Page 49 of The Enemy's Defector
“I will keep you safe,” he repeated after he kissed me. “This baby will never be harmed.”
I smiled again, masking my uneasiness.But do you only want to offer me security? What about love?
The Ivanov brothers weren’t open to love and letting themselves be vulnerable for women. But perhaps there was hope. Maybe with this baby, Nik could risk his heart for both of us in the future.
The future came sooner than I could’ve realized. After we showered and found the most habitable studio apartment on this floor of the building, I lay down to rest. That adrenaline crash took me out, from the run to safety, the danger of being shot, and the wickedly hot sex. As I napped, it seemed that Nik wasn’t eager to waste a second.
I woke late that night to him encouraging me to get up and get ready.
Yawning and rubbing my eye, I peered at him. “What’s going on?”
“You forgot already?” He grinned at me, one of those hot-as-hell smiles that looked so disarming yet naughty. “We’re getting married.”
That woke me all the way up. “Wait.Now? This soon?”
He furrowed his brow as he frowned, urging me to get up out of bed. “Yeah. This soon. Are you having second thoughts already?”
“No. No.” I stood, shaking my head. “I’m not. It’s just…” I tucked my hair behind my ear. “This isreallysoon.”
“All the better, I guess. Less time for you to think twice and change your mind,” he joked.
I blinked, snapping to the more I moved around. He’d already set my laptop bag near the door. We’d just gotten here and now we were on the run again. Or maybe this would mean he’d take me to his home now, where we could really rest and stay in place for more than a tense moment.
“I’m not going to change my mind. This is just so fast.”
He nodded. “It is. But I insist on it. I’ve reached a contact who arranged for an officiant who can make this official. We’ll hurry and meet him at the location I was provided, and then we can go home to tell my family.”
Aha.So, I was right. He did intend to relocate me to the Ivanov building. I wouldn’t ever doubt his promise to keep me safe, but damn, this was happening quickly. It was a blur of activity, and I felt like I was lagging to catch up.
“Right now?” I asked again, wincing. The bandage on my arm was stiff with dried blood. It made me feel grimy and dirty, on top of the general sensation of being dusty in this empty warehouse-like structure that was modified to subpar housing options.
“Yes.” He arched one brow.
“Can I shower first? Or…” I shrugged, rotating my arm to ease the tightness in my muscles while being careful with my wound. I wasn’t sure what else I could ask. It wasn’t like I could expect a dress or a gown. No makeup or effort to do my hair. We were on the run, hiding from killers.
“Hey.” He noticed my uneasiness, so attuned to me like that. “I know this isn’t what you might’ve dreamed of.”
I rolled my eyes. “Stop. I was never one of those girly girls who dreamed about big, fancy weddings.”The only thing I ever dreamed of was that you’d be my groom.
“But thisissudden.” He lowered his head to get more to my eye level as he welcomed me into a hug. Leaning against his hard chest soothed me, and I listened to him at the same time I felt the vibration of his words.
“I don’t need anything elaborate. But, well, just look at me.”
He huffed, stepping back to give me a long, wicked once-over. “Oh, trust me. I see you. And I very much like what I see, Katerina. I would want you no matter what you look like or wear. Filthy or clean.” He hugged me again to kiss my neck. “In a dressor something like this.” Another kiss higher up my neck and near my ear. “Naked,” he added in a seductive whisper before kissing closer to my ear once more.
Are you only like this for the sex?
Only marrying me for the sake of the baby?
I hated to feel so greedy. Yet, was I wrong to wish for his love? After losing my father and not having any other family, I was overdue for affection and belonging to someone in love.
“We can do this again later,” he added as he stepped away. “I promise. Whatever you want.” He smiled, not at all bothered about literally rushing at warp-speed toward a wedding.
Whatever I want? Even your love?
I shrugged. “No. I get it. This is urgent and…” God, I couldn’t even find the false words to say to cover up how I felt about this.What if he never loves me? What if it’s only ever a marriage of convenience that he’s forced into? Is only physical intimacy good enough to last between us?
“We can do a wedding later. Get you a gown and all of those things.” He didn’t look back at me as he headed toward the door. I followed, slinging my backpack strap over my shoulders, mindful of my wound.
