Total pages in book: 97
Estimated words: 92133 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 461(@200wpm)___ 369(@250wpm)___ 307(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 92133 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 461(@200wpm)___ 369(@250wpm)___ 307(@300wpm)
I frowned. “Ours?”
Andrei smiled. “Don’t you get it? You go down, I go with you.”
“No.” I shook my head, denying it. That couldn’t be.
“You’d never do anything to harm him. You’re his … man.”
“And do you think Ivan would trust me if my wife so blatantly betrayed him? It would kill him.”
“You’re in charge.”
“Only for as long as I can be trusted.”
This had to be a trick. The thought of Andrei dead twisted my stomach. He couldn’t die because of me. My threats were idle. I’d never betray Ivan, even if I hated being married.
Today had reminded me of what Ivan and Andrei had gotten me away from, and that was my family. My parents and sister were horrible. Being near them could poison the best of people.
“I won’t do it,” I said. “I didn’t mean it.”
Andrei searched my gaze and nodded his head. “I know.”
He lifted up, and helped me to sit up as well. Andrei moved in behind me. The warmth of his body surrounded me. I watched as he reached past my shoulder, grabbing a bar of soap and lathering up his hands.
No words were spoken.
His hands went to my body, and I held my breath as he started to wash me. I expected pain. After the way I’d just spoken and treated him, I should have gotten it. Other men would have beaten me.
“I’ve spoken with Slavik,” Andrei said. “We’re going to visit them soon. You can spend some time with Aurora.”
“Thank you.”
“I know you’ve not seen much of each other, but you seemed to hit it off at the wedding.”
Anyone would have been a welcome relief at our wedding, other than Bethany and my mother. Aurora had been a breath of fresh air. She looked so out of place next to her husband. Sweet and innocent. I felt like she didn’t deserve to be part of this Bratva world.
“Do you like Slavik?” I asked.
“He’s got good business sense.”
“That’s not what I asked.”
“I never like anyone, Adelaide.”
He used his hands soaked in water to rinse my body. Andrei reached for the soap and I didn’t deny him as he washed my hair, taking care as he used shampoo then conditioner.
I wanted to do the same for him, but I shouldn’t have been surprised. He wouldn’t want me touching him, and I understood why. After my outburst, why would he want me to touch him?
Andrei got out of the bath first and wrapped a towel around his waist. I couldn’t help but admire the tattoos covering his body. I’d not gotten the chance to properly look, but they were sexy. Heat filled my cheeks.
Andrei helped me out of the bath, wrapping me in a towel. We walked into the bedroom together and I looked toward the bed, to see clean, crisp sheets were already on. I wanted to know what happened to the other sheets, but to speak of what happened made me a little uncomfortable. There had been blood and his release combined. When I’d walked into the bathroom, I’d felt it spilling down my leg with each step I took. I was grateful none ended up on the carpet. There was only so much embarrassment I could deal with.
Andrei wasn’t finished with his caring routine. He had a second towel within his grip, and he used it across my shoulders. He gave me the towel to dry my hair, but he wasn’t finished drying the rest of my body. I was about to head into the closet after he took the towels back to the bathroom, but he grabbed my arm and moved me toward the bed.
It was warm in the room.
Both of us still completely naked. He moved me so I sat in front of him.
I waited.
He slowly ran the brush through my hair, and the kind gesture surprised me. I wasn’t expecting it. Andrei was a cold man, why was he being so nice to me? It made no sense.
I didn’t say a word as he continued brushing my hair. Whenever he got to a knot, he held my hair and worked it out so that it didn’t hurt. Was he treating me like a child? I felt not. This was something new, intimate. I pressed my lips together not wishing to spoil the moment as I enjoyed his hands on me. They were so tender.
Once he finished, he helped me into bed, and I lay down. At first, I faced away from him, sensing him at my back. It was late and I’d not eaten anything all day. Rolling back over, I looked at him. Andrei stared at me. Neither of us spoke.
I didn’t want to break this … whatever the hell this was. He kept looking at me. What did he see? What did he feel? I had so many questions I wanted to ask him, but I stayed silent.