Page 49 of The Bratva King's Auctioned Bride

He wouldn’t let me look away. I was trapped in his dark eyes, so full of everything I wanted to see there. It was such a sweet sentiment, and I wanted more than anything to believe it. I wanted my fairytale back. And yes, I really wanted to go back to LA. It was my home.

With a sigh, I leaned back in the chair, letting him continue to hold onto my hand. “I will never go against my family,” I reiterated.

“I’ll never make you,” he said, leaning closer. “But I won’t give up what’s mine. That means you, too.” Drawing my hand to his lips, he kissed the knuckles, his eyes never wavering from mine. “You still need a ring on this finger,” he chuckled.

I shook my head. “I don’t. I only need reassurance that things will go peacefully if we go back.If.”

He didn’t put me in my place, didn’t utter the harsh command that I’d go where he told me to. “That will be up to your brothers.”

I bristled slightly at that, but he was slowly kissing his way up my arm, tugging me closer. It might have felt like a dig at my brothers, but it was true that they were stubborn. So was Arkadi. So was I. Was it possible that I could find a way to be the bridge between them, heal the rift between our families, and get everything I wanted?

Hadn’t I proven how capable I was these last few weeks? Of course, I could. Clinging to that hope, I moved from my chair to Arkadi’s lap. His arms enveloped me, and I let my head fall to his shoulder, turning to breathe in his spicy cologne and the hint of after-dinner coffee. His hands moved up my back to tug gently on my hair, and I lifted my chin to look at him.

His eyes were as dark as coals but overflowing with emotions. I wish I could read every single one, lay them out before me, and shuffle them like cards, pulling out my favorites and holding them close. How could I have ever believed this man was unfeeling and ice-cold?

At the moment, he was burning up, and so was I. As soon as our eyes met, he pulled my head in for a kiss. Our lips met, soft and sweet, but layered with passion. I sighed against his mouth, my tongue darting out to meet his, ravenous in spite of the meal. It wasn’t food I was hungry for.

It was always going to be Arkadi. There was simply no denying what we had when we touched.

“I promise you, Mila,” he murmured, his hands roaming down to cup my bottom and nudge me close to him.

I squirmed against him, holding onto his shoulders so I could switch positions on his lap. Not expecting to come downstairs to a date after a day of video meetings, I had on a staid, tailored blouse, perfectly done hair and makeup, but only sweatpants on the bottom. It was a ridiculous combination, but one I was glad for now, making it easy to straddle him.

“I—” I wanted to tell him I unequivocally believed him, but the pulsing bulge against my tender, needy core distracted me.

Writhing against him, I began to unbutton his shirt. “I want to believe you,” I said as I revealed his muscular chest.

Flattening my palms against his hot skin, I smiled and looked up at him, but there was no answering smile on his face. He sighed, moving strands of hair behind my ears.

“You’ll see that I mean every word I say.”

All I could do was nod, hoping it was true. Only time would tell, and it was honestly the furthest thing on my mind as long as his hard cock was between my thighs. “Okay,” I whispered, leaning back to run my hands down his abs to his pants.

The button and zipper were undone in a flash, and I scrambled off his lap to kneel between his parted legs. His hand smoothed over my hair, and when I looked up, his eyes were closed, his head tilted back.

“Mila,” he growled.

Was that a warning or a plea? I shoved his boxer briefs down and grabbed the big beast that emerged, stroking from root to tip. He was magnificent. And all mine. I leaned close and blew cool air across the length, making him slice his fingers into my hair. I wouldn’t be denied, though, and took every inch of that big cock into my mouth.

He went still, even his fingers went limp in my hair, as I eased him in and out of my mouth, wrapping my lips around the tip and sucking the moisture away with a satisfied moan. I had put myself firmly back in my bubble and was perfectly happy to be there. Arkadi seemed all right with it, too, making low noises in his throat as I had my way.

“Tell me you’re mine,” I said, immediately going back to teasing his cock with my tongue. Up and down and around, loving every second of the tightly coiled muscles in his thighs and the way his hands kept reaching for my hair.

“You know it,” he said, voice strained. “Fuck, Mila. You’re going to kill me.”

“Not today,” I said, giggling. “I’m going to want this big thing for other purposes in a little while.”

“Fuck,” he repeated.

“Yes, that.”

I went back to enjoying myself and driving him crazy until his hand wrapped around a chunk of my hair, and he held my head still. “Enough,” he rumbled. “My turn.”

He lifted me up and back onto his lap. His fingers trembled slightly as he undid my blouse, swearing softly at the tiny, silk-covered buttons. I really liked this blouse, but mentally kissed it goodbye. Halfway through, he gave me a mischievouslook and popped the rest of them, tearing it open. I laughed, letting my head fall back, so ready for whatever he had in mind.

“Maybe clothes with zippers would be a better investment,” he said, dipping his head to nuzzle the tops of my breasts.

“That didn’t work so well the other day,” I reminded him, thinking of the expensive wool dress that was currently at the tailor having the zipper repaired. “You’re just impatient.”

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