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“You’re the only one I’ve ever loved and if you die saving me, just know that I’ll be right behind you. This world is a rotten place without you and I need you. I’m selfish and I need you. So, stay.”

“Sergei.” I cup his cheeks and he pulls me closer, our lips colliding and words remain unsaid, almost confessing our emotions through the kiss.

He’s gentle, he’s warm and inviting, his licks are searing hot and I melt.

His soft lips close around mine, promising a life full of colours and happiness, and I give in.

His hands wrap around my waist as he effortlessly lifts me off the bed, my legs close around him causing him to grunt, and I let him devour me.

Fuck.

“I need you.” I whine, grinding myself against his stomach, finding friction.

“I need you more.” He grumbles, his gentle licks turning frantic and messy with every stroke, following a rhythm my pussy loves as I feel myself getting wetter every second.

“This is the kind of greed they talk about in the Bible.”

We halt, our movements coming to a pause as I lift my head and find Roman, Alec and Alina standing sheepishly by the doorway, a small empathetic smile playing on their faces.

“Go away.” Sergei groans around my mouth before kissing me again, and gingerly places my body back on the bed.

My legs untangling, missing his scent and warmth, his eyes stuck on me, his lips pursed as he crosses his arms and steps back.

“One cannot walk, the other cannot use her fucking hands. But look at them eating each other’s faces—”

“Ohmygod, Roman stop.” I face palm myself while he bursts out laughing.

“Hi, dollface.” Roman chuckles, a box topped with a cute pink bow coming into view as he strides over and places it in my hands.

“Not your dollface.” Sergei smacks the back of his head, and a soft laugh escapes me.

“Get in, she doesn’t bite.” Roman turns his back to me, waving Alec and Alina in as they linger by the doorway.

Their eyes are wary, heavy with guilt, and it hits me all at once that they might be blaming themselves for what I did.

My smile falters. “I’m sorry.” I mumble, barely audible, before forcing myself to meet their gaze. “I had it planned for a year, trust me. It was inevitable. There’s nothing you could’ve done.”

A hollow chuckle rises in my throat, dying before it ever reaches my lips as four pairs of eyes pin me in place, three lined with disapproval, and one brimming with so much pain I’m unable to look at him.

My gaze drops, the weight of it too much to bear. Silence sits heavily in the air as none of us speak.

My nails bite into my skin, as shame crawls upwards, before Roman gently swats my hands away.

“Happy birthday.” He smiles softly now, unlike his usual half-arsed grins, Roman speaks in a calm tone. “Shame doesn’t look good on you.” His hand resting on my head as if to gently pat me. “You’re family, Elara.”

I try to find the mocking smirk but come up empty. After the initial shock wears off, I realise he’s entirely serious.

Another pitiful tear slips free, and a tremor runs down my spine as his words settle in my ears.

Family.

“I’ll whoop everyone’s arses if they hurt you.” His voice stays calm, but his jaw is clenched so tight I’m half-surprised it doesn’t crack under the strain.

“What’s in the box?” I ask, trying to steer the conversation elsewhere. His lips purse, catching on to my motive, but doesn’t call me out on it.

“Open it.”

The bow unravels beneath my fingers. I lift the lid and find a pink cake covered with tiny pink roses nestled inside.