Total pages in book: 59
Estimated words: 56608 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 283(@200wpm)___ 226(@250wpm)___ 189(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 56608 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 283(@200wpm)___ 226(@250wpm)___ 189(@300wpm)
We hold each other as we pant, our shared crescendo making us both shake, and then I lie next to her, keeping her in my arms. I don’t want any space between us. I hold her so close.
She kisses my chest, then props her hands on it, looking at me with a smile. “That was so, so good. I can’t believe I was nervous.”
“We belong together,” I tell her fiercely. “It’s you and me, Lia. Always. But…”
I sigh, wishing I didn’t have to do this now.
“I need to tell you something.”
She swallows. “Yeah…”
“The new leader of the LA Bratva, Oleg, wants to go on with the Sokolov-Petrov alliance.”
“But…” She shakes her head. “Doesn’t that mean…”
I’ll have to marry Mila…
“No,” I tell her firmly. “Because that’s never happening. There’s only one person I want to marry.”
As her hands tighten in shock, her nails scrape against my chest. “What are you saying?”
I sit up, pulling her into a kiss. She returns the kiss with passion and pressure, but then she puts her hands on my chest, pushing back slightly so she can look down at me. She’s got a searching look in her perfect eyes. “Dimitri…”
“I didn’t want to do this like this,” I say. “Both of us naked and after sex. I had plans.”
“What sort of plans?” She sinks her hands into my sides, clutching at me like she never wants to let go.
“I don’t know. Something romantic. A restaurant. A speech.” My voice shudders, my breath coming hot and passionate.
“But…” She leans back. “Maybe we should get some room service? Get dressed and talk?”
I smirk, sliding my hand up her leg. “Worried you’ll get distracted?”
She playfully bats my hand away, but her eyes are gorgeously serious. “I need to know where this is going, please.”
We both get dressed, and I wrap my arm around her. Then we go into the main room of the suite. “Here, a meal,” she says, laughing as she gestures to the room-service menu, then she bites down and looks at me in the cutest, most beautiful way.
I take her hands. “You know what I’m saying. I love you. I don’t want anybody else.”
“But what about the deal?”
“Fuck the deal.”
“What if it leads to a war?”
“Then it’ll be a war,” I snap. “Nothing can stop me from…” Suddenly, my heart is beating wildly, and I hold up my hand. “Wait here. I need something from my jacket.”
She says my name, her voice trembling as I leave the room. I return with the ring box in my hand. “I don’t know if it will fit you,” I say. “My father never knew this, but my mother was engaged once before to a man she truly loved. She told me…”
I pause, getting choked up. Lia rushes to me and takes my hand, tears in her eyes.
“She told me if I ever found someone I truly loved, I should use it, but I never thought I would.”
She’s fully crying now, tears flowing down her cheeks. I’m stunned at the level of emotion moving through me. “Lia Meadows,” I say, moving to one knee and looking up at her as I open the ring box, showing the golden band with the red jewels, an old-school piece still just as perfect as my woman deserves. “Will you marry me?”
“Yes,” she says, her voice shivering as she pushes the words past her lips. “Oh, Dimitri. I love you. I don’t want to be alone. I thought I did. I could have, but you… you…”
I take the ring and slide it onto her finger, then stand up and pull her into my arms. She presses her face against my chest and cries quietly. Then she kisses up my neck until she finds my lips. We sink into the kiss fully. She finally pulls back after a few minutes and says she wants to clean up her face from the crying.
I watch her go, love stirring in my chest. My cell phone rings. It’s Mikhail.
“Are you heading back to the compound?” I say. “I might stay in the city.”
“I’m taking a trip,” he replies.
“A trip, where?”
“It’s been a rough time. I need to clear my head—a couple of weeks of alone time. Don’t worry. I’ll be home before Oleg’s deadline.”
“That deadline is crap,” I tell my brother. “I’m already engaged.”
“Holy… what! Congrats, brother.” He sounds genuinely happy for me. “That’s amazing news. Damn, yes. You deserve this. You both do. I never thought I’d say this, but you’ll make a good husband.”
“Stay safe,” I tell him.
“And you. See you in a couple of weeks.”
I wait on the couch for my woman to return. She’s got her hands on her stomach, frowning slightly.
“What’s wrong?” I ask.
“I just realized. We didn’t…”
“That’s okay.” I go to her and smooth my hands around her hips. “If you’re okay with that, I am. You’re going to be an amazing mother.”