Page 139 of Bratva Jewels Box Set

But Maxim’s arms wrapped around me feels right, and I’m not going to overthink this because I need it. I’m ashamed of myself for craving his attention, but deep down in my soul, I need five minutes of someone telling me they’ve got me. That I’m not alone.

“Thank you,” I whisper, embarrassed over how long I soaked up the feeling of being in his arms.

Maxim looks down at me and gives me a warm smile before reaching out and pushing the hair away from my face. “It’s my pleasure.”

A flutter tickles my stomach over his kindness. It’s not fair that he’s this handsome when he’s such a bad guy.

But is he really that bad?

Oh, come on, his job is killing people for a price.They are bad people, too. Maybe he’s doing a service to society.You want to get laid, and in that pursuit, you are ignoring huge red flags.He could kill Dmitri.He would be the only person with the skills and connections.Doesn’t he work for Dmitri?Shit. Yeah, he’s not coming to my aid.

We sit in silence for a while neither one of us daring to talk to break this moment between us.

“Do you want to talk about it?” Maxim asks.

I shake my head. What is there to say? He doesn’t push me any further, which I appreciate.

We fall into another round of silence until it’s me this time breaking it.

“Maxim,” I say his name, looking up at him.

“Yes, Grace?”

I bite my bottom lip because what I’m about to ask is crazy and a bad idea, but for the first time since all this has happened, I’ve felt safe. I’m afraid when I close my eyes again tonight Dmitri will visit me.

“Can you stay with me tonight?” The words tumble out of my mouth quickly.

Maxim stiffens beside me.

See, I knew it. Stupid of me to ask, what the hell was I thinking. This man is my fucking kidnapper.

“Grace …”

I jump out of his arms and shuffle away from him on the bed. “It’s okay, Maxim. It was a stupid idea. I was having a moment, and the words came out before my brain had a chance to catch up with them. Ignore me. Thank you for checking in on me. I bid you a good night.”

Maxim’s brows pinch together. “It wasn’t a stupid idea.”

Oh. That’s not at all what I thought he was going to say.

“Are you sure you want me here, beside you, all night?” he asks, looking at the space between the two of us.

“Yes. It might help keep the nightmares away. I trust you. That’s probably a stupid thing to tell you, but I do for some strange reason.” The word vomit continues to fall from my mouth.

He gives me a smile. “I like that you trust me, Grace. Especially as I’m the bad guy here.”

A yawn surprises me, and I cover my mouth with my hand. I know I should be worried about his words, but I’m too exhausted to care anymore. Give me one night of peace, and I can worry about how fucked up this all is tomorrow.

“You’re safe with me now. I promise nothing will harm you ever again, even me.”

Oh.

Not sure how to interpret that, but I think that’s his way of saying I’m safe for the moment and I guess that’s all I can ask for, for tonight.

I lean forward and do the second stupidest thing tonight … I kiss his cheek. The prickles of his five o’clock shadow tickle my lips. The quick inhale of his breath as my lips connect with his skin tells me how surprised he is by this gesture.

“Don’t think it means anything other than a thank you,” I tell him.

Which makes him chuckle. “Go to sleep, Grace.”