Page 77 of Savage Reign

I lower her into the water, her body sinking beneath the warm surface. A soft gasp escapes her lips, and her shivers subside as the heat works through her.

Taking care to prop her injured foot on the rim of the tub, I place a folded towel under her calf. Thankfully, it’s the ankle without the tracking device. Her soft murmur of satisfaction stirs something primal in me, but fuck, I’m not going there right now.

I don’t think twice before yanking my shirt over my head. My belt and pants follow, hitting the floor in a pile along with my shoes. Finally, I strip off my boxer briefs and step into the tub behind her. Days ago, she teased me about how often I got naked in front of her. Those other times, I was having fun. This time, I’m not.

The water laps against my skin as I pull her back against me. My arms wrap around her waist, her bare skin slick against mine.

“Better?” I murmur against her ear.

She nods faintly and relaxes against me. “So much better.”

I hate how close of a call that was. Heads will roll. But first, I need to take care of my wife.

My wife.

Sofiya fits perfectly into the curve of my frame. I run my hands up and down her arms, trying to chase the last of the chill away and steady her nerves.

I bury my face in the crook of her neck, breathing in the clean scent of her skin. “When I couldn’t find you, I almost lost it.”

Sofiya looks back at me. Her lashes lower, but not before I catch a flicker of hurt. “Because I’m your bargaining chip?”

I shake my head, cupping her face with one hand. “No.”

Her jaw tightens. “I don’t believe you.”

My lips crash against hers, the taste of salt and rain lingering on her skin. Her breath mingles with mine, warm and uneven, setting my pulse racing. I’m supposed to be unbreakable, a man without a weakness. Yet here I am, fucking powerless to resist her.

A knock on the bathroom door is followed by a familiar voice. “Nikolai, it’s Dr. Safin. Can I come in?”

“Yes.”

The doctor swings the door open, surprise flickering in her expression at finding me and Sofiya in the bath—a look she quickly tries to mask.

With her hair pulled back into a no-nonsense bun and glasses perched on her nose, she looks as professional as she is. Dr. Safin doesn’t bother with small talk—she’s here because she’s the best money can buy, and I pay her a fortune to be at my beck and call.

Her eyes settle on Sofiya, giving her a quick, clinical once-over. “What happened?”

“She was lost in the woods for hours. Hurt her ankle, and was freezing when I found her.” The guilt still presses down on me.

The doctor nods and starts to unpack her equipment. “Can I have the room, Mr. Zhukov?”

“She’s my wife. I’m not leaving,” I say firmly.

Dr. Safin blinks rapidly, caught off guard. My marriage is obviously news to her.

Sofiya’s hand finds mine under the water. “It’s okay, Niko. I already feel better. Give us a few minutes. I need some privacy.”

Fuck. I hate the idea of leaving her, but she called me ‘Niko’ for the first time—and with the look she’s giving me, I can’t say no.

I point a finger at the doctor. “You have twenty minutes. And she sleeps in my bed tonight.”

“Of course,” she responds as I rise from the water, taking care to be gentle. The doctor averts her eyes as I leave the bath and wrap a towel around my waist.

“I’m serious. I’m putting you on a timer,” I say, holding up my phone.

I find Emil pacing in my office like a restless animal. The moment he sees me, he freezes, hands clenched at his sides.

“Sofiya’s fine, right? Yelena said she didn’t need to go to the hospi?—”

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