Page 20 of Forbidden Bratva Virgin

Thatvoice…. I recognized it anywhere on the planet. That voice held the power to disarm me, weaken my knees, and give me crazy lust-filled dreams. It held the key to my heart.

And when I summoned the courage to raise my head, hoping that I wasn’t imagining things…I wasn’t.

He was right there, standing by the door with his arms spread, a plastic bag dangling from one hand, and that same cheesy dimpled smile that made me fall in love with him in the first place, plastered on his face.

“Nate?” If I didn’t move fast, I knew I’d start hyperventilating. “Oh, my God. Nathan!”

I squealed like I was sixteen again, not minding who heard, not minding who saw, as I ran straight into his arms, teary-eyed.

My face hit his solid chest first, and I stayed there, with my arms tightly wound around his small waist, breathing him in, that perfect blend of cedarwood and musk that I loved.

“Oh, God! Babe!” He groaned into my hair, scattering my face with the most tender kisses he always reserved for me. “I’ve missed you so much!”

I pulled back to look at him, laughing and crying at the same time because he felt too good to be true.

Today was really my best day yet!

“Today’s not our anniversary. I checked. So, why—howare you even here? I can’t believe it.”

“Better believe it.” Nathan pecked my nose and wiggled the bag in his hand. “If you don’t, it means these aren’t real, too.”

I gasped. The aroma finally made sense. “Don’t tell me…strawberry jam cheesecake doughnuts?”

“Sometimes, I think you love them more than me.” The rich rumble of his chuckle almost made me lean into him again. “Fine, I won’t tell you. But they are freshly made, and I know the perfect place to devour them. Before you say anything, I have a cab waiting outside to take us.”

I’d known Nathan since I was sixteen and still hadn’t gotten used to his ability to leave me speechless. He was just the sweetest. I melted into his side, feeling my heart soar so high that I felt like I was floating in the clouds.

“I love you, Nate.”

Knotting our fingers, he pressed his lips against my forehead. “I love you, too, cupcake.”

***

The perfect place Nathan thought we could devour the doughnuts was in my apartment. I wasn’t complaining.

On the contrary, I took extra time in the shower to wash my hair, shave off the tiny patch from my lady parts, and bathe myself in perfume until I was partially choking and sputtering on my way to the living room where Nathan waited on the couch with his head buried in his phone.

I sucked in a deep breath and clutched the rose-gold chain around my neck. He was effortlessly handsome in that classic red and black buffalo plaid shirt and vibrant blue jeans. And that was it. He never needed anything extra to grab attention. He had the looks: dark piercing eyes, stylish taper fade haircut, and adorable dimples that added to his irresistible smile. His personality was witty and endearingly quirky, with a whole lot of heart.

That was why I was nervous.Hedidn’t have to try too hard, but I did.

I’d picked out a short floral print dress with a v-neckline and deep-cut back, deliberately ditching a bra. With Nate, this outfit was a bold move. We’d been together for eight years now, but before now, I kept it moderate around him. Wanting to see his reaction almost had me dying inside.

Feigning innocence, I flicked my hair over my shoulder and joined him on the couch, reaching for the box of doughnuts on the centerpiece. “Hey. Did you save some for me?”

“Hey—oh. Wow.” His eyes stayed hooked on my thighs, which were visibly exposed, before he reluctantly dragged them to my face. “You look…different.”

I stuck a doughnut between my teeth to hide a frown. “Just different? No ‘Oh, babe, you look amazing,” or “Babe, you look smoking hot?’”

Nathan’s tension melted away as he ran his fingers through his hair. “You always look smoking hot, cupcake. This is just different. In a really good way.”

My cheeks burned, and I gobbled up the doughnut quickly to suppress the crimson rising on my neck. That wasn’t the compliment I expected, but from coming from Nathan, it was a compliment, nonetheless.

He didn’t say anything; he just stared at me in silence. His gaze seemed afar off, with a lingering distance I thought I imagined, as if they weren’t really focused on me. But it was mesmerizing, drawing me in with an otherworldly pull.

I tore my eyes away, picking up another doughnut. “So, what’s happening? What’s the latest with you? Fill me in. I want to know everything now that you’re here.”

Trust my boyfriend to outright blush at the smallest things. His cuteness doubled over when the pink hue settled on his cheeks. He rolled his eyes, rubbing his neck. “Well, since we talk almost every day, there’s not much you don’t know.”

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