Page 8

The first thing I feel as my body begins to wake is the sharp ache in my side. It’s constant and throbbing but bearable.

The second thing I become acutely aware of is her , wrapped up in my arms.

I blink my eyes open, staring down at her beautiful face, peaceful and still sleeping. My body begins to burn with desire as I notice the curves of hers against mine, the way her legs are threaded through mine and that her hand is gently resting against my chest.

“Mm,” she murmurs softly and snuggles closer against me. Sparks fly wildly inside me.

My cock begins to stir.

I shut my eyes to try and get it under control, but it isn’t helping.

When I open them again Jade’s gorgeous hazel eyes are staring up at me.

“Rad,” she whispers sleepily. “Are you ok?”

My heart surges when I think about the fact that I almost lost her last night. I trace my fingers over her face, brushing long strands of black and red hair away from her eyes.

“I’m doing just fine, thanks to you, starfish.”

Her hand moves, her fingers brushing over my chest and my heart beats faster.

“I—uh—“ I mutter without knowing what I want to say. I want to say so much. But none of it is things I should be saying.

Jade bites her lower lip. Her eyes glittering with desire.

I know she can feel my cock. She is right up against me with her legs wrapped between mine. She can feel everything.

Her mouth opens slightly and her breath hitches in her chest. Her breasts rising and falling against me.

I want to kiss her. But last time I kissed her, I chased her away.

What I have to do now is protect her.

I can’t give in to this. I can’t lose control.

I have to protect her from all of the other mafia groups and there is only one way to do that.

“Jade, we have to go somewhere,” I say, trying to ignore my throbbing cock.

“Oh. Ok,” she mutters, shifting a little away from me.

I shut my eyes as she moves, rolling off the couch. My body is cold where she is no longer touching me. I want her back. I want her against me. I want to taste the sweet rose flavor of her skin.

“Where?” she asks, her voice traced with—is that regret? Why regret?

“Somewhere to make sure you stay safe. No one will ever touch you again, Jade. I promise.” This is all I can tell her. She won’t come willingly if she knows what I have planned. And this is the best way to keep her safe.

Jade stands there looking down at me as I push myself into a sitting position, wincing, but happy that it isn’t as bad as I expected it to be.

“It’s not too deep,” she says. “The cut. I don’t know how much you remember from last night. You were a little out of it.”

I chuckle. “I remember the staples.”

She grins at me, a beautiful smile that makes my heart flicker in strange ways.

“Ok, where are we going?”

“To the courthouse. There is someone I know there who can help us.”

“Can I shower? Is there a change of clothes here for me?”

“Of course, let me show you.” I groan a little as I stand up, stretching my back and moving from side to side to test the pain levels. “It’s not bad at all,” I say in relief.

“You should take some Tylenol or something, though. It’ll help with the swelling and the pain.” She reaches into the bag and hands me a bottle of pills. “Thanks, nurse Jade.” I smirk. “Have you got the outfit?”

“You wish.” She giggles, her cheeks flushing pink, then she turns away from me and walks towards the passage.

“You can hop in the shower. I’ll find some clothes and leave them for you.”

“Thanks,” she replies.

While she’s busy, I message my contact and let him know I am on the way to see him and what needs to happen so he can get everything ready.

When we are both showered, dressed and looking a lot fresher and more awake we climb back into the car and leave the safe house.

On the way to the courthouse, a private, small place used for specific situations, like this one, I stop and grab us each a take away coffee and a box of croissants. I’m starving. Losing blood is a tiring affair.

Jade sits in the passenger seat and pulls the lid of the box open, giggling at the sight of twelve chocolate croissants. “Hungry?” she teases me, handing me one to eat while I drive.

“I might stop and get more on the way home. I could eat three boxes right now.” I laugh.

The drive to the courthouse is relaxed, but I imagine it’s not going to be the same on the way home. I hope she understands.

Jade eats two croissants and I finish the rest by the time we park outside the small, old building. Right away you can tell it’s a courthouse. They just have that vibe about them.

We climb out and she walks close me as we hurry up the steps and in through the wide glass doors.

“Here to see Jethro,” I say to the blonde receptionist, who nods and picks up her phone.

“Your client has arrived,” she says into the receiver.

She hangs up and smiles at me. “You can go through.”

Jade follows close behind as we walk through the echoing corridor and into Jethro’s office.

He stands up, holds out his hand to shake mine and greets us both warmly.

“Radmir, so good to see you. It’s been a while.”

