Page 70 of Claim

“The fuck. No. What I feel for you is way beyond that.”

My heart races. I’m on the right track.

“Will you love me in forty years when I have wrinkles?” I continue.

He runs his fingers through my hair and twirls the curls around his finger.

“Yes.”

I look down at him, fiddling with the lock.

“Would you love me if I shaved my hair off?”

“Yes.”

“Why?” I press.

“Because it’s you. I love every single thing about you. Your fire, your sass, the way your smile lights up a room, the way you gravitate towards me, the way your eyes burn into mine, the softness of your touch. The way you brought me back to life. You are my iskorka in every sense of the word.”

Blinking back the hot, stinging tears, I feel the gentle pressure of his palm against my cheek. I lean into his warm touch.

“I’m not giving up on you, Miki. I wouldn’t even know how. But you gotta let me in, show me the real you and let me love him too. It’s just us here, us against everyone. You took me. You stole my heart and there’s no return on that. Don’t make me fight for this alone. I believe the man hiding under that mask is worthyof my love, and I’ll prove it to you. Take it off, Mikhail. Nothing changes. Not a single thing. Only that you give me the final key to unlock your heart.”

He nods slowly, but doesn’t move his hand from my face.

“Let me help?” I whisper softly.

He averts his gaze away and closes his eyes briefly.

“Look at me, Mikhail. Not just at me, look past it, go deeper. It’s me. It’s only us here. I’ve given you every piece of me. I trust you, I cherish you, and most of all, I want to love all of you. Now show me who you really are.”

He curls his thumb beneath the edge of his balaclava, then rips it over his head.

I’m so used to looking in his chocolate colored eyes, it takes me a moment to comprehend what he’s done.

Reaching up, I feather a soft touch over the puckered skin on his cheek, and trace the tight pull at the corner of his full lips.

“Oh, Miki…” I trail off. “You’re hot as hell.” I can see the scarring that goes up his sharp jaw, but it’s nothing like what I envisioned.

His mouth drops into a frown. “It used to be much worse. After it had healed, it was still bright red…almost angry looking.” He shakes his head. “Even my own niece was terrified to look at me. It was just easier to cover it up. Then it became who I was.” He shrugs, then cups my hand with his against his cheek.

“You make me want to be a better man, pretty girl.”

I shake my head, and he frowns in response.

“I don’t want you to be better, Miki. I just want you to be mine, exactly the way you are now.” I keep my touch light on his scars. He doesn’t flinch. He seems to be at one with me seeing him.

“It feels good,” he rumbles. “I can’t remember the last time anyone touched me there.”

That makes me giggle. “Miki, I’ve had my hand everywhere on youbutthere.”

I curl my knees under me, and frame his face with my palms. “No more secrets, okay?” I reach forward and touch my lips to his scars.

“Or what?” For the first time, I get to see him smile. And what an incredible sight that is.

I trail my thumb down his chin. “Or it’ll be my turn to spank you.”

With a growl, he rolls over me, pinning me to the mattress. “I promise, no more secrets. But I can’t say there won’t ever be spankings.”

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