Page 80 of Cruel Russian Pakhan
“Artyom,” Lev spoke from behind me. “We've had a long day. Why don't we all go home, get some rest, and we can meet tomorrow and discuss whatever is bothering you.”
“What’s bothering me?” he spat. His eyes danced with menace before darkening. “What’s bothering me is that you’re withholding another man’s wife. That you lied about annulling the marriage with this half-breed to marry a real Rykov woman…”
Artyom waved his gun at me before re-aiming at Lev. “You’ve proven you’re not a man of your word, and that comes with consequences. Katya is leaving with me. As for Vera, the deal’s dead. I won’t tie my blood to a family that can’t follow through on a simple arrangement, especially one you came to me begging for.”
“It's too late for that, Artyom, because I'm pregnant.” Lev gently squeezed my hips. “And the father is Lev.”
I saw Yegor's and Zahkar's eyes widen a fraction and heard a low whistle from one of Lev's brothers.
“I will be leaving here withmyhusband. When we go home,wewill decide whether or notourmarriage will be annulled, notyou, notanyoneelse.”
Artyom lunged forward, fury etched into his face. Fear shot through my veins, but I stood my ground. Yegor and Zahkar moved fast, each grabbing one of Artyom's arms.
He growled, yanked free with a snarl, then stormed off in the opposite direction without another word.
Zahkar cast us a wide, amused grin before following him, and Yegor gave a subtle nod before trailing after them.
Only once he was gone did I exhale. My knees buckled, but Lev caught me, arms circling my waist as he turned me gently into his embrace.
He kissed me, short and hard, before pulling back. “I know why you shifted,” he said, voice husky. “You were trying to protect my heart.”
“I was,” I murmured. “And mine as well. You're my heart, Lev. Without you, I won't be able to survive.”
My hands slid up his bicep, and he flinched. I stilled.
“I’m sorry,” I whispered, looking at the blood on my hand. “We should get you to a hospital.”
He looked down at me, pride gleaming in his eyes, then reached into his jacket and pulled out a handkerchief. Gently, he wiped the blood from my hand before tucking it away again.
“I’m fine,” he said calmly. “It’s just a graze.”
I pressed my forehead to his chest, soaking in the steady beat of his heart. Then I tilted my head back to meet his gaze.
“Take me home, Lev,” I said softly, teasingly. “After everything today…I think I’ve earned the right to be stuffed.”
A low chuckle rumbled from his chest. “Let’s get you home, then.”
***
An hour and a half later, I sat nestled in the warm tub of Lev’s master bathroom suite, cradled between his legs. His arms wrapped gently around me, hands resting just beneath my breasts as he softly massaged slow circles into my skin. Lev’s left arm was wrapped in a bandage. The steady rise and fall of his chest against my back soothed me, and I closed my eyes. After making slow, tender love to me in his bed for the first time, he had filled the tub and lifted me in with care, then climbed in behind me.
"I'm so damn proud of you, Katya," he murmured into my ear.
"Why? What did I do?" I asked, distracted by his hands and the way he was planting soft kisses along my neck.
"You used what you were taught, and you were able to escape.”
I smiled and tilted my head slightly to catch a glimpse of him. “That’s because I had an amazing teacher.”
“Oh really?”
“Yeah,” I teased. “He’s kind of a hard-ass, though. And super annoying.”
Lev chuckled, then tickled my side. I squealed, splashing water over the edge of the tub, and he pulled me close again, resting both hands gently over my stomach. I laced my fingers through his.
“Thank you for coming back to me,” he whispered.
“I’ll always come back to you,” I said, yawning as sleep began to crawl through my exhausted body.