“You too. This is Jade.” I gesture towards her, standing to the side.

“Hi,” she says, smiling.

“I’ve got everything here. It’s all ready. I just need the both of you to sign and then I’ll stamp it.”

“Jade—“ I call out to her as I pick up the pen and scribble my signature at the bottom of the page.

She steps towards me and I wrap my arm around her waist.

“You can sign here.” I hand her the pen and point to the bottom in the open space.

“What is this?”

“A protection order. For your safety.”

“Like a restraining order?” she asks, knotting her brows.

“Yes.”

She leans down and signs her name on the page. Her signature is a squiggled mess. But somehow, it doesn’t look like ‘Blake’ at the end. I guess everyone has their own style.

She hands me the pen. “I don’t really need a restraining order, it’s not like—“ her mouth drops open as I step away from the page.

She reads the words at the top just as Jethro presses his official stamp onto the signed document.

“That’s—“ she gasps. “That’s a marriage certificate,” she says in horror. “I signed my real signature,” she stammers.

What does she mean by that?

What else would she have signed?

“Your real name?” I ask, confused.

“Like—that’s real. That’s really real,” she blurts out.

“Jade—it’s ok. It’s just a signature, but I promise you this is one hundred percent the best way to keep you safe. You are my wife now and you have my surname—“ I reach out to her and she steps back, her eyes wide with shock.

“Jade,” I say sternly. “You need to calm down and listen to me.”

“Jade Kuznetsov?” she stammers, looking down at the paper.

“Yes, my name is very powerful. No one will dare to mess with you now. No one will be able to try and take you again.”

Her eyes fume with rage. The hazel turning sharp yellow as she glares at me. “You had no right to trick me into this. You should have told me your plan, you should have given me a choice.”

“It was the only way,” I sigh.

Jade turns her back on me and storms out of the office.

I face Jethro and mutter a quick “thank you.” Then, grab the document and run after her.

“Jade, will you slow down for crying out loud,” I shout after her.

The lady at reception looks wide-eyed and nervous when I walk past. She points out the door to show me where Jade went. I hold back the “thanks, obviously” remark, biting my tongue.

I look up and down the street, expecting to find her nowhere but to my surprise, and immense relief, she is leaning against the passenger door with her arms folder over her chest. She’s furious.

I blink the car unlocked and she yanks the door open and climbs inside. At least she didn’t run off. Again.

When I’m inside the car I start the engine and then turn towards her. “Jade—“

“Just drive. I don’t want to speak to you right now,” she snaps.

I smirk, even though it’s a terrible time to be smirking, but her fierce side is just too cute. Luckily, she’s not looking at me but rather glaring angrily out of the window.

We drive home in silence. In my heart, I think I’ve done the right thing to keep her safe. My brain keeps whispering that I did it for other reasons, but I keep pushing that rubbish aside. I just wanted to keep her safe.

Then I remember—she left the mansion. That’s how this whole thing started.

“Jade, why did you leave and go home?” I ask. It must have been because of the kiss.

“I have a life, you know. Before all of this, I had a life . And I have financial responsibilities. I didn’t know the asshole I was working for was linked to the mafia, but at least I had money coming in and I could pay my bills. I had to go home. I had to sort out some payments. But now, well, I’m screwed,” she huffs. Clearly still fuming and now also venting other frustrations.

“I can help you with money,” I say gently.

“I don’t want your charity,” she snaps.

“Fine, then work for it. I’ll give you a job, one where you can work and still stay safe at the same time.”

She leans her head back against the car seat and rolls her eyes.

“You just have a solution for everything, don’t you. Like Mr. Perfect coming along to solve everything and fix it all,” she blurts out, almost shouting.

I try so desperately to hold back the grin, but I can’t.

“You think I’m perfect?”

The looks she throws me is one of pure, heated, unfiltered warning . She looks as fierce as I have ever seen her look and she looks fucking sexy. This is a side of her I have not seen yet. A side that I think I really like.

I’m still grinning, not even bothering to hide it and she realizes her death stare is not having the effect she wanted it to have on me, so she lets out an annoyed breath and looks out the window again.

Knowing I have already pushed my luck today, but enjoying this fire I’m playing with, I mutter, “You’re really cute when you’re angry, Mrs. Kuznetsov.”

From the corner of my eye, in the reflection of the window, I see the slightest, smallest smile flicker across her face before she pushes it away and continues to fume.

I can’t stop smiling.

All the way home.