Page 50 of Nikola

“Give me a reason not to,” I signed with a defiant tilt to my chin.

“You want a reason, huh?” I nodded slowly. “How about keeping Kostya alive?”

“That’s not good enough.” Firstly, he would never hurt Kostya. Secondly, Kostya could hold his own. They both might come out slightly banged up, but it wouldn’t be the first time. When Nikola didn’t react, just remained staring at me, almost as if he was willing me to do what he demanded, I signed slowly, “Are you embarrassed by me?”

I cringed inside as I asked what I swore never to ask anyone. It was their problem if they couldn’t see me for who I was, and I’d never let it bother me before. But somehow I knew itwouldbother me when it came to Nikola.

His face at eye level, he wrapped his hand around my nape and yanked me to him. Then he kissed me.Hard.Possessive. A vibration sounded from somewhere deep inside of him and traveled through me. Like I owned him as much as he owned me. His tongue slipped inside my mouth as he kissed me deeply.

A groan vibrated through his chest as he slipped his tongue into my mouth. He pulled my bottom lip between his teeth, sucking on it. Nipping it.

My hands wrapped around his neck and then traveled up. Nails scraped against his scalp, tugged his hair, then I brought them down to run them over the hard ridges of his muscles, desperate to touch him everywhere. I wanted to know every inch of his body like it was my sole purpose in life.

That familiar, hazy lust pooled in my stomach, but it was so much more than just that. It was lust wrapped in years of affection, protection, and love.

Suddenly he stopped, yanking himself away from me and straightening to his full height. His eyes bored into me, but there were things in them that I didn’t know how to read.

“Cancel your lunch with Kostya,zayka.”

And then he left me with a throbbing center, my head completely jumbled.

16

PHOENIX

Icouldn’t shake the feeling that something was off.

However, there was no way I’d voice that, because my husband would have us packed and gone in less than a minute. Instead, I paced around the Nikolaevs’ living room, trying to release the tension and this ominous sixth sense that seemed to come packaged with motherhood.

A tap on the shoulder had me yelping from surprise, and I whirled around to find Branka standing with a wide smile on her face.

“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to startle you.”

My hand gripped my chest and I released a deep breath before I managed a smile. “I shouldn’t be startled. After all, I’m in the living room and the house is full.”

“I’m so glad you guys joined,” she said, signing at the same time as she took a seat on a couch. “Are you having a hard time sleeping too?”

My eyes flicked to the clock that showed eleven o’clock, and I realized I’d been pacing for an hour, lost in thought.

“Probably the jet lag,” I signed.

She smiled. “I’m surprised Dante let you out of his sight.”

“He’s on a call with the Omertà.” I waved my hand and took a seat across from her. “Probably discussing marriage terms.”

“I still can’t believe those two are willing to marry her off”—Branka snapped her fingers with an angry expression—“just like that.”

Maybe it was that which bothered me.

I understood the need for the marriage alliance, but I didn’t like where that left our daughter. I wanted love for her. Anything less was cruel and unfair.

“How do you feel about it, Phoenix?” Branka asked.

I released a heavy sigh before answering. “I want love and passion for Skye. An arranged marriage with a stranger won’t give her that. She deserves better.”

Branka nodded; she understood better than anyone.

“I almost wish Skye would fall madly in love and run away to marry a boy. Anything is better than a cold marriage.”