Page 22 of Vulnerate

“Becauseyouwere too busy chasing after my brother.”

My jaw aches at the reminder and she scrunches her nose up as she spits out, “I was not chasing him. He’s my friend, you freak.”

This may be the worst moment of her life, but it’s the best of mine knowing she’s going to be mine in her next breath.

“So, you’re only mine?”

Stroking up her thighs, I grab her hips and pull her closer. Her lips part and it knocks the truth right out of her.

“Yes.”

The confirmation brushes my cheek and I slam our lips together before she can take it back or add any caveat.

I’m painfully aware of how close she is to my dick and try to move her hips away as I push my own back, but my little artist chases me, and her eyes snap open filled with nerves. It’s easier than breathing to put her at ease before she can form any assumption.

“Not now,” I smile, “the first time will be on our wedding night, Dani mine.”

She doesn’t even blink as she freezes in place, and I kiss her cheek, feeling her blush.She comes back to life with a stutter, and my cheeks hurt from how hard I’m smiling.

“Who said I’ll marry you?” There’s nothing other than happiness in her deep eyes and she scrunches her nose up, becoming even more adorable. “Daniela Vartanov, doesn’t sound right.”

Tickling her side, I turn her over and hold her hands above her head with our fingers interlaced before correcting the name.

“Daniela Vartanova, we’re Russian so girls names are pronounced differently.”

Pressing a chaste kiss to her lips, I turn on my back and pull her back to lay on my chest. This is all I need, there’s no argument or refusal from her pretty lips. She knows it’s inevitable that we would end up together and I pepper every part of her face within reach with my lips. The soft little sigh brushing my chest breathes life into the innocent fragments of my soul and I close my eyes falling into the first night with my girl.

EIGHT

Daniela

Valentin doesn’t let go of my hand as he drives me home. He’s genuine and honest, making the butterflies in my stomach go crazy, and I can see my cheeks from how hard I’m smiling. He turns into an empty street, and parks up at the end then leans over to kiss my cheek. Sparks dance across my knee as he flattens his hand over the joint to stop the glove compartment hitting me.

I don’t know this Valentin, he’s gentle and doesn’t stop touching me as he places a velvet box in my hand. Even his voice is softer as he explains, “This says you’re mine, wear it all the time for me?”

I haven’t even opened it, but I nod, and his smile matches mine. It gets closer as he leans into me, and I can’t stop my eyes going to his lips. They’re so soft, andhekissedme. He doesn’t let me feel them again as he lifts the box out of my hands.

The light built into the top cover makes the gold sparkle as the necklace is unveiled. The ornate vines thread around the single slanted bar and dagger forming a V. I know the symbol, it’s on Tali’s ring andhe was excited when he first got it. The Vartanov insignia, the one thing they hold in high regard that symbolizes their family. Does he know that I’m aware of how important that symbol is? Tali reveres it, Vlad has it on his cufflinks, but Val doesn’t wear it. I search the collar of his t-shirt for any sign of a chain as he gently pulls it out of its holder.

The gentle voice fills the car making me pause my search.

“Turn around, baby.”

I’m melting into the seat at the endearment and slowly give him my back as I pull my hair out of the way. The cool metal feels heavier than the actual weight and his lips press into the side of my neck as he does the clasp. “Now everyone knows you’re mine.”

Pride fills his voice and I flatten the pendant, so it rests above the other necklace he gave me.His lips linger as they slide to my nape, sending a shiver up my spine that I can’t hide. It’s useless when I can feel him smirking against my skin.

I know he’s arrogant, all of his flaws really, but it just makes the way he is with me better. It feeds the delusional voice in my head to have a stronger belief that this is real. The deep whisper does the same too.

“Do I make you nervous, Dani mine?”

I can’t tell him the truth. He’ll think I’m a loser and humiliate me. So, I lie, and resist the urge to keep toying with both necklaces. “No, I’m just cold.”

He coils his arms around me and hauls me over to his side of the car without any strain. “Let me warm you up.”

He sits me in his lap and rests his chin on my shoulder.

Why is my heart racing? Sweat is beading down my spine and I’m overheating, but I don’t move and sink into his chest. He continues tightening his arms around my waist until his palms are flat on my ribs, his fingers stretching out to press into my back, and he breathes out as though he’s being dying without it. His voice is low and soothing as I tilt my head back to look at him while trying to get my brain to make sense of what’s going on.

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