Page 180 of Ripped Veil (Ripped Bratva)

Instead of what it really is—an excuse to touch each other.

But, standing here in the water, I realize that there’s no reason to acknowledge something that’s so obvious. The connection between us feels almost visceral. It eats up all the open space we’ve allowed. Words would just clutter the last little distances left here.

Phoenix stares down at me for a moment. Then he raises his hand and cups my jaw. His expression is contemplative. Haunted, almost.

“What are you thinking?” I ask, hoping that the question won’t cause the whiplash change in mood that I’ve come to expect from him.

“You don’t want to be inside my head,krasotka.”

“What if I do?”

Something ripples across his eyes. It’s gone before I can catch it. “You’re so fucking young,” he sighs.

My brow ripples. “What does that mean?”

“Exactly that. You’re young.”

“It’s not code?” I ask.

“What would it be code for?”

“Naïve. Gullible. Inexperienced.”

He smiles. “You think too much.”

Then, like we both knew it was coming all along, his lips come down on mine. My hand catches the side of his neck as the kiss deepens and I feel my body fuse against his.

It’s the kind of body that’s made to be objectified. Pure masculinity, marbled muscle, and a light smattering of dark chest hair. I run my hands down Phoenix’s torso until I land on his perfectly carved abs. My hips are grinding up against his and I can feel his hardening—

“Ahem.”

We spring apart and look to the pool deck, where Anna is standing and holding a little black box with a gold ribbon tied around it.

“Sorry to interrupt,” she adds sheepishly.

“What is it, Anna?” he asks.

“Something arrived for Elyssa,” she says vaguely.

I blush furiously as I head to the edge of the pool. When I glance back at Phoenix, he looks completely unaffected by the interruption. In fact, he looks a little annoyed. Shrugging, he turns away and starts doing laps up and down the pool.

He’s a brilliant swimmer. Even when his arms and legs break through the surface, he hardly displaces any water at all. Just knifes through it like a dolphin, all elegant, glistening lines and efficient motion.

I eye the package in Anna’s hands as I get out of the pool and towel off.

“This was left at the main gate for you, dear,” Anna says, offering up the package. “Be careful—it’s a bit heavy.”

Frowning, I take the package and examine it. “For me? Are you sure?”

“Yes.”

“There must be some mistake. No one knows I’m here.”

“Clearly, someone does,” Anna says with a shrug and a smile.

A nasty feeling is brewing in my stomach. I only hope that I can hide it fast enough.

“Something wrong, dear?”

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