Page 65 of Ruthless Bratva King

“What?” I prompt, my throat dry. “Why?”

“I’ve never seen anything like it. He’s one dangerous son of a bitch.”

The words land heavily in my chest. I’m not sure if they’re comforting or terrifying. Probably both.

“I’m glad you’re okay,” I say softly. “I’ll check in with you later?”

“Sure thing. And Elena?” She pauses, her voice growing serious. “Whatever’s going on between you and Dmitri? I retract my suggestion of fuck and run. Don’t let him go. Guys like him don’t come around often. He’ll kill for you. That much is clear.”

I lower the phone to my lap, staring at the screen. Dmitri steps closer, his presence a steadying force, though it only makes my thoughts swirl faster.

“She’s safe,” I whisper.

“I know,” he replies, his tone calm.

But the chaos inside me is anything but calm. My hands shake as I try to reconcile the man who just saved my best friend with ruthless efficiency and the man who stands before me, watching me with those piercing, unreadable eyes.

He steps closer, his gaze softening as he continues. “I’m doing everything I can to keep you safe.”

“But who’s keeping you safe?” My voice breaks, and for a moment, I see the walls around him falter. “What if they’d killed you?”

He lifts a hand to my cheek, his touch gentle, almost reverent. “You don’t need to worry about me.”

But I do. I worry more than I should, more than I’ve let myself admit until now. Because somewhere along the way, this impossible, infuriating, dangerous man has claimed my heart, and now I don’t know what the hell to do about it.

48

DMITRI

“Come here,” I command.

Her cheeks flush as she steps closer, her bare feet padding softly against the polished wood floor. She stops just inches away from me, her gaze dropping to the ground.

I reach out, my fingers brushing under her chin, tilting her face up to meet mine. “Look at me.”

Her breath hitches, but she obeys, her blue eyes locking onto mine with an intensity that makes my chest tighten. She’s trembling, her innocence hanging between us like a fragile thread waiting to be snapped. And I will snap it—carefully, deliberately.

My hand trails down her neck, over the curve of her shoulder, until it rests on the small of her back. I pull her closer, our bodies pressing together, and I feel her heart racing against my chest.

“Good girl,” I murmur, my lips brushing against her ear. She shivers, and I can’t help but smile. She’s so responsive, so pliable. “Now, strip for me.”

Her breath catches again, and for a moment, I think she might protest. But then she nods, her hands moving to the delicate straps of her dress. She fumbles with them, hernervousness making her clumsy, and I let her struggle for a moment before I step in.

When the dress finally falls to the floor, pooling around her feet, she’s left standing in nothing but a lace bra and panties. Her skin is pale, flawless, and I can’t resist running my fingers along the curve of her hip.

“Beautiful,” I breathe, my eyes raking over her. She shifts uncomfortably under my scrutiny, but I don’t let her look away. “You’re perfect, Elena. Worth fighting for. Worth dying for.”

I step closer, my hands sliding up her sides, and she gasps as I unhook her bra. It joins the dress on the floor, leaving her exposed, her pert breasts rising and falling with each shallow breath.

“On the bed,” I command, pulling away just enough to meet her gaze. Her eyes are clouded with desire, her innocence still there but beginning to crack under the weight of her arousal.

She does as she’s told, going through to the bedroom, climbing onto the large bed and lying back against the silken sheets.

I follow her, climbing over her body until I’m hovering above her, my hands caging her in. She looks up at me, her lips parted, her chest heaving, and I can’t resist capturing her mouth with mine.

The kiss is deep, possessive, and she moans into it, her hands gripping my shoulders like she’s afraid I’ll disappear.

I break the kiss only to trail my lips down her body, stopping to tease each nipple with my tongue until she’s writhing beneath me.

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