I can’t, though. I can’t make her feel as though she has to be with me because I saved her. I won’t do that to her. I want her to come with me out of her own choice. That’s why I haven’t initiated sex with her again.

I stand up and look around. “I’ll let you get dressed.” I reach over her, pick up the air conditioning remote, and turn it on warm. “And that’s so you don’t get cold while you dress.”

I set the remote down and turn to leave, but I feel her hand grab mine. “Please don’t.”

I look at her. She’s looking up at me pleadingly.

I stroke her face. “I’m not going far. Just to my office.”

“Don’t leave me alone,” she says with shining eyes.

I sit back down and let her hold my hand. She traces circles in my palm.

“I will do whatever you want,” I say quietly. “Just tell me what it is, and I’m all yours.”

“Can we lie together?” she asks.

I nod and watch her scoot up the bed and curl up. I get up, go to the other side of the bed, and lie down. After a moment, she turns around and rests her head on my chest. I stroke her hair again, as that seems to soothe her the most.

She traces a lazy circle on my chest around one particular scar. I watch her hand and don’t realize she’s looking directly at me until she leans up and kisses my lips softly.

Chapter 15 - Arina

I kiss him gently.

That’s all I want.

Just a kiss.

To feel someone else on my skin.

We shift around, and he strokes my back as we kiss softly. He tastes like whiskey and cigars and smells like his musky aftershave.

He wraps his arms around me as I deepen the kiss, sliding my tongue over his. I put my hand on his chest and bring myself up, so I’m hovering over him.

The kiss turns hungry.

I feel it in the pit of my stomach. My body aches for him—the way he made love to me before.

I slide my hand down and rub his crotch through his pants.

He breaks the kiss. “Arina,” he growls. “I told you.”

“I want you,” I breathe, kissing him again. “Please.” I kiss him again.

He flips me onto my back and gets between my legs, leaning his weight on his arms as he kisses me desperately. It’s as though he’s been waiting for this for a lifetime.

He breaks the kiss to lick and bite at the skin of my neck, and I tip my head the other way to give him better access. I grind up against him, feeling his dick harden in his pants.

“Igor,” I breathe. “I want you so badly.”

“Arina.” That growl. It makes me wild.

He sits up on his knees, with my legs on either side of his hips, and he reaches down, undoing my towel and laying it open so he can see my naked body.

There’s something in the look in his eyes that sends shivers down my back. He undoes his shirt but doesn’t take it off, leaving it open. I grab the open sides of the shirt and pull him back down on top of me.

I feel him reach between us and undo his pants. I lick my lips. “Hurry,” I groan.