Page 19 of Knocked-Up Bratva Prisoner

Alexei wraps both of his arms around me and holds me so tightly I am struggling to breathe.

I wiggle, gasping a little, a soft, dry cough because my throat is raw from screaming. My hands are still bound in front of me, so I’m kind of stuck.

“Are you okay?” Alexei asks, his voice deep and gentle.

I blink in confusion.

“I’m. Um. I’m.”

He grabs my face in his hands and pulls it towards his so that he can see me in the darkness. “Are you okay, Clara?”

The concern in his eyes catches me off guard.

“I’m okay,” I nod, his hands moving over my face.

“Fuck, I almost lost you.”

Yes, idiot, losing the person you kidnapped before you get the money you’re after.

I huff in anger.

“Maybe if you hadn’t been chasing me—"

“Maybe if you hadn’t been stupid enough to try and jump out of a moving car—"

“Maybe if you hadn’t kidnapped me and thrown me in the trunk—"

“Maybe you should just shut up before I am forced to gag you,” he snarls.

I open my mouth but then close it again.

The look in his eyes says he means it.

My throat hurts so much as it is. I really don’t want to be gagged.

Alexei stands up and pulls me to my feet.

I wince as I realize how much damage I have done to my bare feet running through this fucking forest.

“What’s wrong? Are you hurt?” he asks, again filled with concern.

“Why? You worried my uncle will pay less if I’m damaged goods?” I sass back.

“Are you hurt, Clara?”

“Dammit, stop shouting at me. My feet. I hurt my feet running on the forest floor.”

I turn away from him, ready to walk back the way we came, but suddenly his arms are around me and he’s lifted me up to his chest, cradling me against him like a baby.

I feel humiliated.

And incredibly turned on.

Which is so ridiculous, because what the fuck is going on?

“Put me down,” I demand.

“No, you’ll walk too slowly, and we’ll never get back to the car.”

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