Okay, I spoke too soon.
I bark out a laugh. “If you say so. I think I’ll always be able to read you like a book.”
“You’ll be my first port of call when I need to practice.”
“Ah, but you forget, I can always test the source.” I nip her fingertip. Watch her eyes soften. Her body turn languid, the tension from my teasing fading.
Her breath hitches and, this time, she forgets our bickering. “Y-Yes.”
“You’ll let me?”
“You set a date.”
“You’re the control freak.”
“I’m not.”
“If you say so,pchelka.”
When I release her hand, she pouts. Her brow furrows as I switch on the water again. Then, she jerks in surprise when I step forward, tug her into me, then shove us both under the shower spray.
She squeals and slams her fists against my chest as I call out, “Sorry, didn’t I mention that it was ice cold?”
“Why are you showering in cold water?” she shrieks at me, looking no less than a drowned cat with her hair plastered to her cheeks.
I band my arms around her, holding her tighter, closer. “Why do you think?”
The water temperature becomes a thing of the past as she gapes at me. Then, she wiggles. “Oh.”
She presses her forehead to my chest in complete surrender, and I take pity on her by gently nudging the water to something that doesn’t resemble a Siberian winter.
She shivers against me as the heat warms her through, then she tilts her head back. “Why?”
“Because you were kidnapped,zaya. The last thing you need is my dick carving out space in your back or side or stomach.”
Her lips pout. “Maybe that’s exactly what I need.”
“Doubtful.”
“Are you telling me what I want and don’t want, husband?”
“I wouldn’t dare.” As those pouting lips purse, I drop a kiss on them. “You were hurt. By other men. I’d never want you to associate them with me.”
She slaps a hand against my ass, making me jump. “Do you think I’d have married you if I was at all scared of you?” Fire leaps in those beautiful chestnut irises. “I am not my mother. Nor my sisters. I make my own decisions. Ichoseyou, Maxim. Do you understand me?”
I pump my hips. “I understand. Perfectly. But there is a time and a place?—”
With an impatient yelp, she grabs a hold of my hair and pushes my head down. Like that, her mouth is on mine. The connection flairs into existence and it’s as if I can breathe again.
She’s here.
She’s safe.
She wants me.
She doesn’t hate me.
She still cravesthis. Us.
