Page 25 of Captivated By the Bratva

“They stole both of our rentals,” he griped.

“What!” I struggled to get him to turn so I could see. No longer hitting him or demanding that he put me down, I gave up on protesting. He’d made his point clear. He didn’t intend to release me. Not until he delivered me to the fiancé I wanted to avoid.

As he lowered and set me on my feet, I experienced a confusing, stupid sensation of loss. I didn’twanthim to let me go, and I hated that I could pull off such a one-eighty.

One kiss, and I was stuck on wanting him? It made no sense.

“They stole my car.”

He deadpanned at me. “I just said that.”

“But…” I furrowed my brow, annoyed with this drenched-to-my-bones feeling. Rain sheeted down without pause, and the low, dark clouds hinted at these conditions continuing for a long while.

“Come on.” He took my hand and stepped away, but I stayed rooted in place.

“For fuck’s sake, Nadia, don’t make me carry you again.”

I glowered at him. “I don’t even know your name.”

“Why do you care?” He rubbed his free hand over his face, swiping the water away. “So you can bitch at me with a personal effect?”

I gave him the finger.

“Or so you can dream about screaming it?” He got into my space, giving me that cocky smirk as he lowered his gaze to my breasts.

“I won’t?—”

A loud boom of thunder cut me off. The vibration from the earth traveled up my legs, trembling me from my feet to my knees.

“I said let’s go.” He shackled his fingers around my wrist and pulled me to walk with him again.

“What’s your name?” I repeated, knowing it wouldn’t change anything. He was determined to do as his boss tasked him. But I hated to realize that I wanted to know.

“Maxim.”

Maxim Valkov.I mentally repeated it to myself, like filing it away for future reference. It suited him. Powerful and direct. A mighty name for a mightier man. Yet, I couldn’t allow myself to admire him. It’d be wrong. Even though he kissed me like I’d always dreamed a man might, he was the enemy. As long as he planned to bring me back home to force me into a marriage with Lev Avilov, he remained my adversary. But…

“Why did you fight that man in London if you intended to bring me to Mr. Avilov?”

He scowled, scrunching his face up as he peered at me in the rain. “What?”

“That man…” I licked my lips, wishing the rain wasn’t so hard that it washed away the lingering, bold taste Maxim had given me with that kiss. I yearned to repeat it. I’d never been kissed before, and the newness of that gesture was addicting. No,hewas addicting. I longed for another hit of heat to course through me. I missed the thrill of his tongue exploring my mouth and the flame of wanton need he inspired to flare inside me.

“What about him?” he asked.

“He was Mr. Avilov’s man.”

Stopping short, he faced me directly. That charming, smug smile was gone. Stupefied, he stared at me as the rain fell harder. “He was what?”

“That man in the bar that I was running from.” I dragged my wet hair from my face. “He was an Avilov man.”

He shook his head. “No. He couldn’t have been.”

I smirked. “Oh, you’d know?”

“Yes, Iwouldknow. That man didn’t have a mark on him.”

“A branding?” I taunted, laughing.

---