Page 56 of The Bratva's Arranged Bride

To my surprise, her breath hitched at my demand, and despite herself, her eyes softened while more tears welled within them.

That previous anger completely up and left. It simmered down to the raw truth beneath it…the absolute fear I felt about losing her.

Voice rough with emotion, I couldn’t help but continue, gently stroking her cheek to soothe that pain away. “Now that I know…now that this is on the table, nothing is more important to me than you or our child. It doesn’t matter how I have to prove myself to you—I’ll do it all a hundred times over. I won’t lose you.”

As the tears slid down her cheeks, I gently wiped them away while she sniffled.

“I’m scared, Val,” Tia whispered, eyes closed. “The truth of who you are and what you do…the dishonesty and danger of it all…it’s too much to handle. How can we raise a child in this?”

My stomach twisted at the truth behind that thought, well aware of the risks. But it didn’t matter.

“I know it’s a lot to come to terms with, but I’ll be here every step of the way. I’ll provide everything and more, and our child will be protected to the highest degree. I don’t care what it takes,” I reassured her, cupping both of her cheeks while I let my eyes say the rest.

Tia’s gaze took me in completely, almost like it was the first time, and I could practically feel how deeply she was thinking. Considering whether or not she could place her faith in me.

Without warning, she leaned forward, and her mouth was on mine.

It was tentative at first, like she was testing the waters again after so long.

But the moment I felt that addicting pressure against my lips, I couldn’t help myself.

Leaning into it, I deepened the kiss and savored every second of it like it was my last.

“You aren’t going anywhere,” I whispered against her lips while our breath mingled in an addictive tangle. Keeping that proximity, I let her swallow up my words. “You’re staying here with me…right where you belong.”

With a pulse of undeniable heat and vulnerability between us, Tia didn’t need to argue.

My grip on her tightened by a fraction while I crashed our mouths together again, unwilling to let her go.

Even if things were uncertain, I was sure of one thing:

She was mine, and I was prepared to take on the world if it meant keeping her and our baby safe.

Whatever they needed, I was going to give it.

Chapter 20 - Tia

Val was insatiable.

Lying on the sheets, my fingers gripped the white linens while soft sounds of pleasure escaped me, unable to get over just how intense his every touch felt.

His head was between my thighs while he consumed me so completely, I knew nothing would ever compare to that feeling. To the burning need inside me that could only be put out by his uninterrupted attention.

With his hands gripping my thighs, pinning me in place, I wriggled against them anyway, unable to stop my hips from moving.

He was everywhere at once, using his tongue and lips to give me as much pleasure as humanly possible. He groaned against me while he devoured me, seemingly gaining more satisfaction from the act than most people would.

But that gave him the upper hand. The enjoyment he gained from it made him even better at it.

Breathy gasps slipped from my lips while wave after wave of those sensations flooded my system, and they showed no sign of stopping. I could feel the faint tremor in my thighs from how intense it all was, and he continued for so long without growing tired that I had half the mind to believe he was prepared to go on for hours.

I already came once, but that wasn’t enough for him. He was beyond determined.

Before, I assumed my confession would’ve upset him in one way or another, but it had the opposite effect. Rather, it seemed to set something off in him.

Either way, I wasn’t going to complain.

The combination of the cool air and my burning skin made me shiver, and the more he lapped at me, the less I could focus on anything other than his touch and the bliss it provided.

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