Page 152 of Wrapped in Perfection

He nods. "Yes."

I cry again, and he pulls me into his chest, then picks me up and carries me to the bedroom.

"I'm sorry. I'm just... I tried not to worry, but..."

"Shh. You did good, kotik. So good. And I'm the one who's sorry. You shouldn't have had to go through any of this."

I put my fingers to his lips. "Don't." I slide them down and press my mouth to his, but he pulls away.

"I have to shower. I have blood on me," he murmurs.

I assess him for the first time and see it on his neck and behind his ear. I get off the bed and take his hand. "Come on."

When we get in the bathroom, his exhausted expression becomes clear. His eyes have something in them I've not witnessed before. I'm not sure what it is, but it scares me. I cup his cheeks. "Dmitri, are you all right?"

He palms my ass, closes his eyes, and holds me tight with his other arm. "I don't want that to be part of my life. I never did. But it is. And I think it's over, but I'm always waiting for the other shoe to drop. I... I don't want to put you through this if something comes up again."

My stomach flips. "Look at me."

He shakes his head and keeps his eyes shut.

"Look at me," I say louder.

He obeys.

I realize what's in his bloodshot eyes and it scares me. It's defeat. "Don't toss me aside."

"I'm not... I'm... You don't deserve to be in this situation. You have an out right now. If you want to take it, I'll always protect you, but I will let you go so you can be free."

I press my hands harder against his cheeks. "I don't want an out," I sternly say. "You are tired and speaking crazy right now. Do not do this and ruin the beauty of us."

"I want you forever, but we aren't married. If you stay, I'm going to ask you. If you say yes, you will be an Ivanov. There will be no going back. It's not—"

"Yes! Yes, I will marry you!"

"That wasn't a proper proposal. I—"

"I don't care. And there is nothing I want more than to be Mrs. Dmitri Ivanov."

"Anna, I don't think you understand—"

"I do. I will be yours forever. You will be mine. The world will know I am an Ivanov. There might be dangers associated with it, but I don't care. I would rather live the rest of my years with you than a moment without you. Do you not understand this? Do you not feel the same?"

He brushes his lips to mine. "Of course I do. There is nothing about this conversation that diminishes my love for you."

"Then stop this absurd talk. I will not allow you to eject me from your heart. We do not do that to each other." I grab his shirt and pull it over his head, then release his pants. I strip, too, then pick up his hand and step into the shower.

The blood washes down his body the moment he steps in.

"Anna, even if you were not physically with me, you would never leave my heart."

I put soap on his head and the front of his body, rubbing my hands over his no past, no future tattoo. "I have made myself clear. Do not talk to me about this ever again. And don't wave marriage in my face and take it away."

"Is that how you see this?"

"Yes."

He stays quiet.

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