Page 67 of Captive Union
“I trust you. I’ll … try to trust him.”
I laugh. “That’s good enough for me.” I kiss his cheek. “I love you, Maxim.”
“I love you too, Kira.” I swear I see a tear form in his eye.
“Are you crying?”
“No,” he says roughly, wiping at his eye. “But can’t a man show some emotion?”
I smile wide. “Of course. I’ve just never seen the big bad Maxim Petrov cry before.”
“Well, I did say I was always softie when it came to you.”
“I promise I’ll keep this between us.”
“Thank you.” He offers me a smile. “Now, let's get out of here. I assume you’re anxious to see your husband.”
“I am.”
“God, it’s going to take me a bit to get used to you being married.”
I give him another quick hug. “Then it’s a good thing you have a lifetime to get used to it.”
* * *
Maxim takesme to the doctor’s lab, which is really just a room in the doctor’s apartment. Erik is in a bed, propped up on some pillows, wide awake. Maxim stays in the other room to give me space as I practically run up to Erik.
“You’re ok,” I say, breathless.
“I am.” He glances down at his bandaged body. “I never thought I’d survive getting tortured by Maxim Petrov. You really do create miracles, Kira.”
I lean down and kiss his forehead. “For the man I love, I’d do anything.”
“You really meant you loved me when you said it earlier?”
I stare into his eyes, infusing as much passion as possible into them. “I wouldn’t lie about something like that. Trust me.”
“I do.”
“Maxim told me that he’s fine with the truce. You just have to hold up your end of the bargain. Can you do that?”
He takes my hand in his. “I just want to be with you, Kira. I’m ready to put my anger away, to focus on our future.”
“I like the sound of that.”
“Really?”
“Yep. But,” I hold up a finger, “no trying to control me. If our marriage is to work, I have complete freedom to come and go as I please. And I get to spend time with my family whenever I feel like it. If you can agree to all that, I’ll gladly go home with you. I want you in my life forever, Erik.”
He squeezes my hand. “I can promise that. I just want you to be happy.”
“Ok, then.” I stand there, feeling a little silly.
“I like it when you stand up for yourself.”
“Yeah?”
“Yeah.” He wraps a hand around my waist, tugging me closer to him. “It’s sexy.” His eyes darken as he looks at me.
