Page 27 of The Bratva's Auctioned Bride

Features still tight with that annoyed look, Alex approached me, cutting the space between us until he was face-to-face with me, body towering over mine. His gaze burned right into me as he let go of a breath.

"Is that really what you want?" he demanded of me, voice clipped with irritation. "You want my time and affection?"

Meeting his gaze, regardless of how intense it seemed, I swallowed and nodded. "Yes…it beats the alternative."

A moment of silence passed between us as he looked down at me, dark eyes searching mine. Despite the serious conversation, bordering on an argument, I couldn't help but admire him again from up close.

I hated how attractive he was, but at the same time, I couldn't get enough of it.

My breath caught in my throat as he moved closer, shifting slightly to pin me against the counter. A thrill moved through me as his arms caged around me, and his face lowered near mine.

I inhaled sharply the moment I felt his gentle breath against my lips that infringed upon the sliver of space left between us. A shiver scurried down my spine at the faint touch of his finger beneath my chin. My eyes closed instinctively.

"If that is what you want," he uttered, voice like a purr as he kept his body close to mine, just barely tilting my chin up, "then so be it. I won't hold back."

Before I could form any thought in my head, his lips came down on mine in one swift movement, hard and possessive. The breath was stolen from my lungs as his mouth melded with mine, capturing my complete attention.

I let go of a breathless sound as that initial startle subsided, and I gave in to it.

Warmth moved through me from how diligently and earnestly he kissed me, seemingly pouring everything he physically could into it. My heart clenched as all thoughts melted away from my mind, and I could only concentrate on how good that rush of bliss felt.

The kiss was enough to spark that familiar sensation in me, reminiscent of when we first had sex. My body reacted immediately to that idea, and I hummed into the kiss, suddenly wanting more.

But just as my mind started to get away from me, Alex pulled away, leaving me breathless.

While he looked down at me again, surely taking in my dazed expression with a faint upturn of his lips, his thumb gently stroked my cheek.

His voice was gentle as it reached me, only to send another shiver down my spine. "I'll consider my wife's wishes."

The loss of his lips against mine had me wishing we could stay like that for the rest of the day, forgetting about everything else. But I knew better than to expect that.

"I have to go now, but I'll see you tonight, alright?" Alex proposed, gently retracting his hand and taking a step back to reach for his coffee.

A part of me was still stunned, but I managed to nod despite the warmth in my cheeks.

With a few lingering looks in my direction, we said our goodbyes for the day, and Alex eventually slipped out of the house, heading to the office.

I stood in the kitchen by myself for some time, still flustered as I felt the ghost of his lips against mine. Even if my brain was struggling to process what had just happened, there was no mistaking how incredible even that single kiss was.

Not entirely knowing what he meant by his words, I was unsure of what to expect, but if that kiss was any indication, I felt more hopeful than I had since getting brought to his house and becoming his wife.

Chapter 15 - Alexander

I could still taste her on my lips even as I drove to work and went about my day.

The conversation had been irksome at first, but hearing Lara say that she needed more from me felt like a moment of acceptance from her, her acknowledgment that she could either resist me forever or finally give in to what I had been wanting all along. And it seemed she had decided.

The kiss left me wanting more, and if I didn't have important work that needed my attention, I would've considered coming in late, or not at all if I felt like we needed time.

Instead, I had to continue as if she wasn't the only thing on my mind.

All the while, I couldn't ignore what she had asked of me, or how she had brought up her brothers before. It seemed that she wanted to not only dive into what we could be, but also to see her family again. It wasn't surprising, after all, and it was something I expected.

I knew from the beginning that I couldn't keep her from them, regardless of how tempted I was to do exactly that. Even if that would be the easier scenario in every way, I knew it would only hurt her more.

She cared about them and felt as though she was missing that part of herself. I couldn't blame her.

Plus, if I kept her hidden and never acknowledged her brothers or the situation, I knew they would only come down on me harder. Despite my resources and efforts, I likely wouldn't survive that kind of wrath from them.

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