Page 21 of Pregnant Bratva Hostage (Dubrov Bratva #17)

This past week, Tania has been pulling away from me. I can’t figure out why. I’ve been spending a lot of time at work and not at home with her, so maybe she’s just been getting bored. The problem is that when I am home, she’s avoidant. She’s quiet and distant.

It makes me worry when she isn’t smiling and happy around me. It makes me worry when she doesn’t come to look for me to see what I’m up to—to bother me and tell me to entertain her. I like it when she gets into my space and ‘annoys’ me.

I miss her.

It’s early on Saturday morning, and I’m awake before her, so I head down to the kitchen to make us bacon waffles for breakfast. From the moment she wakes up until she goes to bed tonight, I want to be with her and to make sure she has an amazing day.

Today, I plan to take her out. She needs different scenery and some fresh air. To get out of the house and out of the busy city.

There is somewhere very special to me that I want to show her. It’s my absolute favorite spot in the entire city, and it’s not that easy to get to, so most people don’t even know about it.

While I make the waffles, I make a picnic lunch as well, and pack it into my backpack. I don’t want her to have to worry about anything. I just want to see her smiling and relaxed again.

The backpack is ready and waiting at the front door when Tania comes down and sniffs the air in the kitchen.

“Is that caramel and bacon on a waffle?” she asks in shock.

“Yes, it’s my favorite breakfast. And you have perfect timing, because it’s freshly made and still hot. I was about to come wake you up.”

“I’ve never had bacon with caramel sauce on it before, especially not on a waffle,” she says, leaning around me to see it.

“Are you serious? That’s crazy. You’re about to have your mind blown. Sit down,” I grin, and she climbs onto one of the high kitchen chairs. Her hair is a mess, and her cheeks are pink from sleeping. Her eyes are a little puffy from sleep, and she looks absolutely gorgeous.

My heart does weird things when I look at her too long, so I turn away, busying myself with finding cutlery for us.

I sit down next to her, then change my mind. “Wait, we need to add a blob of ice cream,” I say, stopping her from taking the first bite.

She giggles. “This just keeps getting weirder.”

I scoop soft ice cream onto each waffle and then nod. “Okay, try it.”

I’m watching her closely, smiling, waiting for the awe and surprise.

Her eyes shoot wide while she’s chewing, and her brows raise high. “Oh my word,” she says, covering her hand over her mouth.

“Oh my word,” she says again.

“Right? I told you,” I say proudly.

After breakfast, I tell her to put her gym gear on and comfortable walking shoes.

“Where are we going?” she asks, scrunching her nose.

“It’s a surprise. Don’t argue with me, darling. Just do as you’re told,” I grin at her.

She rolls her eyes and heads upstairs to get ready. By the time she comes down again, looking far too sexy in a pair of coral pink gym tights and a matching sports top with a white hoodie in her hand, I am ready and waiting with the backpack over my shoulder.

“Wow, good thing we’re going somewhere private—you’d distract everyone looking like that,” I chuckle.

She grins and winks at me, turning to the side to wiggle her ass. I almost want to cancel the whole hike and carry her back upstairs to the room.

“Don’t tempt me, darling. We’ll never get out of the house.” Reaching out, I place my hand on her lower back and usher her out the door.

Touching her always has my body heated and wanting more.

I ignore the sensations she sends rushing through me and walk out to the car with her at my side. Pulling the door open, I wait for her to climb in and then dump the backpack on the back seat.

It’s not a long drive to the hiking spot.

It’s just outside of town, on the edge of the city.

The trail starts near a popular parking area called Lover’s Lane.

It’s not a lane at all, but an open lot with a nice view of the city.

What people don’t know is that if you leave your car there and go on foot through the trees, near a gorgeous waterfall, you come out on a higher viewpoint with even better views of the city.

Especially at night when the stars are shining.

But today we’re doing a morning hike, and then tonight I have other plans for her.

When I park the car in Lover’s Lane, Tania throws me a very sarcastic look. “Really? Lover’s Lane?” she sasses. “This is hardly a secret place. Everyone in school knew about it.”

“Mm. But we are not where we are going yet.” I climb out and grab the backpack. Tania is standing near the edge of the lot, looking at Boston City.

“It’s such a beautiful place,” she says, a dreamy look in her eye. “I wish it felt like home.”

“What do you mean?” I ask, confused.

“Nowhere really feels like home.” She smiles, shrugging her shoulders. “Don’t mind me, I’m just thinking out loud.”

