Page 17 of The Bratva's Sold Bride

“Let’s check out the kitchen. There’s supposed to be food.”

She scowled and crossed her arms. “I’ll just stay out here for a while. If that’s okay with you?” The last part couldn’t have been more sarcastic if she tried.

“Suit yourself,” I said with a shrug, and went back in to inspect the kitchen.

The caretakers must have hired a team of at least twenty people when I messaged them from the airport to get the place ready by the time we arrived. The kitchen was spotless, and the refrigerator was well stocked with fresh fruit and an assortment of local beers. Peeking under a covered dish revealed a mouthwatering-looking stew, and there was a pot waiting on one of the burners.

A note gave instructions and explained where everything was, and I smiled at Rita’s grandmotherly care. She and her husband had done a great job keeping the place fromdisintegrating, and I wished I’d come out more over the years to visit them and take advantage of this amazing place.

Well, I was here now, and better yet, I had Olivia to share it with. While the stew heated up, I sliced up a mango and some peaches, surprised at how much I enjoyed the feeling of domestic bliss.

“Dinner’s ready,” I called out through the arches.

Olivia sat in one of the lounge chairs, staring at the sparkles the lowering sun made on the turquoise water in the pool. It was hard to believe everything that happened only started this morning and not several days ago.

“I’m fine,” she said, not looking at me.

Yep, definitely still pissed. She’d probably worked herself up into being even angrier in the time she’d been alone.

“Come on,” I urged. “You must be starving. Don’t be stubborn and miss out on this amazing stew.”

She turned to me with narrowed eyes. “Don’t you think you’ve bossed me around enough for one day?”

Ah, she was no meek little mouse, never had been. I loved witnessing her spark since I was so used to seeing her being prim and proper in her role as Max’s assistant. When I didn’t answer her, she shrugged and turned back to watching the pool. I did what anyone would do in that situation: I served myself a big portion of the meaty stew, along with the fresh fruit slices and a tall glass of beer, and brought it outside to eat beside her.

I pointed at the sun about to drop down below the mountains, and she sighed. “We’re surrounded by them, aren’t we? Like giant stone walls.”

“I never took you for the dramatic sort,” I said. “Don’t forget the jungle, too. You’d likely never make it to the mountains.”

“I was only making an observation,” she said with exaggerated innocence. “About the beautiful scenery.”

“Oh, well, in that case, so was I,” I said, taking a big bite. “You should really try this. I swear I need to get the recipe for my restaurant.”

“I told you I’m perfectly fine,” she said at the same moment her stomach growled so loudly the people in the village could have heard it.

I held out a bite. After a second, she begrudgingly took it, pretending with all her might that it wasn’t just about the most delicious thing she ever ate. She nodded to me to give her another, and I happily obliged.

“I need to keep my strength up, after all,” she said, glaring toward the mountains with a fury.

I was glad she seemed to be joking around, but then I wondered if she might really try something so foolish. “In case you’re thinking about setting off on foot,” I said, keeping my voice neutral. “I mean, just for a hike or something, you should remember the snakes. And the coyotes and pumas, not to mention the terrain alone, can be deadly.”

She turned away, not wanting another bite. “I guess I’m truly trapped,” she muttered.

I didn’t like that she felt that way, or how her words stabbed at my heart.

“Look at me,” I ordered, shocked when she actually did. Her eyes were full of everything from anger to despair, killing mea little bit more. But there was that kiss at the church, too. Her eyes couldn’t lie, but her body couldn’t either.

“Good, now look me in the eyes and tell me you’ve never been attracted to me,” I said.

Her gaze didn’t falter. “Yes, I used to find you very attractive. Hot as hell, in fact. But now I see you for what you really are. A monster like my father. And Rurik Kuzmin.”

It felt like the blow it was meant to be, and she jumped up, flouncing toward the house. I was faster, cutting her off before she reached the archways. Grabbing her around the waist, I whipped her body flush with mine, holding her tight to me.

“You sure didn’t kiss me like I was a monster at our wedding,” I said, slamming my mouth onto hers.

She grappled at my chest, her nails clawing into my skin through my shirt. Then she reached and grabbed a handful of my hair, intent on ripping out a chunk. I kept my lips on hers, easing the tight line apart with my tongue. An instant later, she collapsed against me, her hands moving sinuously through my hair instead of trying to tear it out. She gasped as she opened her mouth to me, and our tongues tangled.

God, she was perfect. So full of heat and passion, and now it was all for me, not against me. I breathed her in as I tasted her, my hands smoothing down her back to grip her plump little ass. Her moan had me hard as a rock, and I yanked her closer to rub her soft curves against the growing steel of my cock.

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