Page 30 of Bound by Blood

Laney hung onto him, her body shivering and shaking as her orgasm peaked and peaked, relentlessly refusing to let go while he touched every wonderful nerve-ending she never knew existed within her. She watched his face in wonderment, knowing he checked his incredible strength so as not to crush her in a loss of control. His eyes snapped down to hers, dark clashing with light. Possessive love lit his face and she wanted to look away, but he refused to release her. He hauled her further up against his chest, stared down at her and shoved his cock into her one last time with a ruthless grunt, flooding her with hot semen.

He held her like that for a long time, refusing to release her.

Finally, Laney whispered, “We haven’t used condoms.”

“Only with you,” he grunted, pulling out of her.

She felt warm fluid spill out of her and run down her legs. She shifted uncomfortably. He picked her up and dropped her on the bed. When she would have rolled off and gone to the bathroom to clean up, he stopped her with a hand on her belly. He used her torn shirt to wipe between her legs. She glared pointedly at the shirt, but he ignored her.

“Why only me?” she demanded. “I could get pregnant.”

“Good,” he grunted.

Her jaw dropped. She knew she really shouldn't be shocked by the depths of his machinations. “Not good!” she snapped. “I’m leaving for Japan in three days and you're headed to Russia. We might never see each other again.”

“We’ll see,” he said casually, not bothering to look up from where he sat on the edge of the bed scrolling through something on his satellite phone.

Laney frowned at his back. Wanting to snap him out of his casual attitude, she crossed her arms over her chest and said, “I’m pretty sure Jin isn’t going to be happy if I show up pregnant with another man’s baby.”

Boris’ head swiveled toward her, his eyes glowing. She had expected to see anger in his eyes though, not satisfaction. The bastard! He wanted her to get pregnant so her make-believe fiancé would dump her, leaving her fair game. She didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. What would Boris say if he found out he was actually trying to impregnate the woman contracted to assassinate him?

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

5 hours until they arrived in Hong Kong. It was now or never. She had to choose: Jin or Boris.There was no choice.Though it would shatter her heart, she knew what she must do. She crawled naked from beneath the covers, finding it surprisingly easy to slide from Boris’ side. He usually held her tightly within the circle of his arms, especially after they made love. Which they had done may times over the past several days.

Laney knew where he kept his blade, having watched like a hawk as he cared for his weapons and put them away each night before bed. Her own blades were lost to her forever. She would have to content herself with the unfamiliar weight of one of his. Originally, she had planned on using a bullet. But now that they were lovers, she knew she couldn't do anything so impersonal. She would do the honourable thing and spill his blood properly, with a blade.

She pulled the large knife from his bag and flipped it open, staring at it for a moment in the light from the porthole. She ran her finger over the blade, ensuring the paper-thin sharpness of its edge. Of course he would keep his weapons in excellent condition, same as her. The knife was too big for her small hand, but it would suffice. She had learned to be proficient with many weapons at an early age.

She turned and looked down at him, allowing her eyes to linger on the man who had ruthlessly pushed his way into her heart despite her every protest. She wanted to hate him for it. He was laying on his back, gloriously naked in the dim light. His tattooed chest and arms were bared to her tortured gaze. Over the past few days he had taught her that she was just as hungry for him as he was for her. He would reach for her in the night and in the day. So often did he want her, that time blurred until she did not know whether the moon shone or the sun rose. She would go eagerly into his arms, returning his caresses.

Laney pressed her lips together, forcing back a sob of despair. She had no choice! Boris could not reach Hong Kong alive. Failure was not an option. She approached the bed, her eyes dropping down his body one last time. She gasped, realizing that his cock was no longer laying soft against his thigh, but rapidly hardening in expectation. Her gaze flew up to meet his.

Boris was awake, watching her calmly as she stood over him with his own knife.

Laney had no choice. She leapt naked onto his chest and pressed the knife against his throat. She expected him to react defensively, to throw her, hit her, or crush her. She closed her eyes in anticipation of a blow landing. Her fingers trembled, but she could not bring herself to press the blade further into his neck.

Boris didn’t move.

A sob escaped her lips and her shoulders shook in reaction. She opened her eyes and looked down at him. His dark eyes captured hers. He didn’t look angry. He looked… understanding.

After a moment of unbearable tension, he spoke. One word only.

“Yakuza.”

It was a statement, not a question.

She jerked her head up and down in a nod. A tear escaped her eye. Finally, he brought his hand up. She flinched against him, causing the blade to dig ever so slightly into his throat. He stopped for just a second, as though waiting for her to calm, before continuing to lift his hand. He gently ran his thick fingers down the back of her ear. Laney sighed at the sensation, knowing he was tracing the tattoo of a tiny dragon behind her ear. She hadn’t gone in for the usual display of gang tattoos so she could complete her work more discreetly. However, she’d gotten the one small tattoo in honour of her first love after his death.

She frowned and whispered, “You’ve always known?”

His eyes pierced hers, telling her the truth without words.

“Why… why didn’t you or any other Russians get rid of me then? I don’t understand.” She brushed the tears away from her cheeks with her free hand.

His laugh held little humour. His huge hands fell to her waist, encompassing her completely and pinning her against him as though the danger of the blade against his jugular didn’t exist. Her body reacted instantly to the hard pressure of his cock against the curves of her bare ass, despite the deadly tension surrounding them.

His voice was low and guttural as he spoke, “You are my love, my heaven, Laneykotenok. I have known this from first sight, from first touch. Any man that lays finger on you is dead. You have always been worth my life. It is this simple. If you kill me now, I will follow you around in death as I would in life, until you decide to join me.”

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