Page 13 of Plus-Size Bratva Bride

"Save it," I cut him off, whirling back to face him. "I don't need your pity or your explanations. I'm a grown woman."

But even as the words left my mouth, I felt anything but grown-up. I felt small, inexperienced, and utterly humiliated. The way Abe's eyes roamed over me now, so different from the heated gaze of moments ago, made me acutely aware of every imperfection.

Maybe I was right all along. Maybe he realized he was making a mistake sleeping with me when he could have any pretty little waif of a thing walking out there. I’d seen him, flirting around with those bombshell blondes.

"Just go," I whispered, hating how weak I sounded. "Please."

Abe hesitated, conflict clear on his face. For a moment, I thought he might argue, but then he nodded stiffly and headed for the door. As it clicked shut behind him, I collapsed into my chair, the fight draining out of me.

Alone in the quiet of my office, I buried my face in my hands. Thoughts raced through my mind, each one more painful than the last. Was it my inexperience that turned him off? Or was it my body? After everything, I had tried to find pride in my curves, but now I found myself questioning everything.

"Stupid, stupid, stupid," I muttered, angry at myself for letting things go this far, for thinking someone like Abe could ever want someone like me. I glanced at the mirror on the wall, taking in my disheveled appearance—smeared lipstick, mussed hair, flushed cheeks. I looked exactly like what I was: a virgin who'd gotten in over her head.

Chapter 6 - Abe

I burst through the casino doors, the cool night air hitting my face like a slap. What the hell just happened in there? My mind reeled, trying to process the fact that I'd nearly taken Pippa's virginity right there in her office.

"Fuck," I growled, pacing the sidewalk like a caged animal. My hands trembled as I ran them through my hair, tugging at the roots. The ghost of her soft curves still burned against my palms, her breathy moans echoing in my ears.

I wasthis closeto ripping off her clothes, laying her on that desk, shoving my cock into her warm pussy. If I hadn’t realized then, hadn’t commented on how tight she felt around my finger, this could have ended all wrong.

I'd been with countless women, but none had ever affected me like this. Pippa was infuriating, challenging me at every turn with that sharp tongue and those high walls. And yet, the moment I'd touched her…

"Get it together, Ustinov," I muttered, clenching my fists so hard my knuckles turned white. I could still smell her perfume on my skin.

My body thrummed with unfulfilled desire, every nerve ending on fire. I wanted nothing more than to march back inside and finish what we'd started, consequences be damned. But the image of Pippa's wide, innocent eyes flashed through my mind, tempering my lust with an unfamiliar protectiveness.

"She deserves better than a quick fuck in a casino," I growled, kicking at a nearby trash can. The metal clang echoed down the empty street, matching the chaos in my head.

I took a deep breath, trying to regain some semblance of control. This was Pippa we were talking about—a woman who tries to keep me out every chance she gets. The fact that she was a virgin shouldn't change anything.

And yet, it changed everything.

My mind drifted to past conquests, a parade of faceless women who'd been nothing more than temporary distractions. I'd always prided myself on my prowess, my ability to leave them breathless and begging for more. Rough, demanding, taking what I wanted without apology. The images rush back, of women on their knees, of the perfectly timed smack on a tight ass, hands and mouths gagged.

But with Pippa… Christ, I'd want to be gentle. To savor every curve, every soft sigh. The urge to protect warred with my base instincts, leaving me off-balance and confused.

"This is insane," I muttered, running a hand through my hair. "She's practically half your age, you idiot."

The age gap was just the tip of the iceberg. I ticked off reasons in my head like a goddamn shopping list:

1. She's too young.

2. She works for the boss.

3. She's a virgin, for fuck's sake.

4. We can't stand each other most of the time.

5. I'd probably break her with my usual… proclivities.

"Face it, Abe," I growled to myself. "You're too rough, too set in your ways. She deserves someone who can give her the fairy tale."

But even as I tried to convince myself, all I could think about was the way she'd melted against me, those bottle-greeneyes gazing up with a mixture of desire and trust that made my chest ache.

"Dammit, Pippa," I sighed, leaning against the cool brick of the building. "What the hell are you doing to me?"

The shrill ring of my phone cut through my brooding like a knife. I growled, fishing it out of my pocket with every intention of hurling it across the parking lot.

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