Page 23 of Pregnant By the Bratva

“You hate it that much?” he asks, his voice dropping to a low rumble, and I nod, feeling the tears prick at the corners of my eyes.

“I hate what it’s turned me into,” I whisper, my voice thick with emotion. “I hate what I’ve had to do to survive. I don’t want to be this person anymore.”

Ivan’s gaze softens, and for a moment, the hard exterior he usually wears seems to crack. “Sarah…,” he begins, but his voice trails off, as if he’s unsure of what to say next.

Before I can fully process what’s happening, Ivan steps forward, closing the distance between us. His hand reaches out, fingers brushing against my cheek, and I feel a shiver run through me. The intensity in his eyes is undeniable, and the air between us crackles with unspoken tension.

“I want you,” he confesses, his voice rough with emotion. The words hang in the air, heavy and charged, and for a moment, all I can do is stare at him, my heart pounding in my chest.

Before I can respond, Ivan’s lips crash against mine, and I melt into his touch. The kiss is hungry, desperate, as if he’s been holding back for too long, and now that the floodgates haveopened, there’s no going back. His hands move to my waist, pulling me closer, and I respond with equal fervor, my fingers tangling in his hair as I give in to the overwhelming desire coursing through me.

It’s reckless, it’s dangerous, and yet I can’t stop. The taste of him, the feel of his hands on my skin—it’s intoxicating, drowning out every rational thought. All that matters in this moment is him, and the way he makes me feel.

The sound of the door suddenly swinging open pulls us both back to reality. We break apart just as Maxim steps into the room, his eyes widening in shock at the scene before him. For a split second, the room is filled with stunned silence, then Maxim lets out a low whistle, his expression shifting to one of amusement.

“Well, well, well,” Maxim drawls, crossing his arms over his chest with a smirk. “I leave you two alone for five minutes, and this is what I come back to? Should I start knocking before entering the boss’s study?”

Ivan straightens up, clearing his throat as he takes a step back from me, though I can still feel the heat of his body lingering in the space between us. “Maxim,” he says, his tone steady, but I can see the flash of annoyance in his eyes. “Do you ever mind your own business?”

Maxim grins, clearly enjoying the moment. “Oh, I mind my business just fine, but this—this is newsworthy.”

Ivan shoots him a glare, and for a moment, I wonder if Maxim is pushing his luck a little too far. Then Ivan sighs, shaking his head as if to brush off the interruption. “We’re donehere,” he says, turning back to me, his voice gentler. “Think about what I said, Sarah.”

I nod, still a little breathless from the kiss, my mind spinning with everything that’s happened. Maxim steps aside, still grinning like a cat who caught the canary, as Ivan leads me toward the door.

“Next time, try not to surprise us,” Ivan mutters to Maxim as he passes, but there’s a hint of humor in his tone that wasn’t there before.

“No promises,” Maxim replies with a chuckle, giving me a knowing wink as I walk past him.

As we step out into the hallway, the reality of what just happened starts to sink in. The weight of Ivan’s confession, the intensity of his kiss, and the look in his eyes—all of it leaves me reeling. I’m not sure what any of it means, or where it’s going to lead, but one thing is certain: nothing will ever be the same.

Chapter Thirteen

Ivan

It’s been a couple of weeks since that night in the study, and Sarah is still living under my roof. The arrangement is supposed to be temporary, but I find myself in no rush to change it. The truth is, I can’t get enough of her. Every time I leave the house, all I can think about is going back and claiming her again. It’s an addiction, a need that’s taken root deep inside me. It’s strange—no, it’s unsettling. I haven’t felt like this in a long time, if ever.

Yet, here I am, craving her like a drug I can’t quit.

I try to push those thoughts aside as I sit in my office, focusing on the work in front of me. Maxim is leaning against the edge of the desk, his expression serious as he briefs me on the latest developments.

“Kace is bleeding,” Maxim says, his voice laced with satisfaction. “Stealing back the money hit him hard—double the amount. He’s been in a rage ever since. Tried to break into our systems a few times, but they haven’t been able to get through. Seems they can’t do it without Sarah.”

I nod, absorbing the information. The knowledge that Kace is struggling brings a certain satisfaction, but it’s laced with the awareness that a cornered enemy is a dangerous one. Kace is the kind of man who doesn’t take defeat lightly. He’ll be plotting, planning his revenge. The man is nothing if not relentless.

“Stay alert,” Maxim continues, echoing my own thoughts. “Kace isn’t going to let this go. He’s going to come at us one wayor another. We need to be ready for anything—a physical attack, an ambush, something unexpected.”

“Of course,” I reply, my voice steady, though my mind is already half-occupied with thoughts of Sarah. Even now, I can’t shake the image of her from my mind, the feel of her beneath me, the taste of her lips. I force myself to focus, to bury the distraction under the pressing reality of the situation. “Double the security on the perimeter. Make sure our men are armed and ready at all times. I don’t want any surprises.”

Maxim nods, his expression grim. “I’ve already put the men on high alert. They know what to expect. We’re watching every move Kace makes, but he’s slippery. If he decides to go low-tech, we might not see it coming.”

“Then we’ll be ready,” I say, my voice hardening. “He’s desperate now. Desperation makes people reckless. We use that to our advantage.”

Maxim smirks, the corner of his mouth lifting in a way that tells me he’s more than eager for the confrontation. “You know, it’s ironic. The one person who could get Kace out of this mess is right here, in your house.”

I can’t help the possessive growl that escapes my throat at his words. “Sarah belongs to me now,” I say, the statement coming out with more force than I intended. Maxim raises an eyebrow, clearly noting the intensity in my tone, but he wisely chooses not to comment on it.

“Understood,” he says instead, his voice neutral as he straightens up, pushing off the desk. “I’ll make sure everything is in place.”

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