Page 129 of Beautiful Beast

“I’m not sorry about that.” He kisses along my neck, then moves down to my chest, pleasuring my breasts for a moment. “God, Anya, I’m fucking obsessed.”

“With my body?”

“With you.”

I arch into him as he kisses back up to my lips. It’s a lazy kiss. A perfect post-coital kiss.

“I can’t believe how easy it has become between us,” I murmur against his lips.

“We still have more battles. But I agree. I never thought I could be this open with someone. But you’ve changed me, Anya. I don’t even know how you did it.”

“I didn’t change you. You chose to change. I could never make you, that’s for sure.”

He chuckles. “That is true.” With a sigh, he pulls out of me and stands up, raking his eyes over me. “If I could capture the way you look in this moment forever, fuck …” He shakes his head, his eyes darkening. “You’re perfect like this.”

“Naked?”

“Content. You look content right now. I don’t think I’ve ever seen you look that way before.”

“Maybe that’s because I’m falling in love,” I admit.

There. I put it out there. Erik and I have been through a lot these past few months. From hatred to care. From battles to kidnappings.

The final act was Erik saving Nadia. I can’t hate him at all anymore. So, instead of choosing to live my life with hate in my heart, I want to live it with love.

Erik’s eyes widen at my admission. “Anya …”

“You don’t have to say anything.” I sit up and slip my dress back on. “Maybe I shouldn’t have said it.”

“I don’t want you to hide your feelings from me.”

“But if you don’t feel the same way, I …”

“Hey.” He cups my face between his strong hands. “I’m figuring all this out, same as you. I’ve never been in love. I’ve never allowed myself to feel love before. But I know I care for you. I know I can’t get you off my mind. I know I want to see you happy. And if that’s love, then …”

A loud bang on the front door makes us pull apart.

Just like that, our moment is interrupted.

Chapter

Twenty

ANYA

The sight of my father standing in the doorway is not a surprise. I knew he’d come looking for Nadia sooner or later. Guess it only took him about an hour to realize she was gone. For how much he ignores Nadia, I would’ve thought it would have been much longer.

“Sergei,” Erik says, blocking the doorway so my father can’t enter.

“You have my daughter. Let me in.”

“It’s true. I took Nadia.”

“So, you admit it. You kidnapped her.”

“No. I saved her. You treated both of your daughters like shit. I decided Nadia wasn’t safe with you and that she’d be much safer with me. Besides, Anya has a right to be with her sister.”

The way Erik talks about Nadia and me now is vastly different from just a few months ago. He really has changed. And even if he can never love me in return, I know he’s become a better man. Maybe he’ll never be truly “good,” but in the world of the Bratva, a better man is what to hope for.

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