Page 162 of Bound By Revenge

He scoffs, shaking his head, a smirk curling his lips. “Baby, please. Don’t threaten me with a good time.”

“Oh, I’m serious,” I tease, narrowing my eyes. “You’ll be begging me to shut up before long.”

“Doubt it,” he says with a wicked grin. “But if that day ever comes, I know exactly what you can do with your lips instead.”

I hook a finger into his collar and tug him closer, our noses nearly brushing. “Speaking of which,” I murmur, my gaze dropping to his mouth, “shut up and kiss me.”

“Fuck me,” he groans, squeezing his eyes shut. "I can't believe I'm saying this too, but…wait. There’s something I need to tell you first.”

“What is it?” I ask, trying—and failing—to keep the impatience out of my voice.

His hand trembles slightly as he cups my face, his thumb brushing over my cheek. Leaning closer, his lips graze my ear, his voice low and raw. “Kat, I love you. With all my heart.”

My heart skips a beat, but I shrug, flashing him a playful wink. “I know.”

He exhales, the sound shaky and uneven, as if he’s been holding it in. “Do you think… Could you ever feel the same?” His voice wavers, but he pushes on. “Before you answer, let me say this—I’m so sorry. I swear. For all of it. Every single thing. The shit I’ve done to you, the way I hurt you. For locking you in here, forcing you to stay. For dragging you into my fucking mess of a life.”

“Nik,” I say, exasperated but smiling. “You’re not listening. I wanted to come back to you after less than a day apart. Yes, locking me away was awful—and the other stuff didn’t exactly make you look great either. But I still fell in love with you.”

“You did?” he asks, his voice cracking with disbelief.

I laugh softly, shaking my head. “Of course I did. Oh, come on, Nik. You know I’ve been crazy about you from the start. Even when you were an insufferable dick and I told myself I hated you, I couldn’t stop craving you. Every word we exchanged, every moment we shared… it got harder and harder to remember why I wasn’t supposed to want more of you. And when you kissed me or touched me?” I shudder theatrically, fanning myself with a grin. “Let me put it this way: you don’t play fair. I never stood a chance.”

He shakes his head slowly, a flattered, awestruck expression softening his face. “I can’t believe this is my life.”

“What do you mean?” I ask, teasing.

“You know exactly what I mean.” His voice dips, low and intense, dropping into something almost reverent. “You’re the most excruciatingly beautiful woman I’ve ever seen. The moment I laid eyes on you, it was over—I was lost. Forever. Everything about you—the way your mind works, the way you smile, the way you look at me—feels like it was designed to drive me insane. And you have. Again. And again. And again. I tried to fight it, Kat. God, I tried so damn hard to resist you. But it was useless. Every second I’m with you, I fall deeper under your spell. I love you. I’m madly, helplessly, hopelessly in love with you.”

A smile bursts onto my lips, his words piercing straight through my heart, filling me with a warmth so overwhelming it steals my breath away.

“Well, good. Add that to the list of all the million reasons why we should be together. I guess that means you’re stuck with me now.” I narrow my eyes, my tone turning serious but teasing. “But let me make one thing clear—if you ever eventhinkabout trying to trade your life for mine again, I’ll kill you myself.”

“There was no other choice. I’d do it again, no hesitation.”

I narrow my eyes at him, ready to argue, but before I can get a word out, he pulls me into his arms. His warmth, his scent—everything about him turns my brain to mush, and I melt into him completely.

He nuzzles into my hair, his breath warm against my ear. “I still can’t believe you love me. After everything?”

“Oh, Nik,” I sigh, my voice soft but certain as I tighten my hold on him. “Yes. A thousand times yes. You have no idea how much. I’m hook, line, and sinker in love with you. Forever and ever, no matter what.”

He pulls back slightly, his lips twitching. “You sure about that? Don’t want to think about it? Sleep on it?” His voice softens with a teasing lilt. “Don’t want to put me through the wringer? Make me grovel? Crawl to you? Maybe get on my knees and beg?”

“Well...” I drawl, feigning deep thought. “Now that you mention it, Idohave something in mind.”

He groans playfully, shaking his head. “I brought this on myself, didn’t I?”

“Yep,kotyonok. Rookie mistake,” I tease with a mock tsk. “Here’s the deal. I’ll love you always and forever, with all of my heart. But—there’s one condition.”

He raises an eyebrow, his lips curving into an amused smirk. “Go on. Name your price.”

“You’ll have to spend the rest of your life loving me back.”

He exhales softly, the humor fading from his expression as his dark eyes hold mine. “Kiska,” he murmurs, his voice thick with promise. “Your wish is my command.”

Still smiling, he hooks a finger under my chin, gently tilting my face toward his. My breath catches as his lips brush against mine—soft and teasing at first, sending a shiver down my spine. Then his kiss deepens, growing more insistent, his mouth slanting firmly over mine. His tongue grazes my lips, coaxingthem apart, and I sigh into him, drinking him in, lost in the way he feels.

His hands trail downward, gliding over the thick fabric of the robe until they cup my breasts. My nipples harden under his touch, and a low, hoarse groan rumbles in his throat, vibrating against my lips. My body responds instinctively, arching into him, my hips pressing against the hard length of him as my pulse quickens.

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