Page 36 of Branded in Love
“I behaved badly towards her…” I mumble, ashamed.
Sasha smirks, raising his brow. “I’m sure she’ll make you pay for it.” He chokes a laugh.
“She will, won’t she?” I smile bitterly. “If she’ll have me, that is.”
My Enforcer straightens. “I think you should find out,” he says.
I get on my feet. “Yeah...”
“Just maybe have something to eat first, catch up on your sleep…” Sasha pauses. “Andplease, take a shower,” he teases, a sly grin curling his lips.
26
LUCIANA
Iturn off the television. The pitter-patter of rain fills the room in an instant. It’s been like this for the past couple of days. I don’t even want to pull open the drapes. The dreary weather will only deepen my wounds.
It’s sweats and ice cream for me. I wasn’t even ashamed yesterday when Natalya appeared at my doorstep. The poor woman. She looked at me as if I were a mess. And I am.
I used to be perfectly happy before I learned I was dating a vampire. I used to be wrapped in a boring ordinary life, but at least I didn’t experience this much pain, this fathomless heartache. How the hell was I supposed to know I would fall so hard for Gavriil? How did it even get to this point where I practically begged him to claim me?
And he refused.
I shut my eyes close. This has clearly been a one-sided affair from the beginning. And poor Marco, abducted by vampires… God, I feel so rotten. I need to get out of this place. I need to run, even if it’s raining. That burly guy is standing in the hallway, but I don’t care. I just need some fresh air to free myself from these horrible thoughts that haunt my mind, spinning in circles.
On an impulse, I grab my keys and rush to the door. I swing it open when suddenly, I see him, standing in the hallway. My breathing hitches. I freeze, eyes wide, trying to understand.
“Gavriil…” I barely speak.
He stares at me in silence, subdued like a wounded creature. “I’m sorry,” he says in a low, soothing voice. The minute my lungs grasp the first whiff of his cologne, I’m drawn to him without remedy. I press a hand on the jamb, anchoring myself to the threshold.
“I’ve been a fool and an arrogant beast…” he begins.
A knot builds in my throat. I swallow hard. “You have,” I say.
“I never should have listened to my brother.”
“He was right, though,” I tell him, heart pounding hard in my chest. “You’re the Ursa King. I’m human and… we’ve only just met.”
Gavriil steps close until we share the same breathing space. “Luciana,” he breathes, “I don’t need time to sort out my feelings. I know how I feel.” He pauses. “I’m not here to play games. I am here, hoping you might look past my flaws.”
“Gavriil, you don’t have to—”
“I don’thaveto be here, and I am…” he says, and the corner of his lips curls as he echoes the words that once crossed my lips. “I don’thaveto love you, yet I do.” His steady gaze bores into me in silent expectation. “I love you, Luciana.”
My lips part, but no sound comes through.
“I know we can figure this out,” he assures me, darkened eyes locked in mine. I do not refuse him as he holds my hands. “If you…” His voice breaks. “If you can find it in your heart to forgive me. To love me, after all I…”
“Shut up,” I tell him, tears rimming my eyes. “I love you, Gavriil. I want to be with you… I want to see where this goes.”
In a flash, he takes the last step that delivers him into my arms. His mouth finds mine in a desperate kiss, full of passion and longing. I cradle his face between my hands and step back into the house, pulling him with me.
He slams the door close with a kick of his heel and carries me effortlessly in his arms. I kiss his cheek, his neck. My hands explore his chest and tug at his clothes, aching for that nearness, that contact flesh on flesh.
We strip our clothes fast as we make it to the bedroom. I gasp as his bare body lies on top of mine, eager for the touch of his skin. I want him now. He reads my haste and skips all foreplay. His firm hands seize my hips and lift me to him, tucking my curves into his own.
My pulse skyrockets when a tormented groan sails through his lips. He then whispers, “Lie on your belly for me.” He flips me over, spreading me beneath him. Gavriil grabs a fistful of my hair, tugging firmly as he lowers over me.
