Page 71 of Vendetta Vows

And then, like clockwork…

Look what you made me do.

"No man has ever made me come before." The confession hangs in the air between us, and I can't quite meet his eyes.

Ruslan's expression shifts slightly into something I didn't expect: understanding. It crosses his face when he sees the tension in my shoulders and the way my breathing turns uneven.

"Never?" he asks softly.

I shake my head. "Never."

His golden eyes darken, and he reaches forward to brush his thumb across my cheek.

"Would you like me to make you come?” he asks in a rumbling voice that sends my heart skipping wildly in my chest.

19

AURORA

It's nothis offer that leaves me breathless, but the way he asks, like my answer genuinely matters to him.

LikeImatter.

"Do you want me to show you?"

Those simple words make me feel more seen than I have in years.

I nod slowly, my throat too tight for words.

"Where would you like me to show you,zarechka?" Ruslan asks, his voice a gentle rumble that vibrates through my body.

I glance at the table between us, the wine glasses still half-full. "Here," I whisper. "Right here."

Without warning, Ruslan rises from his chair, his hands gripping my waist. He lifts me as though I weigh nothing, and the sudden sensation of being airborne makes my stomach flip. I instinctively wrap my arms around his neck, clinging to his solid warmth.

He places me gently on the edge of the table, his movements careful despite the hunger in his eyes. The hard surface presses against the backs of my thighs as he steps between my legs.

"Do you trust me?" he asks, his golden eyes searching mine.

I nod again, unable to find my voice as he leans forward to capture my lips. This kiss is different from before. This one is slower and more deliberate.

I lean back and brace my hands on the table behind me.

My heart thunders against my ribs like it's trying to escape. Every nerve ending in my body ignites at his touch, a sensation both terrifying and exhilarating.

For years, I've existed in a half-life of constant vigilance and careful distance. Every sensation dulled by necessity. But Ruslan's hands on my body cut through that numbness like nothing else could.

The fear is still there. A voice warning me this is dangerous territory. That I'm letting someone too close. That I'm risking everything.

But for once, another voice speaks louder:You deserve this. You deserve to feel.

I tremble beneath his touch, my hands gripping the edge of the table so hard I can feel the wood biting into my palms. Not from fear, but from the effort of staying anchored as waves of anticipation crash through me.

I let out a breathy moan as Ruslan opens my legs. This time, I know we won't be interrupted. My pulse races as his fingers trail along my thighs, slowly pushing my dress higher to expose me completely.

"Let me see all of you," he whispers, his voice deep with desire.

I nod, suddenly shy despite wanting this more than my next breath. He reads my hesitation and pauses, his golden eyes meeting mine.

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