Page 38 of Captivated By the Bratva

“And if you have to do your ‘job’ and bring me home, that’s your choice. Just the same as it is mine to avoid that man until the day I die.” I lowered my hand to slide it up along his jaw, cupping his face. “And it’s my choice to go along with you so you’re not found negligent in what’s expected of you. I hate that you’re hurt. I don’t want you to suffer.” I swallowed hard.Even though I am suffering so much to accept that you don’t want me.“But I willnotmarry him.”

“You don’t have a choice, Nadia. That’s how things work in our world.”

I shook my head, crawling closer to straddle his lap. “I will make whatever choices I want. Like this.” I lowered closer to press my lips to his still set in a firm line. “and like this.” Breathing hard at the desire glittering in his eyes, I kissed him again, harder and longer.

He growled into my mouth, sweeping his tongue in to taste me. Bringing his hands up to my ass, he pulled me up along his lapto secure me closer to the erection bulging under his sweatpants. He nipped. He licked. He stole my breath as he kissed me back.

“And this?” he asked, undoing the bra he’d only just helped me put on. His fingers remained on my back, slowly dragging the straps away.

I nodded, and with a whiny sound of need, I lowered one arm for him to remove the lingerie. Kissing him again, I resolved to take all that he offered.

It was impossible to stay smart with him. Refusing to act on this simmering tension between us would be a crime.

I wanted him, needed him, and as he rolled me onto the bed with him, hovering over me, I saw how badly he felt the same.

“If I had a choice…” He raked his hungry gaze over me as he slid my bra off my other arm. “Fuck,” he growled, opting to bring his mouth down to my breast. His lips closed over my nipple, and as he flicked the tip of his tongue over the hard bud, I gasped at the sweet tension coiling so low in my abdomen.

Before he got too far in sucking on my nipples and sliding his hand under my waistband, his phone rang.

I whined, pouting at the interruption. Desire controlled me. Heat filled me with impatience to reclaim the bliss that I knew I could find in his masterful touch.

“Dammit.” He dropped his head to me, resting it on my chest. Eyes closed, he looked truly pained to be stopped. But he did. He cursed some more as he got up and stood next to the bed. “Stay.” He dragged his hot stare up and down me. “Just like that.”

I swallowed and met his gaze. Nodding, I let him see that I was here for him. He could take what he wanted. I would give it all tohim, and I wished he could understand that in the deepest way possible.

I would choose to be his. Every time, I would decide to welcome him into my life.

All he had to do was ask. If he wanted me to stay put forhim, I would.

He grabbed his phone and stalked off, adjusting his erection under his pants. “Alek? Yeah, I’m here.”

That was all I got of the phone call because he went into the other bathroom, the one I’d showered in, and held his conversation in there. It didn’t last long. I slumped back to stare at the ceiling and wonder how things could be different between us, and within a couple of minutes—when no solutions came to mind—he returned.

The lust that burned in his eyes was gone. It had been replaced with annoyance. Irritation. He sat on the edge of the bed, at the end, and raked his hand through his hair. The long locks slid right back over to shield his brow as he hung his head.

“Bad call?” I guessed, hating that the moment had been ruined. I understood that Maxim would give me up, and soon. It reconfirmed my wish to enjoy the little time that I would have with him while it lasted.

“He wanted an update,” he said dryly, twisting to face me.

I leaned up on one elbow, not flinching at his words.

“He said it shouldn’t be taking this long to bring one reluctant bride home.”

I shrugged. “I won’t apologize for the delay.”

“Obviously,” he quipped wryly.

“But I hate that he’s stressed about my pulling off this job right now.”

“How so?”

He sighed and glanced away. “Well, for one thing, it’s my first real assignment. I was always the behind-the-scenes guy. The brother who handled the books, then later, the computer end of things.”

My brows lifted high, and I didn’t care about masking my surprise. “Really?”

He nodded, frowning at me. “Yeah.”

“Huh.”

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