Page 60 of The Russian Pakhan's Forced Bride
She blinks back at me, unable to hide the raw emotion within those gorgeous eyes. “Yes…”
“Then trust me,” I murmur, letting my thumb brush along her cheek, just beneath her eye. “Share your fear with me…share your anger, your joy, and everything else. Put your faith in me. In us.”
Victoria’s eyes soften, and her voice registers just above a whisper. “Can I really do that? Can I trust you, Roman?”
Even hearing her say my name is enough to bring my walls down completely, making me succumb to that deep-seated desire.
“Yes, you can,” I manage through the haze that quickly sets in as I drift closer, drawn to that mouth of hers. “Trust mewith your life…and the life of this baby. Give yourself to me, and I’ll give you the world, Victoria…allow me that pleasure.”
Her breath catches at my words, and she seems just as dazed by the heat as I am.
Searching her eyes, I can’t pull away. “Tell me you want this…just say the word.”
There’s another moment of silence while she considers it, and then everything seems to click into place.
“I want it—I want you.”
That’s all it takes.
My lips are on hers in an instant while my fingers thread through her hair, gently cradling the back of her head.
There’s nothing gentle or soft about it. The kiss is the kind that can break through walls and render anyone completely speechless. It makes me wish I had never had to stop.
I feel her inhale deeply before sighing into my mouth, letting her hands fall to my waist to pull me in.
The mutual desperation burns bright between us while I brace myself against the arm of the couch and meld our lips together, fully prepared to devour her and everything she’s willing to give me.
All the while that lust rushes through my veins, I can only focus on the way she feels beneath me and the idea that everything is about to change.
Chapter 20 - Victoria
I was fully prepared to be miserable for the entire night and to let myself wallow in the agony of having to put up with the gala, along with its attendees. I thought it would take a year off my life to be convincing.
But one way or another, Roman put me at ease. His strong, commanding presence provided the anchor I didn’t know I needed, and something about the possessive edge to his touch helped me discover something new.
I didn’t know I had it in me…but for the first time in my life, I felt powerful.
It had nothing to do with survival or taking the steps to be a properly adjusted adult.
No, there was something different about it. Something so electric, it almost became addicting.
Being by Roman’s side, regardless of how reluctant I had been about it, allowed me to step into a different version of myself.
I wasn’t just Victoria…a school teacher from California. Instead, I was Victoria Lukov…the wife of the most influential, successful man in the state.
For the first time, I was perceived by the elite, and I didn’t squirm for long.
As much as I was putting on a show for Roman’s sake, and to get a kick out of watching him try to grapple with that sudden change, it wasn’t entirely fake. At least, the attraction had been there all along, and being able to catch him off guard let me feel such a rare sense of control.
In turn, the playing field was finally even—like he was reduced to a man with carnal urges and the desire to be wanted by me.
I never intended to tell him about the pregnancy tonight out of fear, but his reaction and enthusiasm quickly quelled my worries.
With his face buried in my neck while his lips run along my skin, kissing and nipping as he goes, I can feel that hunger coming to life. I can feel how badly he’s needed this, and how desperately he wants to dive in.
Letting go of a sigh, I can’t escape the warmth consuming me—and I don’t want to.
His hands roam, making quick work of my zipper before guiding the silk down my body.
