Page 121 of Caged

The shape next to me moves and rolls over.

A heavy arm crosses my chest and pulls me close.

Hot breath tickles across my neck.

“You get to have more than just seven minutes, Mila. You will have an entire lifetime of memories with me. I’ll make them incredible, I promise.”

Nikolai!

With a giant sob, I turn over, hugging him to me. I don’t even care that my mouth is bruised, I kiss him hard until both of our lips are stained and bleeding.

“I think I passed out for a minute. When I woke up, you were gone.” His finger strokes my cheek before he tugs me closer.

“Don’t ever leave me again. I’ll hunt you down.” His chest rumbles.

It should be a threat, but it makes a flush of heat run through my battered body.

“I promise.”

FIFTY-TWO

NIKOLAI

Song- The Night Does Not Belong To God, Sleep Token

As soon as the door of my crappy hotel room closes behind me, my fingers are laced through Mila’s and I gently pull her to a stop and turn her to face me.

We have a few hours to patch up and get some rest before Mikhail arrives to bring us home.

Tipping her chin up, I brush her hair away from her face, press a soft kiss to her forehead, and close my eyes.

Soaking her in. Us in.

Holding her, that little satisfied hum coming from her makes my heart almost explode.

This is how I see my future. Waking up with this woman in my arms, and Elena running in with a smile on her face.

Hell, more babies. I know Elena has always dreamed of having siblings. I know I would be lost without mine, even Alexei, who might not be blood but he will always be my brother.

“You nearly died to save me today, Mila.” My voice almost cracks.

It’s been rattling around in my brain, my palm itches to bend her over and spank her senseless.

She pulls away, cupping her bloodied hands on my cheeks. A small smirk tugs at her lips, as if she’s impressed with herself.

So she should be, she did us both proud today.

I tip my head to the side, biting back a grin and putting on my serious face.

“Nothing to say for yourself?” I growl.

She winces as she steps back a little and it makes me want to go back to my father’s estate and rip his heart out.

One day, Mikhail and I will. It isn’t a threat, it’s a promise.

“Dying for the person who owns your soul isn't a bad thing. It means my life meant something if I belonged to another. Even if it was for a brief time. I’d do anything to have you and Elena back in my life. But if there’s a choice, and Elena didn’t lose you, there was no other option.”

I hug her against my chest, even with the searing pain from my shoulder. The way she loves my daughter, and the way Elena adores her, makes all of the agony worth it.

---