Page 33 of Mikhail Petrov

I turn and walk away, and it’s dumb because where the hell am I even going?

“Leah.” His voice is surprisingly soft. “You ran off because you refused to listen to what I had to say.”

“I’ve heard your script enough.” Maybe the cabins aren’t too far from here. I can just walk the rest of the way.

Are you stupid?

Yes.

But I keep moving anyway.

“Leah, stop.”

“Why?” My whisper is barely audible, and I don’t realize I’m crying until a salty tear rolls into the corner of my mouth.

“Because I’ve been stupid too.”

I hear his words, but there’s no time to process them because, in the next second, he whirls me around and hoists me onto his waist.

“I’m so fucking sorry, moya lyubov’ (my love). No one else matters to me but you. I promise you that.” He uses his thumb to wipe my tears. “If having you means starting a war, I’ll watch the world burn in your arms...then build you a new one.”

He leans in and grazes my lips as a low groan rattles in his chest.

“I love you, pretty girl. I’ve loved you for a fucking long time.”

For once, I’m speechless. The words I’ve been waiting to hear for so long have short- circuited my brain. Looping my arms behind his neck, I rest my forehead against his and close my eyes. I’m trembling, and I don’t know if it’s the cold or my body’s reaction to his confession.

“I’ll never forgive myself,” he whispers, kissing up my jaw. “But I need you to say something.”

“It’s about damn time.”

We erupt into laughter, and he squeezes me tighter. “I plan to make it up to you every single day,” he promises, then sets me down on the snowmobile and wraps me in his coat. “Let’s get back.”

But I shake my head and let it slide off my shoulders. “No, you’ve made me wait long enough, Mikhail Petrov.” I place my arms behind me and lean on the seat, letting my thighs fall open. “I need you to fuck me right here, right now.”

“Leah, it’s too goddamn cold.” He chuckles, stepping between my thighs. “And I want to be able to see you fully when I make love to you.”

I reach for the waistband of his pants and run my hand over his erection. “You worried about the cold, Mikki?” I tease with a wink. “And I never said I wanted you to make love to me.” Sliding his zipper down, I reach in and stroke his hard length, eager to be utterly broken by this man and put back together.

Over and over.

His hands tangle in my hair as he dips down to kiss me.

“As much as I want to have you right now, you’re half-naked, it’s freezing, and my balls are shriveling up into my body as we speak.”

I can’t help the laughter that bubbles up my throat, but when his expression turns serious, I quiet down, and we find each other’s eyes in the darkness.

“I also want to be sure you’re okay,” he says, bringing the coat back over my shoulders. I rise to my knees and pull him in for another kiss. This is the Mikhail so very few know, and I have the privilege of being the woman he lets his guard down with.

CHAPTER 16

MIKHAIL

“Get back here.”

I pluck her from the doorway and lift her bridal style before stepping through the entrance of our cabin. The sound of her laughter warms my chest. I’ll never tire of it. It’s one of the first things I grew to love about her. She was and will always be the brightest light in my life. Nearly losing her tonight was a moment of reckoning.

On the drive back, I tormented myself with all the scenarios that could have played out had I not gotten to her in time. Every single one ended with me in prison or dead because living without her is not an option.

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