Page 36 of Plus-Size Curves for the Bratva

"We should… we should get going," I manage, though I make no move to pull away. "It's late and we’re in the middle of nowhere."

Natalia nods, but her eyes never leave mine. "Yeah," she breathes. "We should."

Neither of us moves. The moment stretches, taut with possibility, and I wonder how much longer I can resist the pull between us.

I can't take it anymore. The tension snaps like a rubber band stretched too far. My hands slide into Natalia's soft hair, and I pull her to me, crushing my lips against hers. She gasps, then melts into the kiss, her small hands gripping my shirt.

The taste of her is intoxicating—sweet and warm, with a hint of the coffee she had earlier. I groan, deepening the kiss, my tongue seeking hers. Natalia responds with equal fervor, her inexperience evident, but her enthusiasm making up for it.

"Denis," she breathes against my lips, and I nearly lose control.

"Natalia," I growl, nipping at her lower lip. "You drive me crazy, you know that?"

She giggles, the sound both innocent and seductive. "Good," she says, her eyes sparkling with mischief. "I like driving you crazy."

Her hands trail down my chest, igniting sparks wherever she touches, until at last, she cups my cock through my trousers.

“Fuck,” I groan into her mouth, my hands now untucking her shirt, tracing up her skin to the outline of her bra. I force my hand through, flicking her nipple with my finger. She mewls—a sound straight out of a medley.

I find myself bursting at the seams, the desire to shed all my clothes taking over now. But as much as I want her—and God, do I want her—it can’t happen like this. She arches her back, her luscious breast filling my hand, and she tries to unbuckle my belt.

God damn it. If I don’t stop now, I won’t stop at all.

With a groan, I pull away. She watches me, dumbstruck and confused, her lips still parted. I cup her face, my thumbs stroking her flushed cheeks.

"It's time I got you home, Nat," I say, gently brushing a strand of hair from her face.

Natalia's eyes widen with disappointment. "Already?" she asks, her voice small.

I nod, firmly but kindly. "It’s late, and this is a dark and dangerous road.”

She sighs but doesn't argue. We untangle ourselves and straighten our clothes and I put the car into drive. This time, I drive wide awake, hyper-aware of every move she makes beside me, impatient to get home as fast as I possibly can.

Chapter 15 - Natalia

My heart races as I sit in Denis's car, the silence between us so thick I could cut it with a knife. I can't stop replaying our heated moment from earlier, the way his strong fingers trailed patterns across my breasts, how his lips barely grazed mine before he suddenly pulled away. Why? The question gnaws at me, making my stomach churn.

I sneak a glance at Denis, his chiseled profile taut with tension as he focuses on the road. His knuckles are white on the steering wheel. What is he thinking? Does he regret almost kissing me?

"Are you okay?" I venture, unable to bear the quiet any longer.

"Fine," he says curtly, not even sparing me a look. He speeds up, as though he can’t wait to get out of this car.

I sink back into my seat, deflated. So much for letting my walls fall. As we drive through the darkening streets, my mind spirals with possibilities. Maybe he doesn't find me attractive after all. I'm not exactly the svelte bombshell type—more soft curves than sharp angles. Or worse, what if he's disgusted by the idea of being with someone so much younger?

"You know, if you didn't want to kiss me, you could have just said so," I blurt out, immediately regretting my words.

Denis's eyes flick to me, surprise evident in those mesmerizing gray-green depths. "Natalia…"

But he doesn't continue, leaving me even more confused and frustrated. I cross my arms over my chest, staring out the window as the familiar scenery of our neighborhood comes into view.

"You know what?" I challenge, turning to face him fully. "Either you want me or you don't."

Denis's eyes meet mine briefly, and for some infuriating reason, I see a smile lurking somewhere in there. "Trust me, Natalia. I want you. More than you know."

My breath catches in my throat. Then why did he stop? Before I can ask, we're pulling into the driveway of our home.

As Denis shifts the car into park, a palpable change sweeps over him. He turns to me, his gaze roving over my face with such focus I can almost feel it like a physical touch.

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