Page 36 of Virgin Bratva Prisoner

She bites at her lower lip. I love it when she does that.

She looks lost in thought.

I step close to her, resting my hands on her legs, then I reach up and lift her face up towards mine with my hand below her chin.

“Raisa, let’s make a deal.”

She tilts her head, her eyes narrowing towards me. The bright blue of them seems to intensify. “What kind of a deal?” She says, skeptical, nervous to make deals with the man who kidnapped her I assume. She is smart to be cautious. I can’t fault her on that.

“The kind of deal that will keep your brothers safe.”

I brush my hand over her cheek, her skin is warm and soft. My thumb brushes across her lips and my body sparks with need.

I push it down, doing my best to deny the way she makes me feel.

Now is not the time to explore our physical attraction. She’s been through too much tonight already.

“Alright—what do you want in return?” Her eyes pierce into me.

“If you cooperate with me—and if you can convince your brothers to cooperate as well—I need them to workwithme on this—then I promise to keep your family safe. No harm will come to them. They will have the full protection of the Dubrov clan.”

“Willyourbrothers agree to this as well?” she asks with doubt in her tone. “None of them sounded happy when they found out we were married.”

“You let me handle and worry about my brothers. All I need to know from you is that you can handle your own brothers.”

“I will do my best,” she says, nodding. “I accept your deal. As long as you keep my family safe, I will cooperate with you.”

I feel relief wash through me. Finally, I seem to be getting somewhere with her—and with my plan to resolve the issues without violence.

It’s crazy—I never imagined it would be so difficult to get people to want to avoid war. Now that she has agreed to the deal, tomorrow we can head back home and she will start properly convincing her family that this is what she wants—and that it is for the best. I will have to speak to mine.

We will need to put a protective detail on her brothers. I can’t have someone taking them out after I just made a promise like that.

My brothers aren’t going to be happy about it, but I think if we have a proper sit down, they might hear me out and understand my line of thinking.

After dinner, we both head upstairs to the bedroom. There is only one bed and we have to sleep next to each other. This sends a thrill racing through my body. Again, I push it aside.

Raisa keeps throwing nervous glances towards me as she gets ready for bed. In the closet, she finds an oversized t-shirt—well—it's oversized on her. When I wear it it’s tight. She turns her back to me and I turn my face away when she lets the dress drop down her body onto the floor and slips the t-shirt over her head.

I clench my jaw.

Now is not the time.

Raisa walks to the side of the bed and sits down. Then she pulls the blankets up and slips beneath them. She snuggles down against the pillow with her back turned towards me and her legs curled up as she lies on her side.

I lie on my back with my one arm behind my head. Waiting for sleep to claim me, but she is too close to me and it’s distracting.

My eyes trace the delicate curve of her neck and the shape of her spine.

Raisa seems to fall asleep easily, her soft, deep breathing letting me know that she is resting. I am relieved that she is feeling safe enough to sleep.

As I am just about to fall asleep, relieved that she is ok, she rolls over and shifts up close to me in her sleep and snuggles against my chest.

I grit my teeth.

My body burning with need for her.

I close my eyes and do my best to ignore it, but it is impossible, and it's very late when I finally drift off to sleep.

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