Narrowing my eyes, I stare at her with force, still not ready to fully let go of my theories, but realizing that I may have been unfair.
Selene doesn’t care about my expression or the tension in my shoulders. She walks closer, bold, defiant. Her head is tilted up to look at me, and her hands are on her hips.
Her eyes pierce into mine, and she takes a heavy breath.
“Why, Simon, would I spend five years suffering abuse from my father because Irefused to spy on your family,only to turn around and spy after I manage to escape him? Does that make sense at all? When I approached my brothers, I read their body language, assessed the situation, and used my years living in a Bratva family to make an informed decision. It wasn’t something I did to betray you or to go behind your back. I had to make a decision quickly, without having the time to consult you… and I expected you to trust that I made whatever decision I made in the best interest of keeping the twins and us safe.”
My jaw clenches, muscles rippling across my face as I listen to her and feel the guilt flooding me. She keeps talking, and I keep listening.
“But you didn’t even give me the chance to say anything or explain anything when I came back from talking to my brothers. You immediately went into attack mode, shutting me out, assuming the worst, forcing us to return home. You werenot fair.And you arenot being fairnow by still shutting me out. You have to stop this!”
Her tone is controlled but emotional. I clear my throat and push my hand through my hair. She’s watching me now, waiting for my response. And honestly, I feel like a fool. Every word she said has been fair and true. I didn’t even give her one moment to tell me what happened with her brothers or why she went out there. I really did assume the worst.
I realize, in that understanding, that I chose the reaction I did out of pure fear. Fear that she was leaving, fear that I was falling in love with her again, still, and I was being taken for a ride… it was fear of losing her that made me lash out and then shut down.
“Fuck,” I mutter quietly, closing my eyes. “I really fucked up, didn’t I?”
“You kind of did, yes,” she nods, eyeing me cautiously.
I chuckle nervously. “I’m an idiot,” I say.
The smallest smile touches the corner of her mouth. “You kind of are, yes,” she nods. I move towards her, reaching out to place my hand on her waist. She doesn’t move away, and relief washes over me.
“I owe you a massive apology, princess.” I cup my hand beneath her jaw and brush my thumb over her soft skin. “Can you forgive me?”
“Well…” She leans into my touch, her eyes drifting close. “Let me hear your apology first. Then I will decide…” She has a mischievous smile on her face now.
I clear my throat, preparing for an official and very serious speech. She grins as she looks up at me. “I, Simon Volkov, have blundered terribly. I have jumped to conclusions, made assumptions, and due to my own fears of losing the woman I lo… I… “My throat closes over my words. When I speak again, the playful seriousness is gone, replaced by genuine emotion. “I’m so, so sorry, Selene. I was terrified I was losing you and acted rashly. Please will you forgive me?” I pull her into my arms and against my chest, wanting to hold her so tightly she can leave my side again.
Her eyes are glittering as she stares up at me. Her beautiful green pools of relief and wonder. The sight of her catches me off guard every time. It seems impossible for someone to be this beautiful. “I forgive you,” she whispers. She reaches up, brushing the tips of her fingers over my jaw. It sends currents of electricity through me.
Lowering my face, I hover my lips against hers. The temptation is so intense I almost lose control. Her breath is warm against my mouth. I shouldn’t do this here, now, in the office. But the temptation of her warmth is too much to bear.
I press my mouth against hers, and the days of worry and stress and fear wash away in an instant.
Selene reaches up to wrap her hands around my neck, standing on her tiptoes to pull herself close and deepen the kiss. She wants this as badly as I do. She isn’t worried about where we are or who might see us. She only cares about the kiss, about being close to me.
My heart somersaults as I lift her into my arms and turn to push her onto the desk. She sits there with her legs spread so I can stand between them, her summer dress teasing me with a glimpse of her under.Is that black lace? Is she wearing the lingerie?My body spikes with fever as I push her thighs further apart with my legs.
“Simon,” she mutters breathlessly. “Someone will see us,” she says.
“I don’t care. I need you,” I murmur against her mouth. The words seem to push away the last shred of resistance she has, and she lets out a slow gasp as she tilts her head back to let me trace kisses over her throat.
Chapter18 - Selene
His lips are hot against my throat, tracing kisses over my sensitive skin and sending warm shivers down my spine. I moan, unable to stop the sound from escaping my parted lips. Simon’s grip over my waist tightens, his fingers digging into me as he rocks his hips forwards. His cock is pulsing hard as he pushes it against my spread legs, and I moan again, louder.
He slowly drags his hands down my waist, his lips finding mine again as he brushes his palms down my legs, then up the inside of my thighs.
Urgency ripples through me as he wraps his hands around the top of my thighs, and with his thumbs, he teasingly rubs over the lace black panties I chose to wear today.
To feel powerful. To feel confident. To feel so fucking sexy, I want to dance on his desk for him!
He groans against my mouth as his thumb hooks in the panties and pulls them aside.
“Soaked,” he murmurs with pleasure.
My clit is swollen and heated with need, throbbing with the anticipation of his touch. And he purposefully circles around it, prolonging my wait, creating more and more urgency as I try to rock my hips against his thumb to feel the relief I so desperately need.
