Page 27 of Hating the Bratva

The sound of footsteps walking across my bedroom floor wakes me up. I open my eyes right before a large body slides into the bed behind me.

“Alek?” I ask, my mind still froggy from sleep.

“Yeah.”

“What are you doing?”

“Go to sleep, Delaney.” His arms wrap around me, and I take comfort in them. After the shitty night I had, it feels good to be wrapped in his arms. His warmth surrounds me.

“Why are you here?” I ask him. This is against all the Bratva rules. Me staying in his house is already frowned upon, but this, this is crossing the line.

“Because you need me here.” I can smell the vodka on his breath as he talks. As far as I know, Alek doesn’t make a habit of drinking, so it doesn’t bother me in the least. My ass presses against him, and I can feel his erection digging into me. Is this what he came up here for?

Like he can read my mind, he grumbles, “Ignore it.” That’s impossible. I’ll be expected to sleep with Ivan on my wedding day. There’s no way. There’s no way in hell I’ll be able to sleep with that man, let alone lose my virginity to him.

“Promise me something?” I ask.

He lets out a sigh. “What?”

I mull over the words before I speak them. “Don’t let me lose my virginity to him.”

Silence answers me. I turn around in his arms to face him. His slightly red eyes are staring at me. He looks more handsome when he’s somewhat buzzed like this. He’s calm and soft, a side of him that very few get to see. He always comes off as angry and in control, but not now. Now he’s the man I’d much rather marry.

When he still doesn’t answer me, I speak again. “All of my choices have been taken away from me. Let this be the one thing that I choose.” My voice breaks at the end, and a single tear slides down my cheek. Alek catches it with his thumb before it hits my lips.

“You’re killing me, Bunny,” he says, his voice coming out deep and gruff, as if denying me this request would hurt him.

“Please, Alek. I know sex can be good, but it will never be good with Ivan because I can’t love a man like that. Don’t let me give that part of myself to him. At least let me choose that. I can’t—”

“Fine. I promise.”

I press my lips against him before he has a chance to change his mind. Unlike the last time we kissed, he doesn’t hesitate to respond. His soft lips immediately take control of mine.

Everything else in the room and all my problems fade into the background. The only thing that matters now is his lips against mine. His tongue demands entry, and I open my mouth to let him explore. The taste of vodka is heavy on his lazy tongue. The bed creeks as his arms tighten around my petite body until I’m flush against him. His erection digs into my leg. Warmth spreads through my blood, and I want to be closer to him. My nipples poke out of my thin tank top, and I know he can feel them against his naked chest. This is all I want: Alek. He pulls away too soon, and I’m left panting.

“Go to sleep, Delaney.”

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