Page 41 of Savage Pakhan

“Da, I have,” I agree, not wanting to lie to her.

The truth hurts her by how fast the morning smile fades.

I roll her onto her back, placing my hands on either side of her head. I play with a piece of her hair, tucking the short strand behind her ear. “I don’t mean to hurt you. While I have been with many women, I have never yearned for someone before. I have never wanted more with someone, and you make me want more.”

She surprises me by wrapping one arm around my shoulder and the other around my waist. “I make you want more?” She asks, her eyes focusing on my lips.

“Da. So much more.”

I’ll trade all of my guns for one kiss from her. Holding myself back from stealing her lips with mine has me very proud of my self-control. I’m just not sure how much longer I can hold on for before I break.

Her fingers drift down my back, up and down, soft and sweet. Her innocent fingers feel every scar I’ve earned in my life from my job. There’s concern in her eyes. Questions she wants to ask.

“Survival. It was me or them,” I explain.

“Promise me you’ll always survive. You’ll always win.”

“Da, Lyubimaya. I promise. I’ll win because it means coming back to you.”

Her eyes water, a small tear falling onto her cheek. “You’ll always find a way to come back to me, right? You have to, Alek. I can’t be without you.” Her hand settles on my chest, the warmth of her palm melting the ice that’s turned my heart cold over the years.

“I swear, Mia. Nothing will stop me. No one will stop me.”

Her bottom lip trembles as she turns her head to look away. “Ivan won’t allow it.”

“Hey. Look at me. Mia. Look at me, please.” I keep my tone firm, knowing sometimes she need a stern tone.

She’s so delicate, so innocent, and I don’t mean that in a bad way. I fucking love it. She’s perfect for the soft dom inside me. Every part of her, her sweetness, her eagerness to learn, everything about that calls to me.

Mia has been sheltered so much of her life for Ivan, and I know that’s partly my fault along with her father. That arranged marriage shouldn’t have happened. If I could go back and turn Roswell down, I would in a heartbeat.

She wouldn’t have so much trauma either if it weren’t for me.

Everything she feels, every nightmare she has, every scared emotion that startles her, her trust issues, it all has a starting point.

And it starts with me.

I had no idea I’d fall in love with her. She was strictly for my son. I never gave her a second thought as Mia and Ivan grew up together. Two to three years ago, that changed. She’s twenty-five years old compared to my forty-five. There’s a big age gap there yet I don’t care. I’ve never felt drawn to another person like I’m drawn to her.

“Mia,” I repeat her name again and she finally brings those big brown eyes to me. “Good girl,” I praise. I wipe away her tears and kiss the tip of her nose, hoping it helps soothe her. “You don’t need to worry about Ivan. That’s my job. You’re free of him, remember?”

“But he won’t just let me go, Alek. He takes that contract seriously. It’s why he never touched me. I know he cheated. And I never cared. I mean I did in the beginning, but not anymore.”

“If we took that contract seriously, he wouldn’t have cheated, Mia. I’ll need to read the contract again to see if there is an easier way out for you.” I roll off her and sit on the edge of the bed, my elbows on my knees. “You can be free of the Bykov’s.”

“I only want to be free of one Bykov.”

I turn to her, reaching for her hand.

“Unless you don’t want me anymore. I wouldn’t blame you. It’s a messy situation.”

I rub my thumb across the top of her hand. “All I want is you, Mia. I hate my son was marrying you. I hated you were going to be his wife when all I wanted was for you to be my wife. Mine. Not his. He doesn’t deserve you. He never did. And after I read your journals…” I raise a hand knowing what’s she is about to say. “And I’m sorry for invading your privacy but I don’t regret reading them. I learned the truth about my son.”

“I’m sorry,” she whispers.

I tug her to me and wrap her in a tight hug, cupping the back of her head to keep her close. “Don’t ever apologize for his wrongs. You have no reason to apology.”

She leans away, her wet lashes dripping loose tears. Mia stares at my lips again and I wait for her to make a decision.