Page 18 of The Bratva King's Pregnant Bride

My conversation with Feliks continued, but my mind was now solely fixed on Maya. My little mouse looked beautiful, and I couldn’t help but stare.

I wanted to speak with her. I needed to.

I wondered what she was thinking, whether she was happy with those boys touching her as they pleased. Or maybe even thinking of leaving and going to her friends. She was a nice girl. A beautiful, smart, independent woman.

The guy who was flirting with her wasn’t worthy to hold her attention. My fingers gripped the edge of my seat. I couldn’t help myself. I just wanted to reach for her and protect her.

The intensity of my emotions—irritation, arrogance, frustration over another man’s touch—surprised me. I wanted to cross the distance between us and make her mine in front of everyone. I could do it, too.

Soon, discomfort clouded Maya’s face as she struggled to escape from the unwanted affection she was receiving. She sprang from her chair, transforming her discomfort into action, then excused herself abruptly.

The boy whose hand had been across her shoulder looked crestfallen. His frown won me my smile. Maya had sidelined his advances. Clearly, he wasn’t her type, and that only served to pull me further in.

Maya helped herself out of the restaurant to the nearly-empty outdoor terrace. Perhaps, this offered her the solace she desired.

Without wasting time, I looked to Feliks. “Excuse me.”

He nodded with an amused grin, and I followed Maya.

I spotted her alone by the restaurant balcony, looking lost in thought. Her long brown hair flowed freely in the wind; however, her cheeks were flushed.

She looked up when she felt me walking toward her.

When Maya’s eyes met mine, shock rippled across her face with an alarming speed, displaying her surprise—and was that dismay?.

That didn’t please me. I expected her to remember our time together fondly. I expected her to brighten when she saw me—so what was this?

Her nervousness was palpable. It made me instantly wonder: Had she discovered who I am? There had to be a reason for her reaction.

I moved closer, hovering over her, and making her back press against the cold iron of the balcony railing. Her eyes were fixed on me, reflecting an untamed fear.

I felt like a nefarious predator, and she the fateful prey. Assessing the situation, it would have been so easy to dispose of her, her frail form barely an obstacle against my raw strength.

She made me feel like I was the connoisseur of terror, relishing in the fear that covered her, sparkling in her eyes, and yet I found myself uneasy. Maya was innocent, she didn’t deserve this.

Her breath quickened. She tried to swallow but failed, and she breathed deeply. As her lungs filled with oxygen, the fear in her gaze intensified. I noticed that tears had gathered in her eyes, and I took pity on her. In an attempt to put her at ease, I smiled gently. Then I bent down and caressed her cheek, wordlessly staking my claim on her.

“We meet again, little mouse.” I drawled, stepping closer. “Have you been thinking of me, Maya?”

Her eyes flashed with a mixture of fear and indignation that spiked my blood. Still, she didn’t move, almost like she was silently daring me—only she didn’t. What she put out was fear, but slowly, she morphed it into courage.

Her refusal to back down impressed me. She had spirit, that’s for sure, a fire that refused to be extinguished by fear; that made her all the more compelling to me, for even in fear, she was persistent in standing her ground, and her fiery spirit intrigued me.

Her eyes reddened, but she remained silent, and no plea for mercy escaped her lips.

I stifled a chuckle. Did she realize how much her silent defiance aroused me? How much watching that fear and defiance dance in her eyes made my cock stir?

“I see you’re out with other men.” I said, hearing her breath hitch in her throat. “I hope you’re not trying to give your body to that fool inside?”

Suddenly, a voice echoed her name. “Maya!”

And, as if the voice gave her courage, her expression hardened in front of me.

“What I do with my body has nothing to do with you,” she hissed, and I wanted to fuck that spunk out of her eyes right then and there. I wanted to turn her around, hike that dress up, and take her from behind until she was mewling for more.

My cock was hard as rock now, and it was with that possessive rage that I answered, “Oh, but it fucking does. Did you forget, little mouse? You’re mine.”

Maya’s eyes widened, fear returning full force at my reminder. As if she’d thought I’d been saying the words out my ass.

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