Page 69 of Claim

I hate that it feels so good when he touches me. I want to be mad at him.

“I don’t know why you don’t trust me? Instead, you let that…womanshow me up? Do you have any idea how embarrassing that is? I’m supposed to be yourwife!”New tears flood out of my eyes and I fall nose first into the damp silk again.

His fingers wrap around my shoulders, and he pulls me up to look at him.

“She’s never seen my face after the?—”

A searing, stabbing pain shoots through my chest, a physical manifestation of the anguish I see in his eyes. I gently placed my palm against his warm cheek, feeling the faint pulse beneath my fingertips.

“So I have to live the rest of my life with a man who will never show me his complete self? You love me. You don’t want to lose me. Don’t you think I deserve something more? If you really cared, don’t you want me to be happy?” I sob the last words out.

Because with him, I am the happiest I have ever been. And I think it’s the same for him too. We were forced together in this cruel world for a reason.

“You aren’t happy? I don’t make you smile?” The sadness in his voice makes my throat close up.

“You do, and that’s what hurts. I’m in love with a man who believes he’s a monster with no heart. And I don’t think there’s anything I can do to make you see that there is something beautiful beating in that enormous chest of yours. That you do, in fact, have the capability to love extremely hard, you just won’t admit it. But I can’t live my life with someone that won’t bare their soul to me and show me the scars that run so deep they shut themselves off from happiness. I want the man under that mask to love me fiercely. To show me his darkness and let me bring him into the light. I know what I want, Mikhail. You. But not just the parts you aren’t afraid to show me. All of it. Every horrible part so I can love them, too.”

I turn away from him, not even wanting to read his reaction. Every word I said is the truth. I am in love with him way beyond his appearance. My heart beats for this man, my body comes alive for him and my soul is entwined with his.

“It’s because I love you that I don’t want to show you the parts I hate. The parts that nearly broke me. That make me weak. I love you too damn much to taint you with my flaws. I want to shield you from the dark, not drag you in with me.”

As my gaze meets his, fresh tears roll down my cheeks. He loves me too? I shake my head and run my hands through his soft hair.

“That isn’t how it works, Miki. Give me your demons. Let me dance in the rain with them. Why are you really hiding from me?” I whisper.

He sucks in a ragged breath, and the sight makes my own chest ache. His pain is mine.

“I don’t want to lose you. Maybe I’m fucking petrified you’ll see what’s under here and leave.” His words are almost a whisper.

I shake my head and stroke the fabric of his mask. Leaning in, I press a soft kiss next to his nose.

“You think that little of me? That there is seriously something under that mask that I’ll be repulsed by? That I’ll hate. Because there isn’t. Nothing. Mikhail.”

His eyes close and he sighs.

“If I can’t even look at it, why the hell would I expect you to?”

His voice is so raw. Broken almost. His fingers dig into my thigh and I place my other hand over his and squeeze for reassurance.

“Mikhail. Stop. I am never leaving your side. I’m your wife. You are my goddamn husband. Let me ask you a question…”

Silence fills the room and a knot of nerves forms in my stomach.

“Go on.”

To be closer to him, I sit on his lap and he lets out a groan, making me break into a smile.

“Now isn’t the time to tease me, iskorka,” he mutters, squeezing my hips.

“No, probably not. Just don’t focus on my butt for a few minutes.” I wink at him as he strokes a stray strand of hair away from my face.

“Your ass, Anastasia, is constantly on my mind.”

“Good. Now. Listen.” I give him a stern look. I take a breath through my nose before I continue.

“If something happened to me tomorrow, let’s say I get hit by a car, and my face is all smashed up, hardly recognizable even. I’m laying in a hospital bed, you’re probably holding my hand and plotting revenge. But would you want me any less because I didn’t look perfect anymore?”

He doesn’t hesitate in his response.

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