Page 112 of Owned Bratva Bride

I could feel his eyes on me even as I stared blankly ahead.

He stood and walked over to his side of the bed. He bent down to open his nightstand drawer. Then he approached my nightstand without saying a word.

He dropped something on it before coming to sit by my legs on the bed.

I turned to the side and saw what he’d dropped.

A single key.

“You’re free. You can leave if you want. I won’t stop you,” he declared.

My gaze stayed on his face. He looked like someone trying to hide physical pain. His eyes were unreadable, but I knew his expressions well enough to tell he didn’t like what he’d just said. I was right.

I didn’t just imagine it. He didn’t want me to ever get hurt again.

And this was his way of ensuring that.

The tiny issue, however, was that I wasn’t having any of that.

I didn’t touch the key or even move toward it. Instead, I shifted lower until I was close to his stiff body.

“I don’t want freedom anymore, Eduard,” I disclosed, my voice almost quiet. “I want you.”

“So, no. I don’t want the key,” I added as he stared at me.

A more peaceful silence stretched between us.

“I love you.”

Did his lips just move?

His words seemed to knock the air out of my lungs.

His gaze didn’t waver as I searched his eyes.

The words were real.

Eduard wasn’t the type of man to say things just for the sake of talking. He was too comfortable with silence to attempt filling it with empty words.

He meant it.

I kissed him with all my emotions. He quickly took control of the kiss, his lips conveying the remnants of his words.

I broke the kiss.

“When I was in that ridiculous room,” I started, the clenching of his jaw making me smile, “I was alone with my thoughts. I don’t know why I didn’t realize it earlier. I love you, Eduard.”

He gave me a dazed look before his lips came down on mine. His lips moved over mine quicker this time. With his hand on the small of my back, Eduard guided me to the bed and was hovering over me in an instant, lips not leaving mine.

His tongue flicked my lower lip, and I granted him access. One of his hands moved over my breast while the other gripped my waist, causing me to let out a soft moan.

He pulled away, his hand coming to my face.

“Baby,” he uttered, his voice raw. “We have to stop. I’m not sure I can control myself. You’re injured; you still need to heal.”

I smiled up at him as I nodded.

He dropped a quick kiss to my lips before moving back.