Page 42 of Plus-Size Bratva Bride

I stood there, speechless, as the sincerity of his words washed over me. My anger had evaporated, replaced by a mixture of confusion and hope. "I… I don't know what to say," I admitted, my voice barely above a whisper.

I took a deep breath, my bottle-green eyes meeting his intense gaze. "It's not just that, Abe," I confessed, my voice softening. "You've been keeping your distance, and I… I'm tired of it. This push and pull between us, it's exhausting. Since that night we kissed, you’ve always been around but never in the same way. No innocent kisses, no lingering touches. Nothing."

My words hung in the air, heavy with the weight of unspoken emotions. I watched as Abe's expression shifted, his usual arrogance giving way to something more vulnerable. He stepped closer, the scent of his cologne making my head spin.

"Pippa," he murmured, his voice low and rough. "I didn't mean to push you away. I thought…"

"You thought what?" I pressed, my heart hammering in my chest.

"I thought I should give you space," he admitted. "You moved into my house the night after we slept together and I didn’t want you to think I had any ulterior motives. I didn’t want to put you in a position where you felt taken advantage of. I didn't want to cross any lines."

I couldn't help but let out a small, incredulous laugh. "Since when does Abrahim Ustinov worry about crossing lines?"

A slow smile spread across his face, reminiscent of the cocky grin I'd grown accustomed to. "Since you, apparently."

“Since me?” my voice came out in a whimper, while my heart soared like a rocket.

Unbelievable. Abe Ustinov had been thinking of me this whole time. He’d been putting me first. Right about then, I was the happiest woman alive.

Before I could respond, Abe reached out, his fingers brushing against my cheek in a surprisingly tender gesture. I felt my breath hitch, my body instinctively leaning into his touch. The air between us crackled with tension, and I found myself hyper-aware of every detail—the warmth of his hand, the intensity in his eyes, the way his tattoos peeked out from beneath his crisp shirt sleeve.

"Abe," I whispered, my voice trembling slightly. "What are we doing?"

His thumb traced my jawline, sending shivers down my spine. "Something we should have done a long time ago," he murmured, his gaze dropping to my lips.

My heart raced as Abe closed the remaining distance between us with a determined stride. His hands cupped my face, rough calluses contrasting with the gentleness of his touch. I could feel the warmth of his breath on my skin as his lips hovered just above mine.

"Pippa," he murmured, his voice low and husky. "I promise you, I'll not be keeping my distance again. Not from you."

I swallowed hard, my eyes locked on his. "You better mean that, Ustinov," I managed to say, trying to inject some sass into my voice despite the tremor I couldn't quite hide.

A hint of his signature smirk played at the corner of his mouth. "Oh, I mean it, Sweetheart."

Before I could ask what that meant, Abe's lips crashed into mine. The kiss was everything I'd imagined and more—passionate, consuming, a culmination of all our pent-up emotions and unspoken desires. His hands slid into my hair, messing up the curls I'd spent an hour perfecting this morning, but I couldn't bring myself to care.

I gripped the lapels of his perfectly tailored suit, pulling him closer as I returned the kiss with equal fervor. The world around us faded away until there was nothing but Abe and the fire he ignited within me.

Chapter 16 - Abe

I broke away from the kiss, my chest heaving while I struggled to catch my breath. All the sounds rushed back. My eyes, still hazy with desire, swept across the bustling casino floor.

Fuck.We were still in public.

I wanted nothing more than to pull her close and claim those luscious lips once more. Damn those prying eyes!

I grabbed Pippa's hand and leaned in close, whispering, "Not here," unable to keep the mischievous grin off my face. I needed to get her out of here, somewhere more private, to show her exactly what I meant when I said I wouldn’t be giving her space anymore.

Pippa's eyebrow arched, a hint of sass in her voice as she murmured, "Oh? And where exactly did you have in mind, Mr. Ustinov?"

I chuckled, drinking in the sight of her flushed cheeks and the way her ample curves strained against that tantalizing pencil skirt. "Somewhere more… private. Unless you'd prefer to give these fine folks a show?"

Her green eyes widened, excitement flashing across her face. "You wouldn't dare," she challenged, but I could hear the breathless anticipation in her tone.

"Try me, Darlin'," I growled, my grip on her hand tightening slightly. The charged atmosphere between us was almost palpable, crackling with unresolved tension and desire.

She giggled and I tugged gently on her hand, leading her away from the crowded casino floor. "Come on," I urged, my voice low and husky, picking up the pace.

She laughed louder and we broke out into a run. The click of her heels against the marble floor echoed in my ears, matching the rapid beat of my heart. Neon lights flashed, slot machines chimed, but all I could focus on was the electricity coursing between us.

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