AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Release him,” I throw over my shoulder at the guys who are still holding Kosyta and carry Asya outside.
I can’t get enough of his scent. Yes, there’s sweat and blood, too, but underneath all that, there’s the smell I associate with happiness. Safety. Love. Home. Pasha. Squeezing my legs and arms around him even tighter, I bury my face in the crook of his neck and inhale. I missed him so damn much.
A car door closes behind me, and Pasha gets in the back seat of Kostya’s sedan. Even when he’s seated, I refuse to let go of him, and plaster myself tighter to his chest. I move my hand up his nape, but instead his dark blond strands of hair, short bristles tickle the skin of my palm.
“Why did you shave your hair?” I ask next to his ear and brush a kiss on the side of his neck.
“Because someone could have used it to gain leverage during a fight,” comes his cold answer.
I unwrap my hands from around Pasha’s neck and lean back to look at him. His left hand is at my back, caressing me over the fabric on my T-shirt.
“Why are you here, Asya? Did Kostya make you come?”
“No,” I say and cup his face with my palms. “I made Kostya bring me here.”
“Why?”
I look at his sad gray eyes and lean forward, pressing my lips to his. His mouth is set in a tight line, and he doesn’t respond. “Because I love you,” I say against his hard lips.
Pasha’s body stiffens under mine. “And what happened to your boyfriend?”
“What boyfriend, baby?”
“There’s no need to lie. I know.”
I straighten on his lap and stare at him in confusion. “What are you talking about?”
He grinds his teeth. “I came to see you last month. I saw you two kiss in front of your house, mishka.”
What the fuck? That’s nonsense. Today is the first time I’ve left the house since I returned to New York. I had no desire to see anyone or go anywhere. Unless . . .
I shake my head and reach for my backpack, taking out my phone. “Is this the ‘me’ you saw kissing a guy?” I ask and turn the screen toward him.
Pasha looks down at the phone, then takes it from my hand and looks closer at the picture on the screen. “Your hair is shorter here.” He looks up at me and takes a lock of my hair between his fingers. “And it was shorter when I saw you.”
“The woman you saw was Sienna. My sister.” I smile. “We’re identical twins. I thought I mentioned it.”
Pasha lets go of my hair and grabs me behind my neck. “It wasn’t you?”
“Of course it wasn’t me. I can’t even stomach the idea of touching any man other than you.”
His jaw clenches and he brings his forehead to rest against mine.
“You’re staying,” he bites out. “I know I’m selfish. And I know you deserve better. But I don’t really give a fuck, Asya. You are staying. And if anyone tries to take you away from me, I’m going to fucking kill them on the spot.”
“If you ever ignore one of my calls again, you won’t know what hit you.”
Pasha crushes his mouth to mine. His hand comes to the side of my face, brushing my cheek with his calloused fingers. His arm around my back squeezes my waist, almost squishing me. I take his bottom lip between my teeth and bite, then kiss my way along his chin to the side of his neck and inhale his scent again. When I get my fill, I move back to his mouth and let his lips devour mine. It’s unlike any other kiss we ever shared. Love. Anger. Hurt. Regret. Longing. Healing. There’s a lot, and at the same time, there isn’t enough.
“Where to, lovebirds?” Kostya asks from the driver seat.
“Home,” Pasha says against my lips.
“Home.” I nod.
* * *
“I can walk,” I say as Pasha carries me into his building. He didn’t let me move off his lap during the entire drive.
