Page 42 of Savage Truce

Slowly, Anastasia moves, repeating the action. “Like this?” Her voice is so fucking soft and sweet, the way I remember it, and it grips my heart in a vice.

There’s no fear between the two, and as Artem inches closer to her, I’m surprised.

“Yes.” A shy smile tugs at my cousin’s mouth, then he points at the garden. “Also, I spend time with plants.” His shoulders curl forward. “They won’t hurt you.” He points at some of the bruises that are taking longer to heal on Anastasia’s legs. “Like that.”

He darts away from her and begins to name the different plants in the garden, and when she follows him, I step out of the kitchen. Keeping my distance from them, I watch to make sure their first encounter doesn’t end in disaster.

But my worry is for nothing, because Anastasia either senses that Artem is no threat to her at all or has taken an instant liking to his boyish innocence.

Just then my cousin notices me, and scratching his head again, he says, “I’m showing her the garden.”

Anastasia swings around, and when her features tighten again, I hate it.

“Did you tell her about the bugs you saw in Mauritius?”

“No!” Excitement lights up his face. “I brought one. I found it dead on the ground.” He digs a tissue out of his pocket and folds it open, then shoves it under Anastasia’s nose. “It looks like a stick.”

I’m in for another surprise when she lets out a chuckle, and taking hold of Artem’s wrist, she pulls his arm back so she can see better. My entire body tenses because Artem doesn’t like strangers touching him at all.

Instead of running away to hide, he moves even closer and points at the bug. “When they’re in shrubs, you have to look carefully or you’ll miss them. I found fourteen.” Another shy smile tugs at his mouth. “They couldn’t hide from me.”

“Wow, so you’re the best when it comes to finding bugs?”

His cheeks turn red, and looking down, he fidgets with the pocket of his jeans. “Yes.” Turning around, he hightails it around the corner of the house, leaving me alone with Anastasia.

“I’ve never seen Artem take to a person like that before. He’s very people-shy and suffers from severe anxiety,” I tell Anastasia, and as our eyes meet, I add, “But just like with me, you’ve made him fall in love with you in a split second.”

She glances away as she murmurs, “He’s sweet.”

The tension is back in her body and voice, and she folds her arms around her middle.

When I sent men to Yelena’s house in the country to get Anastasia’s belongings, they only returned with a security safe. Everything else was lost because the rogue group ransacked the place before setting it on fire.

At least the steel box contained all the important documents, including Anastasia’s British ID, passport, and birth certificate.

I sent Miss Zoya shopping for some clothes, and seeing Anastasia in a light green dress, her curves filling out again, there’s a strong pull of attraction in my chest, and my cock threatens to harden.

“You look beautiful. I’m glad you’re gaining back the weight you lost.”

Her eyes snap to mine, and for a second, she just stares at me. Then her gaze drops to the dress, and she nervously smooths her hands over her soft stomach. “You’re… glad?”

The disbelief in her voice hits me hard, and I hate what the assholes have done to her self-confidence. If it’s the last thing I do, I swear I will restore it to its former glory.

“Of course I am,” I murmur.

Her brow furrows as she looks at me again, like I’ve said something that makes absolutely no sense to her.

Taking a wild fucking chance, I lower my voice so it will be seductive. “You were exactly my type the moment I saw you, krasivaya.” I let my eyes drift over her before meeting her gaze again. “I love your full curves. Your softness. Everything about your body and personality appeals to me.”

She blinks at me. “You like… my size?”

“Very fucking much.” A smile tugs at my mouth. “Do I need to remind you how difficult it was for me to let go of you when I kissed you outside the theater?” I step closer. “You had to walk away from me. I couldn’t make myself leave for close to fifteen minutes.”

“Really?” she whispers, her green gaze wide on me.

Hooking my arm around her back, I step into her personal space. When I cup her cheek, keeping her eyes imprisoned, her breaths start to come faster, and I notice her pulse fluttering.

“One look was all it took to fall head over heels for you, Anastasia. It felt like I was in the presence of the greatest work of art ever created.” My thumb brushes lightly over her bottom lip. “I should’ve listened to my gut that day and kidnapped you.” Shaking my head, I soak in how fucking perfect her skin feels beneath my fingertips. “You owe me a date.”