Page 24

CHAPTER 23

ALEXEI

“Where is she?” I scan the room and only see Mikhail and Nikolai.

“Calm down, she’s in bed,” Nikolai growls at me.

I blow out a breath and run my hands through my hair. Double taking the stairs, I push open her door and come to an abrupt stop.

She’s crying.

Each sob makes me feel sick.

I clamber on the bed and pull her into me, letting her tears soak into my shirt.

“No, no, no. When you’re upset it breaks my heart, Lara,” I whisper into the top of her head.

I wish I could explain how gutting it is to see her this way. It’s like every failure of my life beats down on me when I can’t make her smile.

“You could never fail me, sladkiy.” She sniffles, making me frown.

Shit, I said it out loud.

She pulls herself to sit upright, linking her fingers through mine.

They fit perfectly.

“I’ll do better next time, I won’t let anyone ever hurt you again.”

I try not to look at the angry mark on her face. She’s going to hate that, she is always asking me if she looks pretty.

There’s never a moment that she isn’t the most beautiful woman.

Guilt still riddles me for letting her get caught. “Tell me not to kiss you again.”

She grabs both sides of my face, tracing her fingertip along the tattoo down my cheek as she searches my eyes.

“Why the hell would I say something so ridiculous, sladkiy?”

I bite down on my lip as my gaze settles on her plump ones, begging to be kissed again. Leaning forward my nose presses against hers and she sucks in a breath as I run my fingers through her silky hair.

I cannot stand to lose the one person who holds me together, yet all I want to do is claim her and make her mine. Forever.

Is it worth the risk?

“Promise me something, pchelhka,” I whisper, my heart hammering against my chest.

“What’s that?” Her breath hits against my lips and my cock is pressing against my zipper.

“That this doesn’t change what we have. We never lose each other, no matter what.”

The way she grins not only explodes my heart, but tells me everything I need to know.

“For eternity.” Taking her lips, I tug her closer and lose myself to her.

“You need to get some sleep, Lara,” I tell her. And I need to speak to Mikhail. He will knock some sense into me.

Or at least take me skydiving so I can think.

The way everything is battling in my brain, it’s a struggle. I have to do right by Lara.

“I’ll stay,” I reassure her as she snuggles up on the pillow and I hold her close.

I don’t want to let go.

I let out a sign and rest my head against the headboard.

“Are my brothers downstairs?” she whispers.

I swallow the lump in my throat. Not only did I fail Lara, they saved me all those years ago and now I’m kissing their sister.

They might hate me for this. I could never regret anything with Lara, and how can something that feels so damn good be wrong?