Page 79 of Vendetta Crown

I believe him. For the first time in seven years, I truly believe that.

His fingers find the clasp of my bra, and with practiced ease, he releases it. The straps slide down my arms, and I shiver as the air kisses my sensitive skin. Ruslan's eyes darken as he looks at me, his gaze like a physical caress.

"I want to memorize every inch of you," he says, his voice thick with desire.

He takes his time with the button of my jeans, slowly sliding the zipper down. I lift my hips to help him as he tugs the denim down my thighs, his fingers trailing fire in their wake.

In his arms, I'm not the girl running from her past. I'm not the girl who stole someone else's life.

I'm just his.

His woman. His partner. His wife.

The mother of the children we're making together.

"The things you do to me," he growls, voice heavy with desire.

I sit before him in nothing but my panties, completely exposed yet feeling more protected than I've ever been. The power dynamic between us—him fully clothed while I'm nearly naked—should make me feel vulnerable.

Instead, it makes me feel cherished.

Ruslan's strong arms encircle me, tattoos flowing over muscle as he draws me against his chest. The fabric of his shirt is soft against my bare skin, and I press closer, seeking his warmth. His heartbeat thumps steady and strong against my cheek—a rhythm I've come to associate with security, with home.

"Let me take care of you," he whispers against my hair.

I gasp as Ruslan's lips trail away from my mouth, following the curve of my jaw. His stubble scratches gently against my skin—a delicious contrast to the soft warmth of his mouth. My fingers tangle in his curly golden-brown hair, holding him close as his kisses trace a path down my neck.

"Ruslan," I breathe, my head falling back as he finds the sensitive spot where my pulse throbs wildly beneath my skin.

He lingers there, his tongue tracing small circles that make me shiver. Each touch feels like he's learning me, memorizing the geography of my body. When he gently sucks the skin between his teeth, pleasure sparks through me like electricity.

"You taste like sunshine," he murmurs against my collarbone, his voice vibrating against my skin.

His hands hold my waist firmly, thumbs tracing the undersides of my breasts as his mouth continues its downward journey. The marble counter is cold beneath my thighs, a stark contrast to the heat of his palms as they slide up to cup my breasts.

I arch into his touch, craving more as his thumbs brush over my nipples. They've become so sensitive since the pregnancy began, and his gentle touch sends shockwaves of pleasure straight to my core.

"Please," I whisper, not even sure what I'm asking for.

His golden eyes meet mine before he lowers his head and takes one nipple into his mouth. The wet heat is overwhelming, and I cry out, my fingers tightening in his hair. His tongue swirls around the sensitive bud, sending delicious pleasure radiating out.

My thighs tighten around his waist as he moves to my other breast, giving it the same exquisite attention. Each pull of his mouth winds the tension inside me tighter, making me rock against him instinctively.

"Mine," he murmurs appreciatively, his hands sliding down to grip my hips. "All mine."

His lips continue their journey downward, pressing kisses across my ribs, over my stomach where our babies grow. There's something reverent in the way he lingers there, his tattooed hands splayed protectively across my belly.

When he looks up at me, his eyes hold such tenderness it makes my heart ache.

In this moment, I'm not hiding anymore.

I'm fully seen, fully known, and still wanted.

I moan when he reaches my thighs. Whimper when he presses tender kisses along the inside of one leg and then the other. Tremble when the warmth of his mouth sends tiny tremors of electricity racing through me.

I squirm on the counter, desperate for him to move those lips just an inch higher. But he's deliberate and purposeful, kissing everywhere except where I need him to kiss the most.

"Ruslan," I whisper, my voice strained with need.

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