Page 70 of Hers to Command

I blink, still trying to catch my breath. “What?”

“The situation with the Brotherhood is as good as it will be until the dust settles. But I want us to stay married. Not for work, but for this.” His hand slides over my body.

I freeze, my heart skipping a beat. “What are you talking about? You want to stay married so we can keep having sex?”

Chapter Twenty-Seven

Anya

“No,Tesoro,” Riccardo says, smirking, his hand still tracing over my naked waist as we face each other in bed. “I don’t want to stay married just for the sex. I want to stay married for real.”

For a moment, I can’t find my voice. “You want to stay married,” I repeat, my voice flat. “Why?”

Riccardo’s expression hardens, but there’s something vulnerable in his eyes. “Because I care about you, Anya. More than I ever thought I could. And because we’re good together. I never thought there would be a woman in my life I could just be me with. A woman who could handle not just the life but the wayI handle things. But you don’t ever cower, you just plow ahead, and I love that.”

Then he stays silent and just stares at me. Since I don’t know how to respond to that, it makes me want to scream.

Or kiss him.

“We can’t just stay married.”

“Why not?”

Is he serious right now? “Because how would that ever work? You run your syndicate and I just took over the Bratva.”

“We’ve been living together for the past month.”

“Are you serious? You think just because we’ve played house for a few weeks that this,” I wave a hand between us, as if the motion could capture what he’s insinuating, “can actually work?”

The stupid hope blooming in my chest makes it hard to breathe as I wait for his response.

Luckily, I don’t have to wait long.

“I never said that some people wouldn’t object,” Riccardo says, starting to sound exasperated. “But I don’t give a shit about that. I just want you to agree.”

I laugh, not quite able to believe him, but also worried about that feeling inside me that makes me want to give in without further arguments and just say yes.

The worry wins out. “You don’t even know what you want from me.”

Riccardo rolls so he’s partly on top of me again. “I know exactly what I want,” he says, his tone dropping into dangerous territory. “It took me a bit to figure out, but I want you, Anya. All of you. Not just the sex, or the alliance. I want to keep you. Like I keep telling you. I want the woman who fights like hell even when she’s scared. I want the woman who takes stupid risks when she goes after things she wants.”

My throat tightens, but I refuse to let him see how his words hit me. “And what makes you think I want that?”

He cups my chin, forcing me to look at him. His touch is firm but not rough, his thumb brushing lightly against my jaw. “Becauseyoucalledmeearlier,” he says simply.

I want to argue. To throw some biting retort back in his face. But the truth lodges itself in my chest like a blade. He’s right. I am still here. Despite everything. Despite all the reasons that I have never to trust a man again. I’m here. Because he didn’t walk away. Because he doesn’t want to walk away.

Despite being taught that this is bound to get me hurt.

“Riccardo...” My voice falters, and I hate myself for it.

“Anya,” he says, softer now. He tilts his head slightly, his dark eyes boring into mine. “Do you think I don’t see it? How hard you’re trying to keep me out? But you can’t,Tesoro. Not anymore.”

“I don’t want to give you the chance to disappoint me,” I admit, my voice barely audible.

His hand strokes over my shoulder, his thumb tracing slow circles against my skin. “I’m not a man who goes back on his word,” he says, his voice steady. “Give me this. And I’ll give you everything I have in return.”

My chest tightens as I stare up at him. I promised myself to do things on my own. To never let another man hold me back. But with Riccardo, it doesn’t feel like taking the risk is worse than walking away.

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