Page 17 of Plus-Size Bratva Bride

“I’m so sorry, little starfish. I’m sorry you had to go through that. I can’t imagine that pain,” he says gently, brushing his fingers through my hair and down my back. “You never have to apologize for the way you feel. It’s healthy to let your emotions free. Don’t lock them inside.”

I start crying harder.

It’s the stupidest thing ever, but no one has held me like this or comforted me in this way since I lost my brother. No one has told me it’s ok to cry. No one has made me feel safe enough to let go and let these tears out.

Radmir holds me for ages, the heat of his body soaking into mine. My heart soothed by his voice and his words as he continues to whisper to me and tell me it’s ok.

When I tilt my head back to look up at him my heart skips a beat. His dark grey eyes are piercing. Like a thunder storm, charged and wild and full of emotion.

I can feel it’s going to happen before it happens and no matter what I tell myself later on, I know I want it in the moment.

He presses his lips against mine and the kiss is so soft, yet so intimate that my entire body ignites like a wildfire spreading through a forest. The intensity of this kiss will haunt me long after it’s over.

His hand gently cups my face as he pulls me closer to him. The kiss deepens and my body starts to respond in more heated ways.

That is when I realize that the beginning of the kiss wasn’t only sexual. It wasintimate.It wasemotionalandgentle.All things I cannot fake with a man like this.

I quickly pull away, horrified with myself about kissing the man who killed my brother.

I climb off his lap and look from left to right, for somewhere to run. But I’m already in my own room.

Radmir stands up, looking as bewildered as I am.

“Jade, I’m sorry—“ he mutters.

“Please, can you go? I think I need to be alone,” I say quickly, unable to look at him for fear that I might want to kiss him again.

“I’m sorry,” he says again, then hesitates before nodding and walking out of the room.

My heart is beating way too fast.

I run into the bathroom and close the door, leaning against the back of it and letting the tears flow freely again.

I can’t betray my little brother like that. I’m not here for this.

How can this even be happening?

How can I feel anything but hatred towards that man and how is he managing to trick me into thinking he is anything other than a monster?

I sink down to the floor, pulling my legs up against my chest as I cry silently, letting my guilt spill from my heart and burying my face against my knees.

In this moment I regret coming here. I am so tempted to grab my phone and tell someone to come and fetch me. This might have been the biggest mistake of my life—thinking that I can handle this.

I’ve never felt so disarmed by someone before.

He has this way of making me feel so safe I would tell him anything. He breaks down my defenses and his masculine, yet gentle strength is like a blanket of protection over me that I never knew I have always craved.

I let out a sharp breath.

No.

This is bullshit.

I am so much stronger than his fake manipulative kindness.

I came here for a reason and I will do what I planned.

The cold water I splash against my face forces me back into myself. I stare at my red rimmed eyes in the mirror.

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