Page 46 of Born into Blood

“Yeah, it’s on the posh side of the city,” I say with a laugh. “What’s your brother like?”

“Damien is sixteen, a huge gamer, and pretty damn stubborn,” he says with a smile. “We get along great, and after I drop you off, I’ll be spending the rest of the night in his room, helping him with his next English lit paper. They’re working on Jane Eyre at the moment.”

“You’re teasing me,” I say, laughing while trying to imagine Luka spending the evening while deep in thought about Charlotte Brontë’s classic novel.

“I am not,” he insists. “The first night I met you, I stayed up late watching the movie with him because it was way too long for me to read it out loud.”

“I don’t understand. Why would you do that?”

“He’s dyslexic, and it’s just easier for him this way. I wouldn’t normally give out that information because it’s not my story to tell, but you’ll be meeting him, and he’s very self-conscious of it. I know you’d feel terrible if you unknowingly said or did something that put him in an awkward position, so I figured you should know about it.”

“Thanks for telling me.” I smile over at him. “Romantic dinners and staying up late watching Jane Eyre to help your baby brother—your tough Bratva image is slipping.”

“Uh-oh.” He grins, not giving the slightest fuck.

I’m starting to think that maybe the Bratva isn’t what I think it is, maybe the movies and books are misleading, or maybe things have changed. It’s possible his family is just involved in some illegal gambling or hacking and stealing money like his cousin did for the penthouse apartment. I can’t imagine Luka being violent.

Instead of dropping me off at the curb where he’d picked me up, he parks in the underground garage and then carries my flowers as we take the elevator up to the fourth floor. Without me having to ask, he stops a few feet before my door to say goodbye to me. Ducking down so his face is close to mine, he whispers against my cheek, “I love how fucking short you are.”

“I’m not short,” I whisper back. “You’re just really tall.”

He smiles and kisses a line to my lips. “I’m going to miss you.”

“I’m going to miss you too.”

He kisses me slowly, lips soft, tongue gently teasing mine, like he’s savoring every last second we have together. The scent of roses fills my nose, mixing with the spicy musk of his cologne and creating a cocktail that I’d very much like to get drunk on. When he pulls back, cupping my face, I feel more than a little tipsy.

“You’re mine, Lara.”

I nod, clutching at his shoulders and standing on my toes to try and get our bodies closer.

“Say it, kisa. I need to hear you say it.”

“I’m yours,” I whisper back to him.

“Only mine.”

“Only yours.”

His body relaxes at my words while a sexy grin plays at his lips. “And I’m yours, sweet girl, only yours.”

It seems too good to be true, but I don’t question it. I just nod and kiss him again, never wanting this to end. When I can’t put off going inside any longer, I pull back and run my fingers over his stubbled cheek.

“I have to go.”

“I know. Give Pip a pet for me.”

“I will, and I’ll send you more photos.”

“Make sure you’re in them.”

I smile up at him and nod. “Okay, but just so you know, I hate taking photos of myself.”

He gives me a wink. “Might want to get over that, kisa, because I want a lot of them.”

“I want photos of you too. It’s only fair.”

“Deal.” He gives my ass a soft smack and one more lingering kiss to my lips before taking a step back and handing me the vase of roses. “You’re impossible to say goodbye to.”

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