Page 75 of The Bratva's Auctioned Bride

Quietly, I sit watching him, flipping the pancakes, sliding them off the pan into the waiting plate, then pouring more mixture into the pan. It feels so normal, so peaceful, but while he’s busy, my head is racing. My heart is slipping, spinning, and tripping over itself, and in a flash of realization, it all hits me harder than I am prepared for.

Love.

Not the childish, dreamy, silly kind. Butreallove.

Deep, heart-wrenching, painful, yet beautiful love.

I am in love with a man whom I am forbidden to be with.

I am in love with a man who does not love me in return.

My body is suddenly filled with pins and needles of panic as emotions flood me. Tears sting my eyes, my throat closes, and I’m so fucking grateful he’s too busy to notice as I hurriedly wipe tears away and hold my breath until I get control of myself.

When Diomid turns to look at me, he pauses, immediately worried.

“Your eyes are red,” he says, nervous, tense, frozen as his eyes dart over me.

“They keep watering. I think the smoke from last night is still bothering them,” I answer quickly, hoping I sound casual as I start rubbing them again. “It’s kind of itchy,” I add for effect.

“I have some drops. Let me grab them quick,” he says, setting down the plate stacked high with pancakes.

He’s out of the kitchen and running upstairs before I can reply. I slide off the counter and take the time alone to really gather myself. By the time he comes back, I’m smiling again. I’m ok. As ok as I can be, knowing what I now know.

“Tilt your head back,” he says, gently holding my jaw to keep me steady. “Look up at the ceiling, there you go,” he drops cool gel drops into each eye, and to be honest, it feels like heaven. It feels like water rushing over dry, cracked desert ground. “Oh wow, that is amazing,” I sigh in relief.

“That smoke is so nasty. I wish you hadn’t got caught in it,” he mutters.

I grab his hand before he steps away from me, pausing him.

“You came to find me. You saved my life, and not for the first time.” I smile, thinking to myself that somehow, Diomid has saved my life literally and figuratively. He showed me things I’ve never seen, made me feel things I’ve never felt, things I didn’t even know I could feel.

His lips curve into a sexy smile, pressing into his unshaven cheeks, dark with a shadow of black stubble that makes him look rugged and gorgeous.

My heart stammers in my chest as I look into his cool grey-blue eyes.

“I would save you a thousand times more, princess.”

It’s all he says.

Then he steps away and picks up the plate. “Come on, the pancakes are getting cold. Let’s eat on the balcony, it’s a freaking gorgeous morning.”

He has his feet stretched out, resting on the edge of the balcony railing with a plate of pancakes on his lap. Honey dropping over them, and a splash of lemon and a sprinkle of cinnamon.

“Well?” he says, still chewing, his brows raised as he waits for my verdict.

I chew slower, narrowing my gaze, acting thoughtful as though I’m pondering the meaning of life itself.

“It’s not bad,” I say after drawing out the moment.

“Not bad?” he snorts.

I giggle. “Ok, fine, they are the best pancakes I’ve ever had in my life. But I didn’t want to tell you because your ego is going to inflate so much that there won’t be space for me on this balcony anymore!”

He snorts again, laughing this time. “Princess, I will make space for you. Everywhere. Anywhere.”

He’s so charming. Always flirting. But, Angelika, it’s just who he is. You can’t read into it.

I smile, taking another bite of my pancake.