Page 75 of Untamed

Ha. Like it’s past tense.

Hope glints in her eyes as if she still wants to believe that siblings can love each other. That not everyone’s toxic and hurtful. It’ll be a sore point for her. But I’m not gonna lie.

“I love my family to my core. I’d do anything for them,” I tell her, my voice a little hoarse. I swallow hard, unexpectedly choked up. I miss home. I miss my sisters. I miss my brothers ribbing me, bossing me around, and telling me stories of their ways. I miss my grandfather hobbling around on his cane, doling out Russian adages and wisdom. “I’d do anything for them.”

“Anything?” Her brows knit together as if it’s a concept she can’t quite grasp.

“Anything,” I repeat. “Including taking a woman I want to keep locked away from the eyes of everyone into the public eye. Where other men could look at her.”

Not too far away, a wolf howls. I tug her in closer to me. This cabin’s sturdy and secure, but we are in the middle of nowhere.

I wish we could stay here.

“I think I’ve read too many romance novels,” she whispers, her eyes wide as she plants both hands flat on my chest.

“Yeah?”

Nodding, she continues. “For a minute, I thought that wolf might’ve been a rival shifter.”

“A rivalwhat?”

She’s so pretty when she snorts with laughter. I lace my hand behind the back of her head and tug her to me so I can kiss her. This time, the kiss is gentle, almost tentative, as I tease her with the brush of my lips to hers. But when I taste her, I can’t help myself. Our tongues touch the barest flicker. I bend her head back and touch my tongue to hers again, relishing the sound of her soft moan and the feel of her pliant body in my hands.

We pull away, panting. “Shifter,” she whispers. “A possessive alpha who transforms into a wolf when someone threatens his woman.”

“Ah.” I nod as if I have a fucking clue what she’s talking about. “Wouldn’t anyone transform into a wolf when someone threatens his woman?”

The sadness in her eyes takes me by surprise. “No, Rodion. But I love that you asked that.Loveit.”

“You girls read the strangest things.”

With a shrug, she stifles a yawn. I wore her out.

It feels like a badge of honor.

“Let’s get you to bed. In the morning, we’ll go back to your place and pack a bag before we catch our flight.”

It will be a test for both of us. I haven’t told her yet that my whole family has decided to come to New York. Turns out Polina wants to spend time with her family, and Rafail wants to meet the woman I’m bringing along. That led to Semyon wanting to scope the Romanov family stomping grounds, followed by Zoya saying she didn’t want to stay home alone, and when Yana found out they were all going to New York, she booked a flight from Cape Town to tag along.

“I want to know more about you though,” she says as she stifles another yawn.

I tilt my head, smirking as I lean in closer. “You’re stalling. Don’t make me sit here and make you go to sleep. I’ve got all night.”

“You wouldn’t dare.”

“Oh, I would,” I murmur, my voice dropping enough so that she shivers against me. “You want to test me? I’ll even read you a bedtime story. Something uplifting, likeCrime and Punishment.”

“Oh god. The absolute worst way to punish a romance girlie. You’re relentless.”

“Andyouare overdue for some rest.” My tone softens as she struggles to keep her eyelids open. I lift her, cradling her in my arms while I get to my feet and head to the bed. Wordlessly, I tuck her against one shoulder as I pull the blanket down and lay her on the bed.

This, this right here…

Taking care of her when she’s tired, tucking the blanket around her, and watching the way she falls asleep… I didn’t know I needed this.

She’s asking questions. She deserves answers. Answers I’m not sure I know how to give while keeping her safe.

I wish I could wrap her in a bubble where no one could touch her. My gut says she had her innocence stolen once. I’ve watched her moon over her books, and while she might laugh it off as a pastime, I know better.

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