Page 31 of Captive Union
He nods at my curled position. “You can get more comfortable if you want.”
My eyes flit to his naked chest, his strong muscles right there in front of me. I never thought I’d be so transfixed by a man’s body, seeing as I kept to myself my entire life and never had the chance to be in this type of circumstance. Now that I’m in it, I’m starting to become obsessed with Erik, and that’s the last thing I’m supposed to do.
He notices my look as his lips turn up. “Kira, do you like what you see?”
I look away, unable to answer. I’ve always been a terrible liar, and the truth would mortify me.
“It’s ok if you do. We’re married, after all. In fact,” he reaches over and trails his fingertips over my arm, “we can even touch. Kiss if we want to. We could continue that kiss from last night.”
Shoot. I was purposefully trying not to think about that. When I came out of the bathroom last night and Erik walked up to me with purpose and kissed me so passionately, I never wanted it to end. I could have gotten lost in his lips for eternity. When he pulled away suddenly, it hurt. I can’t let him kiss me again. I might not survive it.
“Maybe we shouldn’t,” I finally say.
“Well, I think we should,” he says in a rumbly voice that sends a jolt of pleasure straight between my legs. I squeeze my body tighter into a ball.
“You shouldn’t kiss me like that again.”
His fingertips trail up and down my arm. “Then how would you like me to kiss you?”
I huff. “That’s not what I meant.”
“Why are you fighting this so hard? Everything would be easier if you just gave in to what’s growing between us.”
“Nothing’s growing between us,” I snap, pulling away from him. He drops his hand.
“I beg to differ.”
“Well,Ibeg to differ.”
He raises an eyebrow. “There’s a fire in you this morning.”
“You told me to get more comfortable around you, so …”
Erik chuckles, sitting back and giving me more space. “I did, didn’t I? Ok, we don’t have to kiss. I promised I wouldn’t push you. I just want you to consider giving our marriage a chance.”
“It’s hard when part of the reason you married me is to hurt Maxim. I know you told me that you like me, too. It’s just tough. How can I love a man whose motivations for marriage are not pure?”
“What? And you think your brother’s intentions for marriage were pure? I can assure you Maxim married his wife to gain power over his men. It had nothing to do with love.”
“I know that!” But did I? I knew things were shaky between Maxim and Arina when they first married, but then they grew so close and fell in love. It’s hard to imagine that Maxim wasn’t deeply in love with Arina the minute he laid eyes on her. “But what you don’t know is that they’re in love now.”
“So you’re proving my point. Love can grow even through the most turbulent beginnings.”
My mouth hangs open slightly. Damn him. He caught me in my own argument. Trying to recover, I shake my head, saying, “While that may be true, Maxim didn’t kidnap Arina. They made a deal and got married. Arina had a choice. I didn’t.”
“If you really believe your sister-in-law had a choice in marrying Maxim, you’re mistaken. No one could have said no to the head of the Bratva if he asked for their hand in marriage. It’s just not done.”
Damn him again.
I scramble out of bed. “We’re going around in circles. Erik, I’m still getting used to you, and I’m … not comfortable yet. But I did what you asked, and I came back to bed. Now, please, let me see my family.”
He looks like he might object before nodding and getting out of bed. I avert my eyes but not before I get a glimpse of him in nothing but his underwear. “I’ll let you talk to your family.”
“Thank you,” I breathe out. I don’t care what Erik’s motivations are for letting me do this. I only care that I’ll get to see the faces of my family members again.
“I’ll set the meeting up. Join me down in the basement once you’re dressed.” He slips on a shirt and pants, and I admit that I’m a little disappointed.
After Erik leaves to get things situated, I open the closet door and look at all the clothes he’s provided me. It’s both a sweet and creepy gesture that he bought clothes for me before we even met. He wants me to be happy here, and yet it’s weird how sure he was that I’d be in this position, going through his closet, married to him.
