Page 51 of Cruel Russian King

Bile crawled up my throat. That call wasn’t nearly as satisfying as I thought it would be. All it did was make me ache for the silver-eyed goddess who slept in my bed, and took up space in my house. I shoved my phone into my pocket, my hands itching to be on her. I left the office, and drove home.

I found Ninel in the kitchen preparing lunch, spices filled the air. I should be pissed that the chef wasn't at his post but I'd let it slide if she didn't fucking run from me.

“Hi…” I said softly, not wanting to startle her.

I noticed her shoulders tense and she turned to face me.

“Hi…”

She turned back to cutting up the tomatoes. Her movements speed up slightly. Was Ninel afraid of me? Or was she afraid of what she became when she was around me?

“What are you making?” I asked, closing the distance between us.

I lifted her hair and tucked it behind her ear. I watched as the pulse in her neck raced. I also noticed the fading bite marks in her skin, and I traced it and I felt her tremble beneath my touch.

“Spaghetti and meatballs,” she said breathlessly.

“Enough for two?”

She turned to look at me, our lips almost touching. I wanted to claim her mouth, her moans. But I didn't want to chase her away…so I took a few steps back.

“I could share,” she smiled.

“Do you need any help with anything?”

She spun all the way around this time, lifting both eyebrows. “You cook?”

“No, but I’m guessing it was the right thing to say since you decided to share lunch with me.”

She folded her arms and shook her head, a small smile on her lips. “So what if I had said I needed help what would you have done?”

I smirked. “I would've pretended to get a call from one of my brothers and made a hasty exit.”

She giggled. And fuck me if I didn't want to turn them into moans.

I watched as she added the last of the tomatoes to the pot on the stove.

She smiled at me and my heart seized. “You can set the table. And if you try to escape saying you've got a call, I'm already onto your plans.”

I chuckled.

Fifteen minutes later, Ninel and I sat and ate. The longing in her eyes mirrored the dangerous fire I felt burning in mine. Neither of us mentioned that day. Pretending it didn’t happen was easier than facing the feelings we’d ignited.

We laughed, and we talked, though sometimes the words died, leaving only that charged, awkward silence. And I realized, I’d rather sit in silence with her than be alone in a room full of noise.

I wanted the woman I’d claimed in the car, the one who had made me lose every ounce of control. And even as the thought tightened my gut, I knew she needed time to accept who she was when we were in bed together.

But I’d wait.

I’d be patient.

And when she came back to me, she’d be mine in every way. And I would make damn sure she stayed that way.

Chapter 16 - Ninel

I groaned as my eyes opened slowly. My head felt as though an elephant was sitting on it.

I sighed as I pushed myself into a sitting position and leaned my head against the headboard.