Page 164 of Vicious Games

“So much fire in you, little one. Just like her.”

“Like who?” she asks.

He drops his hand without answering and starts up the stairs.

When it becomes clear that we’re not getting anything else out of him, we follow him until we reach what looks to be a guest suite.

“You’ll stay here,” he says, glancing at Frankie. “The Romano boy can sleep at the end of the hall.”

“No,” she says instantly. “Lucky stays with me.”

“You heard her,Sasha,” I add with a victorious smirk. “Where she goes, I go.”

Aleksandr nods, not arguing. “Very well.” He then opens the set of double doors and tells us someone will knock when dinner is ready. Then he leaves without another word.

I shut the door behind him and turn to Frankie.

“You okay?”

She lets out a humorless laugh. “What do you think?”

I walk over and pull her into my arms, and she doesn’t hesitate, just melts against me like it’s the only place she feels safe.

“I don’t want you to worry,” I whisper, brushing a strand of hair behind Frankie’s ear. “By now, my father knows where we are. He’ll do everything he can to bring us home safely.” She nods, her arms tightening around me like I’m the only thing anchoring her in this foreign place. “But he’s right, you know? You should rest.”

“I’m too wired,” she murmurs, then cranes her head to look up at me. “Do you really think they know who my parents are?”

“I don’t know. I really don’t.” My answer feels hollow, even to me.

Her face tightens with frustration, but I offer a small smile to distract her. “Come on, let’s get you out of these clothes.”

“Really, Lucky? Now?” She gives me a dry, skeptical look.

“I wasn’t thinking about sex, babe. Damn. Give me a little credit,” I say with a laugh. “I just figured a shower would help.”

“A shower does sound nice.” She smiles timidly.

“See? I’m good for more than just letting you have your way with me.” I wink.

She lets out a soft laugh, and for a moment, the tight grip of our situation loosens. I lead her into the bathroom and turn on the rainforest shower. While the steam builds, I undress her gently, then strip myself down and guide us both under the warm cascade of water.

I take my time washing away the stress of the past twenty-four hours from her skin. My body responds to her naked beside me—naturally—but I keep myself in check, shrugging when she catches the evidence of my arousal.

“Hey, don’t look at me like that.He’sgot a mind of his own.” I point to my hard cock who looks angrily back at me that I don’t have his back.

She rolls her eyes, but there’s a soft smile on her lips that tells me she’s not mad.

Once we’re clean and wrapped in plush towels, I help her back into the bedroom. Just as I thought, the shower erased all the tension her body was holding and she’s half-asleep before her head even hits the pillow. I pull her close, holding her as tightly as she’s holding on to me.

“Thank you,” she whispers, on the edge of sleep.

“For what?”

“For being here. With me.”

“Where else would I be?” I kiss her temple. But as her breathing slows, my mind races.

Fuck.

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