Total pages in book: 79
Estimated words: 76820 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 384(@200wpm)___ 307(@250wpm)___ 256(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 76820 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 384(@200wpm)___ 307(@250wpm)___ 256(@300wpm)
Her chin starts to quiver, and instead of arguing with me, she nods.
I fuse my mouth with hers, and we spend minutes just kissing before I pull out of her. I walk to the bathroom and dispose of the condom. After I’ve cleaned myself, I wash my hands and splash water over my face.
When I look up, my eyes connect with my reflection in the mirror.
Rosalie Manno belongs to me.
I hear footsteps, and when I walk back into the bedroom, Rosalie and her clothes are gone. There’s only the blood stain on my sheets.
She better not think she’s going to hide in her room. She promised me two days, and I want every second.
I pull on a clean pair of sweatpants, and when I check her bedroom and find it empty, I feel relieved.
I take the stairs down and head to the side door. Resting my shoulder against the doorjamb, I cross my arms over my chest and watch Rosalie as she waits for Luna to finish peeing.
When she glances at me, her eyes only touch mine for a second before she quickly looks away. Her neck and cheeks flush, making a smile curve my lips.
Luna notices me, and I have to brace myself as she runs and jumps up. I rub her soft fur. “Did you miss me, sweet girl?”
“She did,” Rosalie answers.
Hearing the double meaning in her words, my eyes snap to hers. “I missed her too. Staying away was one of the hardest things I ever had to do.”
Once Luna is done saying hello to me, I walk to Rosalie and take hold of her hand. I tug her closer, and tilting my head, I stare into her eyes. “You okay?”
She nods quickly, then looks away.
“Are we going to lie to each other these last two days?”
She nods again, her voice hoarse as she whispers, “I can’t face the truth.”
I lift a hand and brush my knuckles over her cheek. “Then we’ll lie, moya Malen'kaya Roza.”
It feels more intimate when I call her my Little Rose in Russian.
Needing to ease the tension in her, I say, “Let’s make something to eat and watch a movie. I just want to relax with you.”
I tug Rosalie into the house and force her to sit on a stool.
When I open the fridge, she asks, “Do the tattoos on your shoulders and chest mean anything?”
“The stars mean authority,” I explain.
“Because you’re the head of the bratva?”
“Yes.” My eyes flick to hers, and seeing the curiosity on her face, I relax.
“Can I ask something else?”
“You can ask anything.” I take chicken and vegetables out so I can make stir-fry.
“How did it feel the first time you killed someone?”
Jesus, that’s long ago.
I actually have to think for a moment while I rinse the vegetables. “I was thirteen when my dad and Uncle Alexei took me with them to an arms deal. Things went sideways, and I had to kill one of the fuckers. It was either him or me.” Opening the pack of chicken breasts, I cut them into strips. “Watching the life drain from a human being had me puking my guts out. I couldn’t eat for a week.”
Compassion laces her words as she asks, “Then why do you do it?”
I lock eyes with her. “To protect what’s mine, moya malen'kaya roza. In our world, it’s kill or be killed.”
She’s trying to understand me, but I can see she’s struggling.
Setting the knife down, I walk to her and take hold of her chin. “You love Luna, right?”
“Yes.”
“What would you do to protect her?”
Her eyebrows draw together, the conflicted emotions returning to her face.
I lean down and press a kiss to her lips and say, “You promised me two days. Don’t think about the mafia and bratva. Don’t think about anything but me.”
When she nods, I kiss her again until she’s breathless. Pulling back, I brush the pad of my thumb over her swollen bottom lip. “I want you to do something for me.”
Confusion flutters over her face. “What?”
“Let Luna go outside. I need you all to myself for what I have planned.”
Rosalie opens the side door, so Luna can go play, then shuts it. She looks nervous as she walks back to me.
When she’s in reaching distance, I pull her behind the island. “Get down on your knees.”
“Why?”
“You’re going to suck my cock, moya Malen'kaya Roza.”
Instantly her face flushes, and she looks self-conscious, then she admits, “I don’t know how.”
The corner of my mouth lifts. “I’ll teach you.”
Rosalie places her hand on the island and carefully lowers herself onto her knees. When she looks up at me, an inferno of possessiveness burns through my veins, and I harden in a split second.
My fingers brush along her jaw, and reaching her chin, I tug at her bottom lip with my thumb. “You’re so fucking beautiful.” I nod to my clothes. “Take them off.”