Page 8 of The Bratva King's Kidnapped Bride

In the brighter, clearer lights of the constant stream of street lamps, we drove under as my driver sped toward the apartment, I could see that she was much younger than the twenty-five I had guessed at the club. She had on sultry eye makeup, but the color on her cheeks was all-natural, and the way she gnawed on her plump lower lip made it look even juicier and more enticing.

That and her restless hands showed me just how nervous she was. Another reason why she was so different, so special. Coming home with me wasn’t a careless decision, something to pass the time or a way to get herself ahead somehow.

It made me feel special.

What the hell? Why was this such a shock? It was impossible to pretend I wasn’t who I was, and didn’t wield the vast amounts of wealth and power I did. There was no false humility in my life. But when was the last time I felt special? Chosen? And by someone so perfect as Katie?

I turned away, laughing to myself. I hadn’t drunk very much, but it had obviously hit me hard. Still, I wanted to treat her the way she made me feel, and put her at ease. I also wanted her to crave me the same way I was craving her.

When my driver dropped us off near the private elevators in the underground parking garage, I sent us to the roof instead of hitting the number for my floor. When the doors slid open, I tugged Katie out onto the carefully tended rooftop garden. It was pitch black at that late hour, only the lights of the buildings surrounding us and the stars dimly illuminated forboding shapes all around us.

“What is this?” she asked, blinking to identify anything through the darkness surrounding us.

I had a grim flash of Lev, and I let go of our ex- associate’s legs, the dull thump when he hit the ground. Was that just earlier this evening? It was a hazard of my life in the Bratva, these inconvenient memories of the unsavory things I’d rather not have to do. I reached for Katie’s hand, and as soon as her soft, warm fingers curled around mine, the memories disappeared without a trace. Yes, this girl was special.

“Let me show you,” I said, reaching for the switches just outside the glass doors. With a flick of my wrist, thousands of twinkle lights around the perimeter burst to life. More were interspersed in the branches of the potted fruit trees, revealing several small round tables and chairs dotted in between the carefully tended flower beds. Behind a tiny building that the residents could use as a bar or catering station, was a vegetable patch surrounded by a low picket fence.

It was a nice place to come during the day if the smog wasn’t too high, but at night, it lit up like this against the backdrop of the glittering city; it was magic.

Katie’s gasp and huge smile told me I’d made the right decision to delay getting her into my apartment. The delight in her eyes was just as satisfying as sinking my fingers into her waist or finally getting to taste her. Well, almost, and I was glad to show her a tiny part of my world.

“This is amazing,” she said. She held my hand and drew me over to inspect the vegetable patch. “Wow, stuff’s actually growing, too. My backyard was about the size of this little garden, and half of it was concrete, but I still tried to grow herbs every year. Nothing. A cactus won’t even grow in whatever calls itself dirt in my yard.”

God, she was charming. I led her to one of the tables, but she tugged me toward the edge of the roof, leaning against the chest-high acrylic glass wall.

“It’s a great view,” I said, never taking my eyes off her. She turned to me and wrinkled her nose.

After staring out at the city for several long moments, she leaned into my side. “Thank you,” she murmured.

“For what? The view?”

“Yes, but also…” she trailed off, shrugging. “Not rushing me.”

Ah, so my hunch that she was nervous about going straight to my apartment had been correct. I rested my hands on her shoulders, smoothing my palms down her silky, bare arms.

“Are you cold?”

“Not at all,” she answered, standing on her toes and tipping back her chin. “Not even a little bit.”

“Good,” I said, right before I found her mouth with mine. My instinct was to devour, but I tamed that inner beast, gently parting her eager lips with my tongue until she was soon clutching at my shirt and pressing against me.

A car horn blared far below us, and we broke apart, her with a slight giggle and me with a scowl.

“I can wait forever,” I lied, easing my hands onto her waist.

Her head fell back, her lips parted, eyes closed. “I can’t,” she said. Her eyes flew open, and she blushed at her sudden boldness. “Aleks, let’s go inside now.”

“Whatever you want,” I told her, already turning toward the doors.

In the elevator, she threw herself at me, but it was only a couple floors down until it slid to a stop, and the doors opened onto my private entry hall. Would I ever get enough of her?

She bobbed on her toes as I keyed in my door code, and when it opened, she tumbled inside, pulling me in with her. I dragged her close to my chest, looking down into her wide eyes. Even greener than in the dimly lit club, like rare emeralds ringed with moss.

“You make me crazy,” I growled.

“Good,” she said, her body sliding against mine as she stood on her toes, hungry for another kiss.

“We’re barely in the door, little girl,” I chided playfully.

---