Page 28 of Bound by Blood

She glared up at him and remained silent for a full minute before finally giving him what he demanded. “I was seventeen. He’s not my fiancé.”

He nodded, satisfaction flaring in his eyes that she hadn't been with her mythical fiancé. “How many times?”

“Fuck you!” she spat.

“Laney,” he growled in warning, shifting his hips and thrusting his erection against the softness of her pussy and forcing a gasp from her. “Don’t fuck with me right now. You are on tight leash and I want answers. How many times did he fuck you when you were seventeen?”

Laney wanted to cry. The memories of her first lover and what her father had done to him swept over her. She glared up at Boris, putting every ounce of hate she felt into that one look. “Once.”

He nodded as though finally understanding something. His grip on her softened.Big mistake, Godzilla. Laney yanked her wrist out of his grip and sent her fist flying into his throat. Boris snarled and choked, reared back and drew his fist back automatically, but then immediately checked the response. Instead, he maneuvered Laney so she was laying facedown with her arms wrenched behind her back.

“Blyad, woman, you are fucking menace,” he snapped hoarsely, massaging his throat with his other hand.

He watched her slim body for a moment as she heaved underneath him before finally giving up and simply turning her face to the side so she could breathe. When he had his own temper under control he leaned across her back, crushing her arms between then and placed his bearded cheek next to hers.

“Is this why you ran from me,moykotenok? You were scared? You are still frightened, aren't you? This is why you have not told me you are finished your pain and your period. I have tortured men before, Laney, I know when a person is faking pain and when they are not.” His voice took on a soothing edge as he spoke. “You are inexperienced and I am large man. It makes sense that you might fear to be with me, but you do not need to fear any longer. I will take care of you.”

“Fuck you,” Laney snapped.

“Yes, that will definitely happen again. But before we do that, let us go topside. I need to show you that I keep my promises.”

CHAPTER TWELVE

To Laney’s astonishment he eased back and assisted her from the bed with a hand on her elbow. She tried to jerk back from him, but he retained a tight hold on her. He picked up his leather coat from the couch and pulled it over Laney’s shoulders. She would have laughed if she’d been in the mood. It swam around her, the sleeves reaching well past her hands and the bottom nearly to her knees. It was beyond heavy.

“I can’t wear this,” she protested when he turned her to face him and zipped it up the front. “I look ridiculous!”

She lifted her arms and tried to pull her hands out, but couldn’t. She frowned up at Boris in disbelief but he gazed back unrelentingly. “You want to go outside, you wear this. I have been through your clothing and you have nothing appropriate for weather. Is still raining. You were lucky not to catch cold when I found you before,” he grumbled disapprovingly.

Her mouth opened for a moment before she replied, “Okay, mom. What about you? If I wear your jacket then you won't have anything.”

He flashed her one of his trademark grins that made her knees go a little weak and the blood race through her veins. “I run hot,kotenok. You have spent enough time in my bed to know this. I will be just fine, but I thank you for your concern.”

She blushed. Shehadspent every night of the past four nights in bed with him and the man was like an inferno. Despite her desperate attempts to hug the edge of the bed each night as she fell asleep, each morning she would find herself wrapped around his warm, solid length with his arm tight around her waist. She justified the circumstance by telling herself he was just too damn big to avoid in such a small space.

He bent and dropped a quick kiss on her lips before she could protest or back away, then quickly escorted her from the cabin. Their walk to the top deck was accomplished with such speed and precise avoidance of all on board staff that she began to speculate the addition to her attire was his attempt to cover her from male eyes. It would seem her Russian enforcer had a real jealous streak. The rain that Boris predicted was light and didn’t detract from Laney’s enjoyment in the least.

As soon as they entered the front of the ship where she could see the ocean and breathe the fresh air, she wiggled out of Boris’ grasp and rushed forward, throwing her arms wide. He chuckled and followed behind her as she spun around tilting her head back, enjoying the light drizzle as it fell on her face. She grinned and ran from one end of the deck to the other, staring out at the ocean as though she’d never seen it before, though she had spent several hours sitting on top of the shipping containers doing exactly the same thing only a few days earlier. Finally, she settled her body against one spot where she could stand on a thickly welded bolt and lean her arms on top of the railing.

Boris stood behind her with his hands braced on either side of her. She didn’t mind though. He made her feel safe. “You love the ocean?” he asked, bringing his bearded face close to her ear so she could hear him over the roar and rush of the ship and waves.

She nodded and then tilted her head, turning her face toward his. “It’s the freedom. The open space, the endless movement and the timelessness of air and water together. It rushes through my body and becomes part of me. That feeling when I’m not trapped,” she tried to explain.

She badly wanted to see understanding in his dark eyes. Instead, a frown of concern creased his brows and he seemed about to speak. She shook her head and pushed back against his arms. “I’m done,” she said, breaking away from him and moving to go back to the cabin.

He caught the sleeve of his leather coat and stopped her. “Explain what you mean, Laney,” he demanded. “Why are you trapped? Do you think I’m trapping you?”

She turned around and glared at him in frustration, trying again to shake her hand free of the stupid long sleeve. Her attempt was once again unsuccessful. “It’s not about you, Boris,” she snapped.

“Then what is it about?”

“Just…,” she sighed impatiently, not knowing how to finish the sentence. Finally, she twisted so her back was to him. “Why can’t you just let me go?” she snapped.

“That will never happen,” he growled loudly, jerking her closer.

“Hong Kong is three days away,” Laney pointed out, trepidation shivering through her. She had three days to accomplish her task. In her heart, she knew she wouldn’t. Knew she couldn’t. But the sacrifice she was making was unthinkable.

Suddenly, she hated him for what she had to do. What sheknewshe couldn’t do. Because, god help her, she’d fallen in love with Boris. His continued silence pissed her off. She wrenched the zipper on his coat down and twisted out of the leather, lunging away from him. She took off at a sprint, knowing her only chance was to outrun him on the slippery deck. Boris was fast, but she was lighter and probably just a little bit faster, especially when she had the element of surprise.

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