Page 57 of Plus-Size Bratva Bride

I froze, my heart hammering against my ribs. Fuck. I wasn't prepared for this. Give me a physical fight any day, but emotions? That was unfamiliar territory.

"We're… connecting," I managed, my voice gruff. I tried to lean in for another kiss and gently slide my cock back into her, but Pippa held me at bay.

"No, I mean…" She bit her lip, hesitating. "What am I to you? Is this just… physical?"

The tension in the room thickened. I could feel my palms starting to sweat. How the hell was I supposed to answer that? While we were having sex. Really? I'd never been in this situation before. Women came and went, no strings attached. But Pippa… she was different. Special. And that terrified me.

There were no words to explain how I felt. They wouldallfall short.

“I … need you to tell me what I want to hear, Abe. Don’t you understand?”

Of course I understood. I needed her to tell me what I wanted to, and she always did.

“Sweetheart,” I gently rolled my hips against hers and despite the strangeness of the moment, she thrust to meet me halfway. “Can’t you see how much I fucking want you? Can’t you see that I need you? Can't you feel the wildfire in my touch, hear the desperate heat in my voice? When you’re not around, all I want is to fucking hunt you down, pull you into a corner, rip off those pesky clothes. I need you, Pippa, like I need the very air I breathe.”

I watched as disappointment flickered across her face, her shoulders sagging slightly. Shit. That wasn't the right answer, was it?

"I see," Pippa murmured, her voice soft but laced with a determination that made my stomach clench. She gently pushed me off, and of course, I didn’t fight it.

"Wait," I said, reaching for her. "Where are you going? We're not done here."

Pippa stepped back, just out of my reach. The fire in her eyes had dimmed, replaced by a resolute coolness that made me feel like I'd just lost something precious.

"I think we are, Abe," she said, her chin lifted defiantly. "I need more than just physical desire. I need… I deserve more than that."

I stood there, dumbstruck, and watched her put on her clothes in a haphazard rush.

I stood there, frozen in place, my mind reeling. “Pippa, let’s just talk it out,” I tried to tell her.

My fists clenched at my sides, frustration and regret coursing through me. She was already halfway to the door.

At the sound of my voice, she paused, turning to face me. Her green eyes, usually so warm, now held a steely resolve that made my chest tighten.

"Don't," she said, her voice firm but tinged with sadness. "Just… don't, Abe."

I took a step toward her, my hand outstretched. "Can we talk about this? I didn't mean to—"

"To what?" Pippa interrupted, her tone sharp. "To make me feel like I'm just another conquest? Another notch on your belt? Just a nice fuck?”

Her words hit me like a punch to the gut. Is that really what she thought? Is that what I'd made her feel like?

"That's not what this is," I insisted, taking another step closer. “I didn’t mean for this to come across like that.”

Pippa held up a hand, stopping me in my tracks. "I told you not to touch me anymore, Abe. I meant it."

I dropped my hand, feeling utterly helpless. This wasn't how things were supposed to go. Standing there, watching Pippa's retreating form, I realized I'd never wanted anything—or anyone—more than I wanted her.

And I'd fucked it all up.

I watched her walk away, straightening her blouse and running a hand through her tousled hair, I felt a surge of panic. I wanted to call out, to stop her, to say something—anything—to make her stay. But the words wouldn't come. I stood there, silent and conflicted, as the door closed behind her with a soft click.

Fuck. What had I done?

Chapter 21 - Pippa

I stared at the resignation letter on my kitchen table, torn on what to do. I had written it up on an impulse, when the pain of knowing Abe couldn’t give what I wanted most became a little too much.

My eyes filled with tears, blurring the carefully crafted words before me. This had been the toughest letter I had ever written. The thought of leaving the Vadims, the only real family I'd known since losing my parents, made my chest tighten.

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