Trapping my lower lip between my teeth, I nod.
With a soft hum, Miko settles onto his side of the bed, then he leans down, carefully snaking one tattoo-covered arm around my waist so he can pull me close.
Hooking his other arm beneath my knees, he brings my legs across his lap, cradling me against his chest as he leans back against the headboard.
The way he holds me feels shockingly safe—and effortlessly protective of my injured feet.
With my ear against his chest, I can hear the strong, steady beat of his heart, and it lulls me into a deceptive calm.
Before I know what I’m doing, I breathe him in deeply, relishing the scent of motor oil and woodsy pine.
It feels safe enough, I can feel the heavy weight of exhaustion starting to sink in. After countless sleepless nights and days upon days of uncertainty and tension, it feels shockingly good to let go.
And for the first time, I think it might be okay to do so.
“It wasn’t your fault, Anika,” Miko murmurs, his voice so soft, I’m not sure I heard him right.
And the haze of exhaustion makes me frown. “Hmm?” I ask, adjusting my cheek against his chest and resting my palm on his sternum to feel his heartbeat as well.
“Pyotr never should have hit you,” he says, his voice stronger now. “There is no excuse for it, and I promise you I never will. I recognize that, in our world, it’s more common, but no man has a right to treat a woman like that. And I hope, in time, you can learn to trust me.”
His words are deeply touching, and my eyes sting with fresh tears as sudden, intense emotion threatens to overwhelm me.
Tipping my head back so I can meet his impossible blue eyes, I find him watching me, his lips shockingly close to mine.
“Thank you,” I breathe, my heart threatening to burst, it’s so full.
Tightening his arm around my shoulders, he pulls me closer to press a kiss to the crown of my head.
It’s a shockingly tender gesture, and when his lips find my temple next, a surge of heat floods my core. I lean into the attention, savoring the way it makes me feel.
His kisses seem entirely innocuous, a display of affection that doesn’t quite feel platonic, but also doesn’t feel like he’s looking for sex.
I close my eyes, soaking up the tingling excitement that ripples through me.
And when he lifts his lips, I tip my chin so the kiss meant for my forehead lands on my lips instead.
That jolt of electricity I get every time our lips meet blasts through me again, and Miko pauses, not pressing me for more, but not pulling back either. And for the first time in a long time, I’m shocked to realize I want a man to touch me. I wanthimto touch me. I want to feel that same pleasure he showed me before.
I’m curious to see if last night was a one-time courtesy on Miko’s part or if that’s just the kind of lover he is.
A man who knows how to make me want him, how to awaken desires I never knew I had.
Slowly, he pulls back, breaking our kiss and leaving my lips tingling in his absence.
His penetrating gaze holds a silent question, and even though I don’t know what it is, I already know my answer.
With a nod, I run my hand slowly up her chest, following the curve of his strong neck to comb my fingers into his soft, dark curls.
And I pull his lips back to mine once more.
Miko hums, the deep sound of appreciation like a live wire connected straight to my core, and when his tongue traces the seam of my lips, I open willingly for him.
His kiss isn’t greedy or demanding, it’s not quite so desperate or possessive as it felt last night. But it’s no less sensual or inviting, and it feels dangerously intimate as he takes his time.
Gently, he leans me back onto the bed, curving his body around mine as he cages me protectively against his chest.
With light fingers, he brushes the line of my cheek and jaw, following the curve of my throat.
