Page 68 of Plus-Size Curves for the Bratva

Natalia's cheeks flush a deeper shade of pink, but she meets my gaze with a defiant tilt of her chin. "Maybe I am," she retorts, her chocolate-brown eyes dancing. "What are you going to do about it, Mr. Zolotov?"

I raise an eyebrow, enjoying our playful banter. "I might have to keep a closer eye on you. Can't have my innocent little wife turning into a hardened criminal, now can I?"

She laughs, the sound light and carefree. "As if you could stop me," she teases, poking me gently in the chest.

I catch her hand, holding it against my heart. "I wouldn't dream of it," I murmur, my tone softening. "But tell me honestly, Natalia. How did it feel?"

Her expression turns thoughtful. "It was… exhilarating," she admits, her voice low. "The adrenaline, the thrill of outsmarting them. I've never felt anything like it."

I watch her carefully, noting the conflicting emotions in her eyes. "But?" I prompt gently.

Natalia bites her lip, her brow furrowing. "But it's also scary," she confesses. "I don't want to lose myself, Denis. I don't want to cross lines I can't come back from. I’ll do what I can, without being cruel."

I nod, understanding her internal struggle. "That's what makes you special, Nat," I tell her, brushing a strand of dark blonde hair from her face. "Your heart, your goodness. We'll find the balance together, I promise."

She looks up at me with a small smile, and for a moment, I lose myself in her eyes. I see the little specks of lighter brown, my own reflection in her eyes, and her pupils blasted wide. I lean down, my lips gently grazing hers.

I’m about to pull away when her fingers tangle in my hair, pulling me closer. Natalia's lips part beneath mine, her breath warm against my skin.

I deepen my kiss and Natalia responds eagerly. Too eagerly. My skin tingles for more, and I groan into her mouth, slowly pulling away, leaving a wake of kisses as I reach her ears and whisper: "What do you say we find somewhere a bit more… private?"

She looks up at me and bites her lip devilishly, then grabs my hand and maneuvers us through the throng of people. My injury makes me slower than usual, but Natalia matches my pace without complaint.

We slip into a quiet alcove, hidden from prying eyes. The sudden hush is a stark contrast to the lively chatter we've left behind. I lean against the wall, cornering her in, catching my breath. "Well, Mrs. Zolotov, it seems you've developed quite a taste for adventure."

Natalia steps closer, her curvy figure fitting perfectly against mine, making me aware of every single point of contact. "Maybe I have," she murmurs, her fingers tracing patterns on my chest. "Or maybe I've just developed a taste for you."

My breath catches in my throat. The playful banter from earlier has shifted, morphing into something more charged, more intense. I can feel the heat radiating between us, my heart pounding in my chest.

"Natalia," I start, but she presses a finger to my lips, silencing me.

"Shh," she whispers, her eyes locked on mine. "Let me."

I watch, mesmerized, as she slowly slides her hand down my chest, her touch feather-light yet electrifying.

“Is this okay?”

I know why she asks. It’s not that I’d deny her, but she’s worried because of my injury. She’s worried I’ll be in pain.

I nod, unable to form words as her fingers dance along the hem of my shirt. "More than okay," I manage to rasp out.

Natalia smiles shyly, still not used to taking charge. "Good," she says, leaning in to press a gentle kiss to my jaw. "Because I'm just getting started, Mr. Zolotov."

Her lips trail down to my neck, each kiss igniting a fire beneath my skin. Her fingers gently unbutton my shirt. When I arch my arms back for her to pull it off, my back hurts, but I ignore it.

I don’t want her to stop.

I inhale sharply, my hands finding her waist, pulling her closer. The scent of her perfume envelops me, intoxicating.

"You're incredible," I breathe, my fingers tangling in her dark blonde hair.

Natalia looks up at me, her chocolate brown eyes sparkling with a mix of desire and affection. "So are you," she whispers, her hands now exploring the contours of my chest.

I wince slightly as she brushes against a recovering laceration, and she immediately pulls back. "I'm sorry, did I hurt you?"

"No," I assure her, cupping her face in my hands. "You could never hurt me,Solnishko."

Her smile at the endearment melts my heart. I reach for her cheeks and lean in, capturing her lips with mine in a kiss that starts gently but quickly deepens. Natalia responds eagerly, her soft curves pressing against me as she parts her lips, inviting me in. With swift, deft movements, she casts my belt on the floor, within seconds returning to unzip me. My pants fall to the floor and my hand curves around the back of her neck, pulling her closer.

---