Page 73 of Captive

“That I can’t wait to fuck you.”

I was reminded once again of my mother’s words when I gazed into her eyes. Then I heard those of my adopted father.

“Don’t share your weakness with anyone. You never know who is going to use it against you.”

While his words were a part of his tutelage, I loathed the fact I’d accepted them all these years.

Chloe might be my biggest weakness, but she was also my greatest strength.

My love…

CHAPTER 14

Chloe

Pain.

The ache in my heart was thunderous, a horrible group of sensations that refused to be shoved aside. Yet as I stood in front of Nikolai, the desire only continued to increase.

He rarely smiled but when he did, the action seemed to light up the room. Today was no different. In the waning light of the beautiful late afternoon, the last vestige of sun filtering in through the blinds, even his eyes seemed brighter than I’d seen them before.

The way he held me in his arms was possessive, a man who would never allow anyone else to take a taste of what belonged to him.

When he whispered several phrases in Russian, I didn’t need to understand them to know they were words of endearment.

As well as words of goodbye.

I rolled my fingers up to his collarbone then further, fingering his shaggy blond hair. I couldn’t help but wonder if he’d be forced to cut off several inches or even shave his head when returning to Moscow. The thought was just as revolting as the understanding of why he was going back.

To exact revenge on the person responsible for killing his father.

A swell of desire continued to build, my entire body aching from need. I took my time brushing my hand across his face, the bruises he’d been forced to endure lingering days after. At least the ugly swelling had gone down, allowing me to see his beautiful eyes. The sight of his brutal injuries that horrible day had been difficult to bear.

The actions he’d been forced to perform were visions that would never leave my nightmares. But there was no denying he was my true hero, a man who’d been beaten severely, chained like some animal, then still managed to free himself in order to protect me.

What had occurred after that was something I didn’t even think about.

“Do they hurt?” I asked as I gazed down at the ugly marks on his chest.

“Not nearly as much as before. You don’t have to worry about me, little pet. I’ve been through much worse.” He rolled his fingers down my back, cupping my buttocks and lifting me off the floor.

“That’s what scares me.”

“Shush, little one. Tonight isn’t about pain, unless you choose to misbehave that is.” He smacked my bottom once as a reminderthen shifted me closer to the bed. “If you’re a good girl, I assure you that you will be rewarded.”

I wrapped my legs around his massive thighs, allowing a single whimper to push up from my throat. “What if I want to be bad?”

“Why do I think you’re challenging me?”

“Because I always will.”

Chuckling in his delicious dark tone, he nuzzled against my neck, biting down on my skin. I was pulled into the beautiful moment of bliss. There was nothing else but the two of us. No light. No sound. No fears. I closed my eyes as I shifted my arms over his shoulders, lightly rubbing my fingers across his back.

I was lightheaded, the most beautiful set of stars floating in front of my eyes. He was purposeful in his actions, everything he did commanding. That would never change. He ripped at the comforter and sheets, dragging them halfway down the bed.

He slowly eased me down, never letting go until I was safely nestled against the soft bedding. I continued to cling to him even as he crawled onto the bed, hovering over me like the dominating man he truly was. There was a darkness in his eyes, yet the golden flecks surrounding his irises were glistening more than I’d seen them before.

The look on his face wasn’t just piercing as well as hungry. It was obsessive.