Page 52 of Till Death Saves Me

I force myself to act casual as I call back, "In the living room."

I hear the water cut on in the kitchen, and I know what he's doing. But it doesn't really bother me. After seeing him in action, his violent nature only draws me in further.

Ivan appears in the doorway, undoing the top buttons of his shirt. My eyes trace the movement of his hands, the strong line of his jaw. God, he's gorgeous.

"How was your day?" I ask, proud that my voice doesn't betray the riot of emotions swirling inside me.

He shrugs, crossing the room to pour himself a drink. "Same old." I can tell based on his cracked hands, though at least they are scrubbed already.

I nod, hyperaware of his every movement. The air feels charged, crackling with unspoken tension. As Ivan settles next to me, his knee brushes against mine. Even that slight contact sends a jolt through my system.

I completely forget Anya's even in the room until her voice cuts through my Ivan-induced haze.

"Well, I should head home," she announces, standing up.

Ivan's arm slips around my waist as he turns to her. "What, you never want to see me anymore? Just come over to steal my wife?"

Anya rolls her eyes dramatically. "Please. You're much more boring in comparison, big brother."

My cheeks heat at the implication, but I can't help the warmth that blooms in my chest. Ivan's grip tightens slightly, and I lean into him without thinking.

"I see how it is," Ivan grumbles, but there's no real heat behind it.

Anya swoops in, planting a quick kiss on his cheek. "Don't worry, I still love you. Even if you are a grumpy old man."

As she passes behind Ivan, she catches my eye and makes an exaggerated swooning face, complete with batting eyelashes and clasped hands. I have to bite my lip to keep from laughing out loud.

Once Anya's gone, I turn to Ivan. "How about a movie night?"

He raises an eyebrow. "A movie night?"

"Yeah, you know, where normal people watch movies and relax?" I tease.

Ivan's lips quirk up in that half-smile that never fails to make my heart skip. "Alright. A movie. Your choice."

We settle on the couch, and Ivan immediately pulls me close. I curl into his side, relishing the solid warmth of him. His arm wraps around me, his hand absently tracing patterns on my hip.

As the opening credits roll, I can't help but marvel at how comfortable this feels. How right. Ivan's steady heartbeat under my ear, the gentle rise and fall of his chest – it's more soothing than any lullaby.

I tilt my head up to look at him, only to find his eyes already on me. The intensity in his gaze makes my breath catch.

"What?" I whisper.

Ivan shakes his head slightly, a soft expression I've never seen before crossing his face. "Nothing," he murmurs, pressing a kiss to my forehead. "Watch your movie, malyshka."

I snuggle closer, a contented sigh escaping me. As the movie plays on, I find myself paying more attention to the man holding me than the screen. Each breath, each small movement, every quiet chuckle at a funny scene – I catalog it all, storing these precious moments away.

25

IVAN

Istride into Nikolai's office, my jaw clenched tight. Lev's already there, leaning against the wall with his arms crossed. The tension in the room is palpable, thick enough to choke on.

"Now that you're both here," Nikolai says, his voice low and controlled. "We have a situation."

My stomach twists. Every time those words leave his mouth, it means trouble. And lately, trouble's had a nasty habit of finding its way to Virginia.

Nikolai outlines the Red Serpents' latest moves. They've snatched a few more of our guys, gathering intel. My fists clench at my sides. These fuckers just don't know when to quit.

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