Page 28 of Stolen By The Bratva King

“Protect me?” She lets out a bitter laugh, her voice dripping with disbelief. “You think tearing me away from the life I know, forcing me into a marriage I never asked for, is protection?”

“Yes,” I say, not even hesitating. “I won’t hurt you, Emery. Never.”

She stares at me, caught off guard by the certainty in my words.

“You’ve been following me, haven’t you?” she whispers. “I thought I was losing my mind.”

I nod, and she buries her face in her hands. “Oh my God. And did you steal my key and let yourself into my apartment?”

“Yeah, that happened.”

Her wild eyes meet mine, a mix of horror and disbelief. “Oh no. After you brought me the ramen?”

“That’s right.” I can’t keep the lusty edge out of my voice and try to add some levity. “Which did you go for in the end, shoyu or miso?”

Emery sinks onto the armchair. “You can’t do things like that to a woman,” she begins, avoiding looking at my face. “It’s not right.”

“I didn’t do it to justanywoman,” I say. “I did it toyou. And don’t tell me you didn’t want me to stay the other night; I saw it in your eyes. That’s why I came back, just in time to hear you moan my goddamn name.”

She shakes her head. “This is not fair. You’re dangerous.”

“Of course I’m dangerous,” I say. I drop to my knees but don’t let myself reach for her, though my every instinct screams otherwise. “But I would never ask you for anything you don’t want to give, Emery. I’m here to make sure no one else does, either.”

She looks up at me, searching my face as if trying to decipher the truth behind my words. There’s doubt in her eyes; she’s holding on to her anger because it’s safer than trusting me.

But trust isn’t the priority. Not yet. I need her to understand that she’s safe, even if she can’t yet believe it.

“You wanna know a secret?” I ask. She scoffs, but I know I have her attention. “I lay on your bedroom floor and listened to you come.”

Emery gasps before she can stop herself, and heat creeping over her chest. I seize her eyes with mine and kneel up so we’re face to face, my hands on either side of her, gripping the chair’s arms.

“I could have fucked you, couldn’t I?” I murmur. “You wanted it. I heard my name fall from your pretty lips, and I knew. I stole you, yes, but you wanted to belong to me, even if you won’t admit it.”

She’s frozen, but as I watch, she licks her lips, her breath warm between us.

“Tell me Dante never made you feel that way,” I say, trailing my hand over her collarbone and cupping her chin. “I’ll bet he couldn’t make you come like I could,val’kiriya.I’ll ruin you in every way you’ve ever imagined and a few more besides.”

Emery swallows hard. “I–I’m a virgin,” she whispers. “I never let Dante touch me.”

Sweet Jesus Christ andfuck.

This fucking stunning woman should have enjoyed all the sex in the world, but I’m ecstatic that she hasn’t. The things I’m gonna do to her, and it’ll all be new. I don’t deserve that kind of gift.

A tear rolls down Emery’s cheek. “He would have forced me,” she says. “Tonight, after the wedding. He told me so.”

I wish I’d killed Dante. He’ll die for the threat alone. How fuckingdarehe, the worthless cunt.

I swipe the tear with my thumb. “No real man does that, baby. It’s a low-down, filthy act and the sign of a true degenerate.”

I lean in, brushing my mouth over hers. “I know this isn’t what you wanted,” I whisper. “You’re angry; I get that. But you’re safe here. You’re safe with me.”

Despite everything, she yields to me, my tongue parting her lips.

Untouched.Innocent, new, fresh.

It never crossed my mind that a woman as gorgeous as her could be unsullied, especially when she was due to be married. Dante must have done a number on her if he felt able to threaten her sexually in such a disgusting way.

I would never, but I’m not a saint.

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