I grunt, and she laughs.
“Did that cheer you up?
“I think it might have killed me.” I can barely think straight, and the fact that I’m still inside her isn't helping.
She moans as she licks at my neck. “I could stay like this forever, with you buried inside me.”
“That sounds like heaven to me.” I capture her lips with mine.
Eventually, I pull myself off Nina and collapse onto my back and pull her against my side, and she rests her head on my chest.
I don’t think I’ve ever felt such peace as I do right now, lying in bed after having the most incredible sex with the woman of my dreams because there’s no denying that Nina is just that.
She squeezes up to me. “Can I ask you something?”
“Of course.” I stroke up and down her arm.
I can’t seem to stop touching her.
“The man responsible for the attack on me… Do you know his name?”
That was not what I was expecting her to ask, but I knew we were bound to have this conversation eventually.
“It’s not been one hundred percent confirmed, but if it’s who I think it is, then yes, I do.”
“Can you tell me?”
I hesitate. “Why?”
“I think I’ll feel better if I know his name.” She moves out of my arms to sit up against the pillows. “Then he’s a real, concrete person rather than some threat that seems to linger in the air. That probably makes no sense…”
“No, I get it. You sure you want to know?”
She nods, biting her lower lip.
“His name is Igor Ivanov. He’s been at war with my family for decades, and he’s about as bad as they come.”
Nina’s eyes widen, and I reach out to stroke her cheek.
“I don’t want to frighten you,lapochka. He won’t ever get to you.”
“That’s why you’ve gone to such lengths to keep me safe, isn’t it?”
I nod.
“What has he done that’s so terrible?”
“For one, he murdered my aunt and uncle.”
Nina’s breath hitches, but she stays quiet.
“Along with many of the men that work for my family. Almost a year ago, he kidnapped my cousin Mikhail’s wife and threatened to kill her and her unborn child in front of him.”
“Oh, my god.” Nina sobs, covering her mouth with her hand as her eyes well with tears.
“I can stop if this is too much.”
Nina shakes her head.