch our backs. If we’re going to be together, we’re both going to have to listen to what she says. Do you think you can do that? Abide by her rules when you’ve never abided by mine?”

“You always got what you wanted with me,” I said.

“If I had, you wouldn’t have ever headed into Volkov’s nightclub.”

That brought back the memories of that awful day. Of the guns and threats. Of almost losing not only my mother and brother but this giant man who’d stolen my heart when I wasn’t looking. I shuddered, and he kissed my shoulder and collarbone, leading up to my neck and chasing away those memories with a blaze of heat.

“Cruz,” I gasped out as his fingers twirled between us.

“Hmm?”

“I…I love you, too.”

His fingers stilled, and his eyes bored into mine before his gorgeous smile lit up his face again and he replied, “I know.”

I smacked him on the chest, annoyed that I’d just said something so important, and he’d tossed it aside. I tried to pull away. “You arrogant?”

He smothered my words with his mouth. Wet and slick and hungry.

And I forgot my anger and gave myself over to the more important emotions. The desire, the hope, and the love.

Cruz - Four years later

LIONHEART

“Our story binds us,

Like right and wrong.”

Performed by Demi Lovato

Written by Mac / Wroldsen

I slid into the seat at the back of the auditorium, nodding to Ito-san who stood at attention on the side wall, and turned my attention to my wife. Raisa spoke rapidly, hands waving, energy pouring from her. She was explaining some complicated formula for the advanced hydrology class she’d started teaching this year after her photovoltaic nano cells had gone into production. She’d turned her genius intellect toward the world’s water problem now that she’d solved the world’s energy crisis.

Even though there was no financial need for her to do so, Raisa was still teaching and conducting her experiments at Stanford. After she’d handed over the patent for her perovskites to the world, her father had funded and subsidized several companies to produce the material at minimal cost. She’d tried to give her technology away to the world, but the Leskovs were still making money hand over fist on a range of products being developed, no matter how low they kept the entry point.

This drove Raisa batty, and every time I turned around, she was giving more money away.

I loved her for it, but it also made her a target in a brand-new way that had nothing to do with her father’s past.

It also made Ito-san’s job that much harder. Thank God, Ito-san had an entire team supporting her that Ilia ran from a desk in a secure office over our garage.

As I watched my dynamic wife wave her pointer and talk wildly with both hands, she suddenly paused mid-sentence. Her blonde hair swung over her face, and her palm went to her stomach as she inhaled sharply.

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