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Andrei holds me at arm’s length as he finally answers my question. “Ezra is searching for Katya, Valentina. She and your fake boyfriend are missing.”
Cold dread crashes over me.
Missing?
“That doesn’t make sense,” I say slowly, my thoughts still fogged from Andrei’s kiss. “Who would hurt my boss and my grandmother?”
Andrei’s eyes flash. “Liam is your boss?”
I realize my mistake and try not to blush. “Um. Yeah. Boss, boyfriend...” I try to make it sound nonchalant. “We’ve, um, kind of been off and on lately?”
Narrowing his eyes, Andrei repeats my phrase. “Off and on.”
“Yeah,” I croak. “Kind of.”
“Explain what that means.” His voice is icy, and his grip tightens hard enough to bruise my hip. “Now.”
I suck in a breath. “Well, other than my grandmother, he’s been my only friend?—”
Andrei’s jaw clenches.
“—and one thing led to another, and we’ve been on a few dates. Not a lot!” I’m quick to add. “But a few. And, um, we may have...slept together...once or twice. But it doesn’t mean anything, I swear.”
Any relationship I had with Liam died the moment I got swept back into Andrei’s, Mikhail’s, and Ezra’s arms. Hell, probably even before that.
“Oh, it means everything to me, Valentina.”
I recoil and wrench free from his grasp. “It was just a stupid fling. It doesn’t matter. I don’t want him.”
Andrei laughs, cold and cruel. “But he wants you, doesn’t he? And he’s had you. Before me.” With a hiss, he clenches and unclenches his fists. “I’m not fucking happy about that, Valentina. You are mine. You’ve always been mine.”
“Y-you seem fine sharing with Ezra and Mikhail.”
I regret my words the minute they’re spoken.
Andrei turns on a dime and bares his teeth in my direction. “They’re different. They’re the exception. No one else can have you!” He crosses the short distance to me and grabs my wrist. “We’re leaving. Now.”
We’re out of Celia’s house in a flash. I don’t even get to say goodbye before the door slams behind us. “What about my grandmother? Andrei, wait?—”
He thrusts my back against a black SUV in the driveway and kisses me, consuming all other thoughts with his fire. It catches within me, and I moan as he drags his tongue against mine. He pins my hips beneath his and growls low in his throat.
“I’m done waiting, Valentina. I’ve wanted every fucking cell in your body, every beautiful inch of your skin, since the moment I first laid eyes on you. You are mine. You were promised to me.” He kisses me again, all his fury and desire mixing with mine and making me dizzy. When he pulls back, I’m unsteady on my feet and have to cling to him for support.
“I won’t wait any longer for what’s mine. I will have you, zhena, right fucking now.”
My heart seizes at the promise, at the possessive fury, at the desire threading around us and tying us together. No one has ever wanted me this badly, and I have a feeling that any experience I gained while away won’t mean shit when paired against Andrei’s.
He exudes confidence and control . . .
Except when it comes to me.
“I drive you crazy, don’t I?”
My question catches Andrei off guard, and he simmers down long enough to gift me a small, genuine smile. “I wouldn’t want you any other way.”
This time, his kiss is slower, more deliberate, and he coaxes more than lust from my body and soul with each press of his lips against mine.
“I love you,” I whisper, cupping his cheek. “No matter what’s happened before, or what happens next, know that a part of me will always love every dark and twisted part of you.”
