Page 60 of Till Death Saves Me

She ignores my protest, leaning in to examine the bandage more closely. Her breath fans across my skin, making heat spread up through me that has nothing to do with pain. "I just want to make sure you're alright," she murmurs, her voice thick with emotion.

I can't help the words that slip out next, tinged with a vulnerability I rarely allow myself to show. "I didn't think you'd care if I got hurt."

It's soft, so quiet she could ignore it if she wanted to. If she isn't ready. I wouldn't blame her, not with the way I've acted toward her in the past.

I wouldn't blame her for stealing my heart and not giving me hers in return. I'd carve out my soul and let her take it, rip open my veins and bleed if she asked. I'd let her have anything and ask for nothing in return.

That's how fucking done I am when it comes this woman.

But then her head snaps up, and as I stare into her eyes, my heart pounds in my chest. "Of course I care," she says, her voice soft but filled with conviction. "How could you think I wouldn'tcare?" She shakes her head. "You stubborn ass. I love you, Ivan." Tears prick at her eyes. "I shouldn't, but I fucking love you."

For a moment, I can't breathe. The world narrows to just her face, those warm brown eyes looking at me with such tenderness it almost hurts. I've faced down death countless times, but nothing has ever terrified me as much as this moment.

I don't deserve her love. I know this. But God help me, I want it. I need it like I need air to breathe.

Without a word, I pull her to me, crushing my lips against hers. The kiss is desperate, hungry, filled with all the emotions I've been holding back for so long. My good hand tangles in her hair, holding her close as if she might disappear if I let go.

Virginia responds immediately, her lips parting under mine. She tastes like hope, like a future I never thought I'd have. Her hands clutch at my shirt, pulling me closer despite my injured shoulder.

I barely feel the pain. All I can focus on is her - the softness of her lips, the warmth of her body pressed against mine, the little whimper she makes in the back of her throat.

I pour everything into this kiss - my fears, my hopes, my love. Yes, love. I can admit it now, at least to myself. I love this woman with every fiber of my being. The realization hits me like a punch to the gut, leaving me breathless and dizzy.

When we finally break apart, we're both panting. I rest my forehead against hers, my eyes closed as I try to catch my breath. "Virginia," I murmur, her name a prayer on my lips.

She reaches up, her fingers tracing the line of my jaw. "I love you," she says again, and this time I let myself believe it. "I love you, Ivan Kozlov, you stubborn, infuriating man."

A laugh bubbles up from my chest, surprising even me. I open my eyes to find her smiling at me, her eyes shining with unshed tears. "I love you too," I confess, the words feelingforeign on my tongue but so right. "More than I ever thought possible."

29

GINNY

Ican't keep my hands off Ivan. I'm relieved when we get home because I considered straddling him in the back of that car.

The fear that had gripped me while he was gone dissolves into desperate need. I'm so glad he's okay, so relieved to have him back with me.

As he kisses me again, my fingers trace the rough stubble on his jaw, the hard lines of his shoulders, reassuring myself that he's really here, alive and solid beneath my touch.

Ivan's good arm snakes around my waist, pulling me into a deep, consuming kiss. His lips are hungry, urgent, echoing the desperation I feel.

He lifts me effortlessly, my legs wrapping around his waist as he carries me towards the stairs. I dig my hands into his hair, letting him consume me as he moves slow and sure up to his room.

I bury my face in his neck, inhaling the scent of sandalwood and gunpowder that clings to his skin. His heartbeat throbs against my cheek, steady and strong, a testament to his indomitable will. I cling to him, unable to let a single inch of my skin be separated from his.

As we reach the top of the stairs, Ivan's grip tightens, his fingers digging into my ass. I welcome the pressure, the sting grounding me, reminding me that this is real. He's real. We're here, together, and nothing else matters.

He carries me into his room, kicking the door shut behind us. The setting sun casts long shadows across the dark wood floor, painting the room in hues of gold and amber. Ivan sets me down gently, his hands lingering on my waist as he searches my face, his blue-gray eyes intense and piercing.

"Malyshka," he murmurs, his voice rough with emotion.

It's all he says, all he needs to say. I hear the echo of my own feelings in that single word - relief, desire, love. I reach up, tracing the line of his jaw, the curve of his lips. He leans into my touch, his eyes never leaving mine.

His hands slide up my sides, his thumbs brushing the underside of my breasts. I shiver, my breath hitching as he leans down, capturing my lips in another searing kiss. This one is slower, deeper, filled with a longing that steals my breath and sets my heart racing.

I press against him, my body molding to his, fitting perfectly against his hard lines and sharp angles. His arms wrap around me, holding me close, his good hand tangling in my hair. I can feel his heart beating in time with mine, the rhythm steady and sure.

Ivan's hands are steady, assured, as they slide my shirt off, fingers tracing my spine, leaving a trail of heat in their wake. I mirror his movements, unbuttoning his shirt, careful of his injured shoulder. His eyes, dark and hungry, never leave mine as we undress each other, piece by piece, until we're bare, vulnerable.

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