Page 46 of Wicked Mafia Sinner

“Thank you, Rowan. I meant to say that earlier.” She slides her fingers through mine. Our palms meet and I swear to all the forces of this universe, a jolt of electricity passes through the connection. It’s almost as if she is feeding her light into me.

I consider her for a long moment unable to move. Her words make me want to be a better man and make me wish I was anyone but Rowan Volkov.

“I didn’t have anyone yesterday and you put your body between me and a lot of people wanting my blood on their hands. Freaky thing to think, but they wanted it out of my veins in the worst way possible.”

Her voice trembles with an emotion that nearly puts me on one knee. I would care for her, protect her, meet every need she has or die trying. But I'm a Volkov. And she's an innocent woman who doesn't belong in my underworld.

I’m in love.

The red on her cheeks deepens the longer I look at her. I brush a few strands of hair playing at the side of her face away and grow still when my fingers brush over her cheek. She’s so fucking tender and sweet. One more taste wouldn’t hurt. I can stop myself at a taste. Right? I don’t have to ruin her or poison her light with my darkness.

“Is there coffee?" her question jerks me out of imagining her spread over my kitchen counter. Another minute and I’d have her spread wide for me over my kitchen counter.

I shake my head to dispel the fog of desire clouding my judgement.

"Da," I state matter-of-fact, not trusting myself to say anything else.

I wash my mug before pouring her a fresh cup of coffee.

“Sugar, cream?”

She shakes her head and accepts the mug with both hands, our fingers brushing.

Fuck. Me. There are days I want to hang up my holsters and walk away from the life. Today is one of those days. She makes me want to do better.

“Thank you.”

It’s a simple exchange, but it feels like that one gesture was akin to giving her my life force.

I straighten and fold my arms across my chest to keep from dragging her off the stool on the other side of the island and fucking her. Right here. Right now.

Raw bliss crosses her beautiful face and the way her eyes roll closed and she licks her lips has my cock thickening.

She takes a sip from my mug. Her eyes close. The sound she makes is quiet, involuntary, and has no business coming from a woman holding a cup of coffee.

I pull out my phone and pretend to read whatever the fuck I can find to keep myself on this side of being human instead of the fucking animal in me wanting to claim her.

"This is good."

"It's coffee." I keep my eyes glued to my screen.

"It's very good coffee."

I lift a heavy shoulder. "It's Russian."

"Russians make good coffee? Maybe I need to find a man who can make me coffee like this every morning." She leans forward on her elbows and lifts the mug to her lips. Eyeing me the whole time, she blows over the rim before taking another sip. And then she has the audacity to wink at me.

Little fucking she devil.

Nine

Rowan

The playful taunt in her tone forces my attention back on her. "This Russian is the only one who can make this special blend."

She almost smiles and then counters with a cocked brow. “Are you offering me forever, Daddy Volkov?”

Daddy.