“What’s that?”
“We don’t rush this.We’ll come up with a foolproof plan.And part of that plan will include training with me.Learning self-defense.”
“I can get on board with that.”A slow, wicked smile curled my lips as I draped my arm over his shoulder, hoisting myself onto my toes.“Why don’t we start with you teaching me how to break out of zipties?”
“Zipties?”he murmured, steering me the few feet toward the bed.
“Could be fun.Although, if I’m being honest, I’m not sure I’d want to break free around you.”
He helped lower me onto the mattress and crawled between my legs, grabbing my wrists and holding them in his firm grip.“Then I’ll be sure to make them extra tight.”
ChapterThirty-Three
Henry
“Ready for me to kick your ass again, old man?”Ariana joked as I entered the home gym after taking Cato for a walk.
She was already stretching, wearing fitted leggings and a tank top that did absolutely nothing to help me keep my head straight.Her hair was pulled into a high ponytail, exposing her neck…as well as the bite marks I’d left hours earlier.
It had been a few days since I’d agreed to use her as bait in order to lure Victor out of hiding.
I still hated it.Every damn part.The idea of her being anywhere near Victor made my skin crawl.
But she wasn’t wrong.
Victor had paid the Bratva an obscene amount of money to have her abducted.If she suddenly reappeared with our carefully crafted story — that she’d taken a few days to “disconnect” while her husband was out of town — he wouldn’t be able to stay away.
He’d need to play the part of the caring, concerned husband for the world to see.
Then, we’d end this.
In the meantime, Blake and I had doubled our efforts to locate him.We’d put tails on several Miami Bratva members, including Nikolai Volkov, the Obshchak Victor had spoken with the night before Ariana’s botched abduction.So far, nothing led us to him.It was as if the earth had swallowed him whole.
But I wasn't giving up.Not now.Not ever.
And while Blake’s team hunted, I spent every morning training Ariana in my home gym.
If she insisted on being bait, she’d damn well know how to defend herself.I’d also taken her shooting so she’d be comfortable handling and firing a gun if it came to it.I hoped it didn’t.But she needed to be prepared.
“Old man?”I closed the distance between us, my mouth hovering over hers.“Correct me if I’m wrong, but if I were really an old man, would I have been able to treat you to three mind-blowing orgasms this morning?Have you begging for more while you rode my cock?”
“Theydomake pills for that,” she teased.
I pulled her against me, gently thrusting so she could feel what she did to me with just one touch, one look, one smile.
“I don’t need any pills when you’re around.”I covered her mouth with mine, hopelessly addicted to her.In such a short time, she’d invaded my every waking thought to the point where I couldn’t imagine my life without her.
Where I happily told her I loved her.
She hadn’t said it back yet, but I didn’t care.
I’d lived with enough regret.I didn’t want to add this to the growing list.
After the shit she’d been through, she deserved to know she was loved.
And hopefully, one day, she’d trust her heart enough to say it back.
“Let’s get started,” I said, pulling out of the kiss.