I nod, but inside my heart longs to show her what a home feels like. To show her that she can belong somewhere, and what she’s been through with her uncle isn’t how her life has to continue.

“This way,” I call out, walking towards the trees.

“Mm. Going into the forest with a tall, dark stranger, covered in tattoos, a wicked smile…” she teases me.

“Don’t forget to say he was incredibly good-looking.”

She laughs loudly, and a wide smile breaks out over her face. That’s the Tania I’m looking for.

I take her hand and help her jump over a small stream.

The hike is magnificent. We walk through tall trees, beneath the shaded canopy, where lush green ferns and interesting mushroom species are growing.

Little animals scamper away from us as we laugh and walk, not worrying about being quiet.

She jokes with me, and I tease her back.

This is how it’s supposed to be between us.

Every time we need to climb over a big rock or a fallen tree, I am there to help her. I’m sure she’s perfectly capable of getting over herself—but I want to be there for her. I want to support her and hold her.

“Can you hear that?” I ask, pulling her to a stop, making her stand with her back against my chest. “Listen.”

She tilts her head to the side and narrows her eyes. She smells faintly of sweat. A sweet, enticing smell that makes me want to do things to her out here in the soft, green warmth of the forest.

“Water. It’s coming from that direction.” She skips excitedly.

“I’ll follow you, forest fairy,” I chuckle, gesturing for her to lead the way.

She grins and starts a slow jog, heading towards a scene that is sure to take her breath away.

Over the next twenty minutes, the sound of water gets louder and louder until we feel the fine spray of mist in the air. “It smells incredible,” she says happily.

I’m right at her side as she walks around the last boulder and catches sight of the waterfall.

It comes from high up on the rocks and splashes down into a deep pool, only about fifteen feet across, but bright blue and beautiful.

Bubbles and spray float from the base of the waterfall.

It’s crystal clear, and you can see the smooth rocks at the bottom.

Her mouth drops open, and her hands go up to her face.

For a moment, it looks like she wants to cry—then she squeals in pure excitement and bursts forward, wanting to get closer.

I jog after her. “It’s slippery, be careful,” I shout.

She’s crouching on a large rock, right near the edge of the water. She dips her hand in, then turns to look at me. “Swim with me,” she says, her brows raised high.

“It’ll be freezing.”

“I don’t care. Swim with me, Ark.” She’s already kicking her shoes off and tugging her sports top off. She’s stripping down to absolutely nothing, and I’m frozen, spellbound by her beauty.

Each layer of clothing she peels off reveals another perfect part of her body. Her curves, her slender waist, and her long, shapely legs have my eyes locked onto her. My body is instantly alert at the sight of her smooth skin, bare in the gorgeous, lush green forest, next to the crystal pool.

“Hurry up,” she shouts, laughing, standing on the edge of the rock and trying to pluck up the courage to jump in.

My cock stirs to life. Already half-hard at the sight of her.

I kick my shoes off too and have to rush, tugging at my clothes, to catch up with her.

She screams and jumps, bombing into the deep pool.

I run from the mossy patch where I left my clothes and bomb right next to her.

The water is like ice against my skin. It’s pure magic, a crystal blue, bubbling pond of pure heaven. My soul feels alive out here. Nothing beats this.

She sinks beneath the water next to me and squeals when she comes up. Laughing and squeezing her eyes shut.

“Brain freeze,” she cries out, pressing her hands over her face. Her skin is glowing from the cold.

Laughing too, I pull her naked body against mine. “I told you it would be cold.”

“It’s incredible. I can’t believe I never knew this was here.”

“I have a lot of things I can show you, darling. There are a lot of places I’d like to take you.”

She tilts her head to the side, wrapping her legs around my waist. She stares at me, her eyes full of questions. I can’t read her thoughts. I can’t decipher that look on her face.

It’s as though she wants to tell me something, but can’t find the words. There seem to be questions swimming in her eyes.

Her face turns serious, and she reaches up to gently touch my lips with her cold fingertips. She brushes them over my mouth, her eyes locked onto me.

Her eyes are shining so bright, flecked with gold, sparkling in caramel-brown swirls of beauty.

I can’t help myself when I wrap my hand around the back of her head and pull her close, pressing my lips against hers to kiss her. The moment we connect, my heart races faster.

The kiss starts slow, our lips moving together, as cold water splashes around us. The sound of the waterfall soothes everything in my mind.