Page 105 of Lord of Vice
His lady. Another shiver tickled all the way to my toes from hearing the words. “How did you manage it?”
He leaned against the window, giving me a cute little look with his nose and brow both furrowed. “You’re really asking me that?”
“I forgot. You’re not only the king but invincible at that.” As soon as I made the comment, I regretted it, looking back toward the window. As if the view of the parking lot with the mass of luxury hotels in the background didn’t make for a telling statement about the rich and famous. “I’m sorry, Kraven. I shouldn’t have said that.”
He said nothing for at least three full minutes while I sipped on the coffee, enjoying the taste more than I could say. I felt Remington’s tail slapping against both of us, the little bugger doing what he could to weasel his way into the conversation.
Or lack thereof.
Even the first meeting with the man hadn’t been this awkward. I had no idea what to say to him. Maybe because what I needed to say was burning in my mind, adding to the horrible sadness in my heart.
When he wrapped his fingers around the coffee cup once again, gently taking it from my hand, I sucked in my breath. It felt as ifanother wave of bad news was coming. I wasn’t certain I could stand anything else.
I’d been so horrified, so worried, clinging to the man for what seemed like hours after he’d saved me the last time.
He placed my cup and the one in his other hand I hadn’t even noticed on the small credenza, using a single finger to lift my chin so I was forced to look him in the eyes. “Everything is going to be okay.”
“Why were you targeted? That horrible man wasn’t your usual enemy.”
Sighing, he crowded my space, the heat of his body exactly the warmth I needed. I found myself cupping both his sides, wanting to leave this wretched place for a safe respite to heal and make love, to laugh and do nothing but watch old movies. But that wasn’t him. That wasn’t what made the man happy. He was truly like some royalty, and I was the poor Cinderella, complete with soot on her face.
“Very astute. There are some people in this world who are more powerful and dangerous than I am. And before you say ‘not possible,’ it’s very true. I just need to decide how I want to handle it. However, I will not allow that to take away from enjoying my family any longer than necessary.”
“Family? Have you heard something about Vissarian?”
“Other than that he came through the surgery just fine, no. Hopefully soon. But I’m talking about you as well.”
I clamped my fingers around his shirt, the lump in my throat matching the horrific knot in my stomach. “We’re not family,Kraven. You have your life and I need to find mine. We’re two different people.”
“That’s what makes what we share very special. I’m sorry that it took me thirty-seven years to fully embrace that I need to have what you call normalcy in my life. I do. I want all the things you mentioned. Birthdays. Holidays. Vacations. Hell, I’ll even learn how to cook on a barbeque. What I’m trying to say is that what I feel when I’m with you is more important than all the riches in the world. You are mine. Always mine. And I plan on making you my queen.”
As always, he had no intention of letting me go. As he cupped the side of my face, rubbing my cheek until I shivered, he lowered his head until his heated breath was skipping across my lips and jaw.
“Lyubov’ do kontsa vremen. Nikto bol’she tebya ne tronet.” His whisper was husky, a little hoarse and full of conviction even if I had no idea what he’d just said.
But as he captured my mouth, the comprehension of just how much I loved him rushed into my mind. It was crazy, the thoughts something out of a romance novel or tragic poem. They were also not real. They couldn’t be. Yet as he kissed me, really kissed me with all the passion that every woman dreamt about, not only did I know I wasn’t fabricating my feelings, but my knees also knocked.
He swept his tongue inside, dominating as always but somehow sweeter than he’d been, more tender. Perhaps he was trying to tell me that he could be a regular person. I tasted coffee and maybe bourbon or cognac mixed with a dash of cinnamon and the combination awakened all my senses.
As he crushed his full weight against mine, his hold even more possessive, I wanted nothing more than to allow myself to fall even deeper into his dark abyss. Accepting who and what he was. He was everything I’d ever craved, just as he told me I was to him. Still, there was a strong chance I couldn’t make him happy or vice versa. After all, a whirlwind romance predicated on gallons of spilled blood didn’t make for the best forever romance.
But the feeling of being in his arms was something I’d always crave.
Always.
“Mr. Sokolov. I’m sorry to interrupt.”
The female voice was soft and kind, a nurse who’d kept us informed over the last two days. While Kraven broke the kiss, his eyes pierced mine as if telling me we had all the time in the world.
“That’s fine. Is it Vissarian?”
“Yes,” she said. “He’s awake and asking to see you.”
“Thank you very much,” he said in a breathless whisper. “I’ll be right there.”
When we were alone once again, I pushed away from him. “Go see your brother.”
He closed and rubbed his eyes. “I will. Then I need to take care of some short business. I promise I won’t be long. Then we’ll head to another location I own so you can get some rest. Okay?”