Page 21 of Savage Pakhan

Bark rips off the log from how hard Alek is digging his fingers into the fallen tree.

“I’m so sorry, Mia. I don’t know what’s gotten into him. I know I keep saying that. Maybe my world, what I do, is what made him like this. He thinks he can do anything without consequence. He thinks he has power that he doesn’t have. Any power he has, belongs to me, and it has gotten to his head.” He clenches his fists, clearly still enraged about what his son did to me, but I’m not angry.

Not anymore. I used to be angry. Now, I’m tired and I’m ready to move on with my life.

“It’s okay. I didn’t marry him. That’s all that matters, Alek.”

“And you won’t. Even if he ever finds you and demands your hand in marriage, I’ll be there. I’ll make sure you’re safe.” His eyes dart all over my face and I can tell there’s something else he wants to say.

“What is it?” I ask, placing my hand on top of his.

He continues to stare at me, his full lips parting as he intakes some air. Alek looks way, closing his mouth and swallowing any words he wanted to tell me.

If I’m honest with myself, I want him to say, “I love you. I want to take care of you. I’ll make sure you’re set for life. You can count on me. You’ll never have to worry about your safety or money. I’m going to love you.”

But he’ll never say that. I have to be honest with myself. Alek is twenty years older than me. Why would he be interested in me when he could have anyone he wanted?

He stands, placing his hands on his hips as he stares down at the rushing below us. Turning around, he points down below.

“Do not get too close to the edge, Da? I don’t want you to fall.” Alek unbuttons his sleeves and that’s when time slows for me.

Time slows as he rolls up his sleeves, showing the beautiful artwork he has tattooed that stops at his wrist. My breath hitches when the sunlight beams onto his muscular forearm, his veins protruding from the ink.

My mouth waters.

I’ve never had this type of reaction when it came to Ivan. I thought the desire would come with time, that everyone has needs, and eventually I would feel the burning lust to take the edge off.

I never did.

One look at Alek and my blood boils with arousal. A throb pulses between my legs and my nipples harden. I swallow, watching him move to the other sleeve to do the same thing.

He unbuttons his shirt too to allow his skin to breathe and I want to so badly say he should take it off completely.

But I don’t have the courage. I let the words sit on my tongue until I have to swallow again.

No one should look that good doing such a simple task.

I wish I could take this dress off, but the only thing underneath is a simple bra and matching panties. The lingerie for ‘consummating the marriage’ was something I was going to change into later.

“Did you hear me?” His voice cuts into the fog.

“What?” I blink.

He smirks as if he knows damn good and well why I wasn’t paying attention.

“Don’t get too close to the edge, Lyubimaya. It’s a far drop to the river. It could kill you and me.”

“You? It’s me falling into the river. Why would it kill you?”

His fingers slide under my chin, then down my jaw, his fingers curling into his palm, his knuckles grazing over my cheek. The one Ivan has hit more times than I can count.

I flinch out of habit and Alek frowns but doesn’t move his hand away. He remains gentle and soft, showing me a side of him I didn’t know existed.

“Because I’d jump in after you, Mia.”

Our gazes lock and my heart hammers against my sore chest. The same heart that Alek got beating again.

The same heart that has always belonged to him. Ivan was just a very poor second choice but the closest man I could have who reminded me of Alek.