Page 13 of Taken by the Bratva (Bychkov Bratva #1)

Aria

The morning light streams through the gap in the curtains and I roll over, finding the other half of the bed cold and empty. I assume it was that way the entire night. Daniil doesn’t exactly strike me as a man to cuddle after sex and hold me while I sleep.

A part of me hoped, but I know better than to have any hopes of more intimacy with Daniil beyond what happens sexually between us.

Yawning, I stretch out and groan, my body sore. It’s a good sore, though. One that brings a smile to my lips and has my core aching to feel it all again, and soon.

Throwing the covers off, I rub my eyes and walk blindly into the bathroom, my brain still fuzzy from sleep so I don’t register the shower is running until I’m suddenly staring at a naked Daniil.

Through the glass, I can see everything, and I’m frozen in place, my eyes glued to his massive frame. His head is leaning back under the water as he works his hands through his short hair and I swallow hard. The rivers of water sliding down his body are taking the fastest routes along the dips and valleys of his muscles and has my mouth watering for a taste.

I couldn’t see all of him at once like this last night, and knowing he kept his shirt on for some reason has me filled with so many questions because he’s fucking beautiful. His arms are covered in tattoos that I want to get a closer look at, but the moment he turns his back to me to reach for the soap on one of the shelves in the corner, I see why he didn’t want me seeing or touching his back.

Swaths of scars crisscross over the entirety of his back, each in various degrees of size, color, and intensity, and my heart squeezes in my chest.

Who the hell would do that to him? And why?

My heart aches, knowing he had to have endured a tremendous amount of pain over a long period of time. Some scars are pale while some are still pink or red in a stark contrast to his fair skin.

He didn’t want me to see them.

He didn’t want me to touch them.

Did he think I’d be disgusted by them? Think less of him?

I’m lost in my own loop of thoughts and questions that Daniil’s angry voice cutting through it all has me jumping.

“What are you doing in here?”

I take a step back, clasping my shaking hands in front of me.

“I was just…I didn’t know you were in here.”

“Get out,”

he barks, and I quickly spin around to leave. The stupid marble floors are slippery as hell though, and my foot slips out from under me, sending me down hard on one knee to catch myself.

Fuck, shit, ow!

I scream internally and keep moving, scrambling up and running out of there to the room next door where I first woke up alone last night. I lock the door and press my back to it, breathing heavily.

When my heart settles, I limp to the bathroom and lock that door too, needing the mental security a lock provides despite knowing he could easily come through both doors if he chooses to. I hope he doesn’t.

I turn the shower on as hot as I can handle and step under the spray, my muscles relaxing under the heat. My knee is throbbing, I’m no longer a virgin, and the man who took it just yelled at me because I saw his scars.

I can’t blame him for being upset since I walked in on him unannounced, but I didn’t think the morning after would go this way. Of course, it would all be different if I gave my virginity to a man I was in a relationship with and had real feelings for.

We promised each other no lies and no holding back. I just wish he knew he could trust me.

Whatever happens this week, I don’t plan on telling anyone. It’s all going to be my secret to carry with me. Even from Gia.

Finishing my shower, I dry off and notice the suitcase Gia packed for me is sitting by the closet. The door is still locked, so Daniil must’ve brought it up here sometime last night after his brother brought it over from Sammy’s car.

I open it up and look for something to put on, but then remember our deal. Stay naked for twenty-four hours. If I want him to trust me, then I need to show him that my word is good.

I grab my toiletry bags and go back into the bathroom to do my skincare routine and untangle my wet hair. I don’t have the desire to blow-dry it right now, so I leave a couple shorter pieces out to frame my face while the rest I weave into a long braid down my back.

With a deep breath, I walk out of the room with my head held high and my shoulders back in determination.

Daniil Bychkov will not scare me away.

It’s quiet as I descend the stairs and enter the kitchen. There’s no sign of Daniil, so I go about making myself a cup of coffee and a piece of toast with butter and jam. Grabbing a banana too, I walk out onto the terrace where I found Daniil last night.

I sit at a table with an umbrella and enjoy my breakfast. When I’m finished, I walk over to the edge of the balcony and see that there’s another larger patio with a pool, hot tub, lounge chairs, and more tables with chairs and umbrellas below.

Eager to check it out, I bring my dishes inside and then head down to dip my toes in the pool.

Ooohhh, that’s chilly.

It’ll feel good later when it’s hotter out. It’s still only around eleven or so.

I don’t have sunscreen with me and can’t afford to burn, so I only lay out in the sun for a little while on my front and back before I move to one of the lounge chairs with an umbrella beside it.

It’s so peaceful out here. The property is lined with tall bushes and trees to create a natural sound barrier and border along with the tall fence behind them, leaving me with the sound of birds and the wind rustling the leaves of the trees. I know no one can see me out here because the houses on either side aren’t as large and there aren’t any windows at a level that allows them to look down into the yard.

I’m lulled into a comfortable sleep curled up on the chair, but when I wake a few hours later, even being in the shade is too hot for me.

Feeling eyes on me, I look around, but I don’t see Daniil or anyone else. Ahh, wait a second. There are security cameras placed strategically around the outside of the house, and probably more around the fence that I can’t see.

Has he been perving on me this entire time? Probably. That shouldn’t make me smile, yet it does.

Deciding to put on a little show for him so he’ll come out of hiding, I stand up and stretch, raising my arms above my head and leaning from side to side, then bending down to touch my toes, giving him a clear view of every inch of me on the cameras.

Walking around the pool, I go to the deep end and lift my hands over my head, smiling up at one of the cameras right before I dive into the clear, cold water.

When I come up for air, I see Rex at the other end of the pool and a smile splits my face. “Rexy!”

I say enthusiastically, and his tongue lolls out of his mouth in a happy pant, trotting over to me.

I swim to the edge and scratch his neck.

“You’re such a handsome boy,”

I croon softly, petting him all over.

“Such a good boy, Rexy. Your owner is a little rough around the edges, but you protect him well, don’t you? Is he nice to you?”

I whisper my questions, and Rex responds with a lick to my face, making me laugh.

“He doesn’t like anyone but me, usually.”

My head snaps up at Daniil’s deep voice to see him standing with his hands in his pockets and that ever-present stern look on his face preventing me from knowing what he’s thinking.

“I guess I’m special.”

I shrug, then say to Rex.

“Am I special, Rexy? Maybe people are just too scared to show you love, but you’re a good boy. You deserve love.”

I kiss his neck and he licks my face again.

I look back up at Daniil and his brilliant blue eyes are blazing down at me.

“Rex? Was your owner watching me on the cameras? It’s okay, you can tell me.”

I scratch between his ears and he tilts his head to the side.

“Is that a yes?”

I smile, looking back up at Daniil.

“It’s my house. I have to keep an eye on things.”

“I’m sure.”

I hide my satisfied smirk by burying my face in Rex’s soft fur and giving him a kiss.

“Rex,”

Daniil says in his alpha command voice.

“Inside. Now.”

He listens immediately, and backs away from me before running back up the stairs and through the slightly ajar door into the house.

“He was fine out here.”

“He doesn’t need to witness what I’m about to do to you.”

I fold my arms over the edge of the pool and look up at him through wet eyelashes.

“And what are you going to do to me that you don’t want Rex present for?”

“I’m going to eat your pussy for lunch and then fuck you for dessert. Rex doesn’t need to see that, does he?”