Page 36 of Captivated By the Bratva

“If you need anything, anything else at all,” he said with a knowing look, “please don’t hesitate to let me know.”

I nodded once and left the lobby to head up to the rooms. I was past due for a shower, a meal or two.

And preferably, a chance to start the process of shutting out Nadia. I’d keep her safe, but emotional distance would help. We weren’t partners on a vacation. We weren’t lovers heading up to spend the day in bed.

“We’ll rest up some and fly back tomorrow,” I announced as she hurried to catch up with me at the elevator doors.

I noted her bewildered expression in the reflection of the shiny elevator doors. She wouldn’t turn and face me, but she gaped at herself. Shocked. Stunned. Which made no sense. She knew why I was here.

But I hated the hurt that lingered in her eyes, as if she’d expected—and hoped—for an alternative option for us.

14

NADIA

Tomorrow.

Maxim was the master at being hot and cold with me. He’d risk himself and take a bullet for me, but he’d stand by his decision to hand me over to Lev.

It wasn’t fair. Yet, I knew that telling him that would result in nothing. He wasn’t going to change his mind about this. I saw it in the firm clench of his jaw, the refusal to make direct eye contact.

He was putting up walls, blocking me from mattering to him, and I hated how much it stung. It hurt. My stomach tensed and my heart ached. Deep inside, I felt rejected and unwanted, abandoned by the man I’d given my virginity to even though I hadn’t even known him for long.

Because I wanted to know him. I yearned to feel him again, and being pushed away wasn’t a pleasant sensation.

The elevator ride up to our floor was silent and tense. He didn’t glance at me, stone-faced and somber, and I kept my gaze plastered to the floor. My fingers itched to reach out to him,but even that was telling. Up until this moment, he’d made sure to always have his hands on me somehow. Holding me to him. Hauling me over his shoulder. Filling me with his dick. And even gently carrying me to that bed.

I wasn’t so foolish as to think he was cocky now. He would restrain me if he wanted to, because he’d made himself clear. He would see through this job and bring me home to my dad and Lev.

Without his grip on me, I felt… lost. I wanted him to make contact. I missed being held in any way. Even the harsh, bossy holds on my hands. I wanted a chance to be his like that again.

I wished to be his possession, his to hold and keep.

Keep dreaming.

It didn’t look likely.

“After you,” he said dully after he unlocked the door to our room moments later.

I didn’t speak, picking my brain for why he’d resort to such a bitter aloofness. It was as though he’d forgotten how he’d fucked me. How he’d growled into my mouth for deeper kisses.

As he deadbolted the door behind us, I watched the blood trickle from the wound on his arm. He’d turned toward me at the check-in desk, likely to hide it from the receptionist, but in the privacy of this room, he wasn’t worried about letting me see the damage.

“Shit. Maxim…” I reached out for his arm to check how bad it was, but he turned away, grimacing.

“Don’t.”

Is that why he’s in such a mood? Because he was shot?

“Let me see,” I insisted.

Still, he stepped aside. Pointing to the left, he raised his brows. “Go clean up.”

“But let me help?—”

“Go.”

I pressed my lips in a firm line, hating how he’d install distance between us. I didn’t argue, needing a chance to really clean up and shower. That place we’d broken into last night didn’t have running water, so this was a gift. All of this was a reward. I’d been worried about depleting my limited resources. I’d lost all my cash and cards when I was mugged, anyway, but Maxim had more than enough to provide for me.

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