Page 36 of Born into Blood

“Tell me about yourself, Lara.”

I thought the subject change would put her more at ease, but the blush spreads down her neck as she pulls the sleeves of her shirt lower so she can close her hands and keep a tight grip on it.

“There’s not much to tell.” She keeps her eyes off mine, choosing to stare at the roses instead. “It’s just me and my mom. My dad died before I was born, and I’ve lived in that apartment my whole life. There’s nothing even remotely interesting about me.”

“I disagree.”

Her eyes flick to mine for the briefest of moments before landing back on the flowers.

“I want to know everything about you.”

The side of her mouth curls up, but there’s nothing even remotely happy about the half-smile. “I just told you everything.” Her eyes jump back to mine. “Why don’t you tell me about your family instead? That has to be way more interesting.”

“What do you know about my family?”

“Not much,” she admits. “I know you’re Luka Melnikov, son of…” her voice trails off before she gives me a real smile and says, “Mister Melnikov.”

I laugh and say, “Roman.”

“Thank you, and I know your family runs the most dangerous Bratva our city’s ever seen.” She raises a brow at me. “I probably shouldn’t be sitting here with you. You’re a very dangerous man, Luka.”

“Never to you, kisa.”

For just a second her blue eyes fill with so much sadness that I almost reach across the table and pull her into my arms.

“You might change your mind about that.”

Her words are so low I have to strain to hear them.

“I’m not sure this is such a great idea.”

I don’t know what she’s talking about, but I know enough to know I don’t like it. Standing up, I walk over to her and grab one of her fidgeting hands.

“Come sit with me.”

She stands, letting me thread my fingers through hers and lead her over to where I put a hammock a few weeks ago. She takes one look at it and shakes her beautiful head.

“No, I don’t think so.”

I raise a brow at her. “Why not? I promise I’ll behave.”

“I’ll flop right out of that thing and embarrass the hell out of myself.”

“I would never let that happen.”

I sit down in it and then stretch my legs out, getting comfortable before extending my arm out to her. She’s still trying to decide what to do when I wrap my arm around her waist and pull her closer, making the decision for her.

“Better hang on, kisa, or we’re both going to end up on our asses,” I tease.

She very slowly and very carefully climbs into the hammock with me. Her body is stiff, like she’s trying hard to keep distance between us, even though it’s impossible to not be smushed together.

I laugh and wrap my arm around her, pulling her tighter against me and biting back the groan I want to give when all her soft, feminine curves mold to my body like she was fucking made for me.

“Look up.”

She tilts her head and lets out a soft gasp. The city’s too big and too bright to see the stars from where we’re at, but the moon is full and bright and looking down right on us.

“It’s so pretty,” she whispers, her face so close to mine, I can feel the heat of her breath against my cheek.

---