Page 113 of Beloved
Where were we going from here?
Kazimir crushed the full weight of his body against mine while intertwining our fingers. My thoughts remained wicked, realizing that the devil had just taken control and he wouldn’t allow me to escape again.
As he pulled me into his arms, wrapping his around mine, the significance of his actions was easy to read. I belonged to him. What insanity yet joy in the realization.
His breath was hot as he spun me around to face him, his facial features even darker. Whatever he was thinking or planning should terrify me.
I was excited instead.
When he scooped me into his arms, I laughed nervously. With long strides, he stormed into the bedroom of the suite, tossing me onto the bed in the darkness. Every action exaggerated, he moved to the window, yanking open the blinds to reveal the huge moon that appeared as if right outside our window, the Eiffel Tower right there as if I could reach out and touch it.
“Stay right there. Do not move,” he instructed just before leaving the room.
A strangled sigh left my throat and I yanked on the pillows, pulling one under me as I reclined on my stomach. I stared out the window, imagining a future that might not exist. I’d never felt so relaxed before, bending and kicking my legs as if this was nothing but playtime.
When it was the calm before the storm.
He returned a couple of minutes later with two champagne flutes and a bottle of chilled bubbly. While staring down at me with his nostrils flaring, he placed the glasses on the nightstand. His actions practiced, he unwrapped the foil and wire holding the cork. The gentle pop was followed by bubbles and liquid flowing from the top of the bottle.
For the first time, he laughed and sucked on the bottle’s lip, the thick cords in his neck tightening as he drank. The sound was husky, keeping a dull hum floating throughout my body.
After offering me a glass, he sat down on the edge of the bed, peering out the window as I was doing. I sensed he had several things on his mind.
“Have you returned home?” I asked.
“Tomorrow.”
A sadness fell over me. “Oh.”
He concentrated as he took a gulp, holding his glass out as if staring at the bubbles. “I thought I made myself clear, Rafaela. You’re coming with me.”
“What?” I crawled into a sitting position, placing the pillow over my lap. From here, I could see numerous additional scars on his back and as he’d done with me, I rolled the tips of my fingers from one to another. “No. No. I can’t just pick up and leave with you. Besides, don’t you need to work through a few things like finding the person you should hold responsible for what you went through?”
He took a deep breath and held it, turning his head and studying me as I continued stroking his mottled skin. My stomach was churning and I wasn’t certain if it was from the excitement of knowing he wanted me with him or the nerves from the consequences of being his possession.
“The man following you two nights ago wasn’t planning on robbing you.”
My stomach lurched; while the truth was expected, the frankness of his words was just another reminder that everything about being with him was dangerous.
“The one you killed?”
His smirk was followed by a short laugh. “Yes, I killed the bastard because he wouldn’t have stopped until he fulfilled his duties. Afterwards, I discovered who he was.”
“How did you know his intentions?”
“I’m also observant, my sweet angel. Men intent on mugging don’t use weapons traditionally owned by assassins. He also doesn’t work alone. Kirill and I found his accomplice. The man was quite… helpful in allowing me to learn the intention was to take you alive.”
I sat up even straighter, another even more unwanted tremor of fear hitting me hard. “Why?”
“While the man was forthcoming in what he knew, he and his buddy were being kept in the dark until you were captured. Whoever was responsible for hiring them wanted proof of life.”
“Are you thinking my father would go to that extreme?” Why did I have a feeling he was keeping a portion of the truth from me?
“Maybe, or maybe it’s one of my enemies. At this point, my fear is that your well-being is surrounded by a house of cards. Once I find the person who betrayed me, which I have no doubt is someone who wanted me removed from leadership, then I’ll know the full breadth of danger you’re in. Until then, you will be protected twenty-four/seven. By me or my men.”
“Another glorified prison.” My nerves were back to being on edge. “I want to be with you, but not like that.”
With his head cocked, he brushed my hair from my shoulder, stroking my arm in a way that sent goosebumps down the length. “While I don’t want you as a prisoner, Rafaela, now that word is about to leak that I’m alive, your life will be placed in even more jeopardy.”
