“And when you found me?”
“I was scared you were hurt. I’m glad you’re not.”
“Nikolai, I’ve been through so much in such a short amount of time. Everything is happening so fast. But… I’m tired of fightingwhat’s between us. I know I’m safe with you. That’s all I want. To be safe.”
“You have that with me.”
“I know that now.”
We share another look before he consumes my lips with a kiss. I deepen it, letting the kiss grow even more passionately. I’ve never wanted to kiss someone this badly before. It’s like I’ll die of thirst if I don’t get close enough to him.
And it’s in this moment that I realize: I want to be with Nikolai. I want to be with all of him. I can’t be so afraid anymore.
“Nik,” I say against his lips. “Make me yours.”
He can’t hide his surprise. “You’re ready for that?”
“Yes. I know I want to be with you. I could have died tonight. I don’t want to die before I get to be with you.”
“You know what you’re asking of me, yes?”
“Yes. I know.”
“Then I’m going to claim you as mine, baby.”
Chapter Fifteen
Irina
My heart is steady as Nikolai helps me out of the bath. He wipes the water from my skin with purpose. We both know what’s coming next. He’s going to claim my body. I’m no longer going to be an innocent little girl. It’s time for me to become a woman.
After how much Nikolai has shown he cares for me, and how much he has protected me, I know I’m done being scared of him. I want to trust him so I’m choosing to by giving him my body.
And if I’m being honest, I want this too. Nikolai has shown me pleasure in the past and I want to experience it again. I’m ready to stop fighting what’s happening between us. Nikolai is my future and I’m going to embrace it.
Once he finishes wiping the water away, he stares down at my naked body. “You almost died tonight.”
“I know. And you killed for me.”
“And you killed someone yourself.”
“I know,” I whisper.
He settles his hands on my waist, neither moving up or down. Just right there. “You’re mine, Irina. You’ve never been more beautiful.”
I gasp escapes my lips as he kisses me. It’s a powerful, all-consuming kiss that leaves me breathless. I can’t think, which is a good thing. It means I don’t have to think about killing that man tonight. I can put it behind me. I can be free in Nikolai’s arms. In his own darkness.
He picks me up bridal style and carries me to our bedroom. I’m not nervous at all as he lays me down on the bed. Deep down, I knew this day would come.
He stands up, staring down at my body with a darkness in his eyes. I’m the innocent virgin and he’s the dangerous man ready to claim me.
Without a word, he grabs my legs and pushes them against my chest and parts them so he can see all of me. He’s had his mouth on my most intimate area before so I’m no longer nervous. I want Nikolai to look. I want him to see me for me.
He caresses his hand between my breasts down to my stomach. A soft exhale leaves me. Goosebumps break out on my skin.
“You are perfection,” he murmurs, making me blush. No one has ever given me a compliment like that before. “I am going to take care of you, baby. But I’m also going to make you mine. I’m not going to be gentle exactly. But I don’t want to hurt you either.”
“You’ve shown that you want to protect me. I’m not scared anymore.”