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His knee found a soft, sensual rhythm between my thighs while his lips traced my bare neck and shoulder as though he was walking a familiar path. As though he could blindly locate each and every part of me, naked or fully clothed. Like a man who’d spent years studying, and dedicating time to an art.

His hand left my breast and trailed to my waist where his fingers curled around me.

“Antonio…” I breathed in uncertainty.

His lips found the pathway back to my ear. “I like hearing you say my name,” he whispered, voice gravelly and drenched in lust. “Especially when you’re asleep,” he nipped at my earlobe and my eyes widened. What…

“What are you talking about?” I swallowed the anxiety down my throat and he lifted his head, cold green eyes staring back at me.

“Go get some rest, yeah?” He brushed his lips over mine. “Before I change my mind.”

In disbelief I stared up at him and he casually sat down as if he did not just… kiss me. Lick me.

With my options being limited—since we were in the fucking sky—I slowly sat up and got to my feet.

Still in a cloud of confusion, I stepped back and away from him, but his eyes didn’t leave mine once.

He draped his arm over the back of the seat, lifting his hips as he watched me back away from him and something told me he was resisting a deeply dangerous grin.

I whipped around and hurried back into the room before shutting the door and pressing my back against it. He just kissed me. Antonio just kissed me.

My arms trembled at my sides as I threw my head back against the door, squeezing my eyes shut. Antonio isn’t his brother. He’s not Alexander, but…

I shook my head, fighting the dreadful thoughts that clouded my head. No, he’s… he’s not.

He kissed me because I panicked, not because… no…

“Breathe, Nirah,” I whispered, exhaling a shaky breath before my fingers brushed down my throat. “You just need to breathe.” I closed my eyes, inhaling slowly before exhaling. You’re okay. You’re okay. You’re okay, Nirah— ‘I like hearing you say my name. Especially when you’re asleep.’

I blinked. What did he mean by that…?

First the incident with Rafé, and now he knows what I allegedly say in my sleep? How is that possible? Has he been following me? Coming into my room at night?

My head drummed as I tried wrapping my mind around everything. I just… need to lie down.

I dragged my body back to the bed and collapsed, allowing my exhaustion to consume me and carry me into a deep sleep.

* * *

I groaned, twisting in bed until a sharp pain in my arm forced my eyes to flutter open.

I stared up at an unfamiliar ceiling then yawned. My eyes trailed around the unrecognisable room until they landed on an… IV stand?

I followed the tubes and noticed it was attached to me.

In a complete haze I pulled the needle out and winced before getting to my feet. Where am I?

I stumbled across the room and reached forward to draw back the curtains. I was so high up it made me dizzy to look down. The snow glided down onto the frozen lake in the distance and I finally realised that we were in fact in Russia. Fuck.

I gripped the window in an attempt to lift it but it was locked. With a groan of frustration I headed over to the door but it was locked too. Shocker.

I limped into the bathroom but froze when I noticed the burglar bars. Crap.

Running a frustrated hand down my face, I turned, studying my surroundings. My hands rested on my hips as I tried thinking of a way to get out of here. Is that really wise, Nirah? What do you mean is that wise? Well, let’s see. You’ve been drugged in the past few hours, you haven’t eaten in twenty-four, and you have no money, no car and have no idea where in Russia you are. Right… I know I’m right—

The little voice in my head was silenced when the door handle rattled.

I scrambled back into the bedroom and yanked the bedside lamps plug out before rushing to the door. With my back pressed to the wall I adjusted my grip, holding the lamp firmly as I watched the door open.