Total pages in book: 25
Estimated words: 24619 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 123(@200wpm)___ 98(@250wpm)___ 82(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 24619 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 123(@200wpm)___ 98(@250wpm)___ 82(@300wpm)
You’re overjoyed that he saved you.
Kazimir puts his coat on you.
Another man appears at Kazimir’s side as tall as him. He has dark hair and tanned skin. Although not as muscled as Kazimir, his shoulders bulge against the wool of his long-sleeved shirt and his arms are thick with lean muscle. “Scorpion escaped.”
“Then, I will kill him later.” Kazimir pulls you to him and wraps his arms around you. “Are you okay?”
“Yes.” You relish in the comfort of his strong, protective hold.
The man turns his attention your way and watches Kazimir embrace you. There is this odd glint in his eyes. It almost looks to be. . .lust and desire.
Kazimir catches the man watching you. “Stop looking at her, Misha.”
“I just want to make sure she is okay.”
“Check to see who is alive.”
Misha frowns at Kazimir. “Am I one of your men?”
Kazimir speaks through clenched teeth, “Check so we can go.”
“Father will be upset—”
“Uncle Igor will understand—”
“He won’t. Scorpion expected the shipment. There was no reason for it to be late. It was fair for him to—”
“Kidnap my lover and almost assault her!” Kazimir lets you go and gets in front of Misha. “If Uncle Igor and you can’t understand why the Scorpion must die, then perhaps we need new management in the Brotherhood.”
“Be careful, cousin. There’s no need for threats.”
“Why not?”
“Because when it comes to anyone else or you, my father and I will always stand on your side.”
Kazimir’s angry expression softened.
“But, have some respect.”
Kazimir nodded. “Then, go check on our men. . .please.”
Scowling, Misha walked off and yelled back, “Thank you for introducing me to your lover.”
Kazimir eyed him. “You don’t need to meet her.”
Misha shook his head and continued to head away.
Kazimir turns back to you. “Did the Scorpion touch you?”
“Almost, but then you came in.”
Kazimir fisted his hands. “He will still die by these hands.”
So overwhelmed with emotion, you go into his arms, needing his strength.
He returns the embrace. “You can’t go back to your home, Novoluniye.”
You look up at him.
“You must come back with me so that I can protect you.” He kisses the top of your head. “If something happened to you. . .my heart would stop beating. My life. . .would have no more meaning. In this short time. . .you have become my everything.”
Your heart warms.
Kazimir moves his arms and picks you up as if you weigh nothing. Stepping over scattered bullet casings, pools of blood, and dead bodies, he carries you away.
Chapter 6
A Hot Promise
You sit in the back of a 5-passenger Mercedes Benz with Kazimir.
His cousin, Misha and two other men sit in the row in front of you, gripping guns and constantly gazing out the window. You get the feeling that if the Scorpion jumped out to attack, they would be ready.
The whole time Kazimir holds your hand. “How are you, Novoluniye?”
You tell him that you’re fine.
Kazimir’s face still holds worry. “Before traveling to Russia, we will stay the night in a hotel suite.”
You nod.
“After what you have been through, you will need silence and privacy.” Kazimir squeezes your hand. This simple touch sets fireworks off in your stomach. You feel like you are going to burst. “Therefore, I have rented out the whole hotel for us.”
Stunned, you tell him thank you.
You gaze out of the window. The streets are crowded with people, honking cars, and the sound of music. The Benz that you are riding in moves slowly through the crowd.
As Kazimir said, you yearn for the quiet and just a moment alone with him.
You turn back around and catch Misha watching you with a fierce intensity, so much that you feel like you’re going to be swallowed up by his eyes.
Kazimir growls, “Stop looking at her like that.”
Misha frowns and turns to him. “I was only assessing whether she had any wounds.”
“Assess another woman with those eyes. Not my Novoluniye.”
Sighing, Misha turns back around. “You are quite the possessive lion today.”
“With her, I will not share.” Kazimir leans forward as if he plans to yank Misha to him and rip his head off. “Do you understand?”
“I do. You never share.”
Kazimir pulls you into him with those huge arms, holding you close and giving you a sense of safety. The scent of power and danger radiates off him.
Wrapped in his warm embrace, you know the world can’t harm you.
He stares into your eyes and keeps his voice low. “Is this what love feels like?”
You smile and nod.
“When I hold you. . .” Kazimir kisses your forehead with those soft, full lips. “Nothing else matters- the Brotherhood, my family, not even my quest for the throne. The only thing I care about, I see, is you.”
Your heart warms.
“I am sorry for what happened to you. I brought that danger to your doorstep. I hate that it happened. I will never forgive myself, Novoluniye.”