“They fight a lot and stress too much,” she continued, “but they are everything to me.”
“Is it possible for your brothers to have enemies?”
“It is,” she admitted softly. “They can be business competitors or people who want what they have built. But I never thought any of those enemies could be violent. At least not like this.”
“You don’t know the things people do for leverage, or revenge, or information, Ilana,” I said, my mind alreadyworking. I had the feeling she didn't want to tell me too much about her brothers, which was why she still hadn’t told me their names.
“You are right. In this case, they kidnapped the weakest link,” she said bitterly.
I shook my head. “No. Not weak. You survived something most people wouldn’t be able to walk out of alive.”
She swallowed hard while I clicked through another set of files, and she leaned in, even closer than before. Her hair brushed my arm while her breath was warm on my skin. None of it was sexual or intentional or conscious. But it was intimate in a way that was somehow worse.
“I wish I knew more or just understood why any of this happened.”
“We’ll figure it out,” I said quietly.
An email popped up on my screen, signaling a message with an attachment from Timofey.It must be the details about the new family.Ilana noticed the email too, but did not say anything, so I quickly crossed it off, not wanting to give any unnecessary details to her. She turned her head at the same moment that I did, and we were suddenly inches apart. Her breath caught, the space between us tightened, and it became electrifying.
“Avgust…” she whispered.
The way she said my name wasn’t pleading or innocent, but full of need. I reached for her jaw with purpose, and she leaned into my touch without hesitation. Her lips parted as if on instinct, and she didn’t pull away or question. I held her firmly in my arms and kissed her slowly, but it soon grew hungrier.
There was nothing but her.
Now or ever.
Chapter 13 - Ilana
I stopped pretending.
The moment Avgust’s mouth found mine again, slower this time, more deliberate and certain, something inside me gave in completely. There was no more bargaining with myself, no more reminding my heart that he was dangerous or this was temporary or that I should keep my distance.
I wanted him. So. Fucking. Much.
The realization settled deep inside my chest, heavy and undeniable.
His hands slid over me with intention, not rushed or demanding. Without any effort, he stood up from his chair, still holding me in his arms, while we continued to kiss and carried me back towards the bed. I pulled away to look at his face, his eyes bright with an emotion I had never witnessed before. It wasn’t lust but something else entirely. Something deeper than mere attraction or the need for sex.
“Avgust?” I whispered his name like a question.
“Um hm?”
Before I could say anything else, he threw me on the bed rather unceremoniously and crawled right on top of me. I knew exactly what he was thinking, and my mind was going in a very similar direction. The way he had made me scream his name last night was still fresh in my memory, the thought of it bringing a blush to my cheeks.
“What did you just think of that made you blush?” he asked, his hands sliding around my waist.
“The way you made me orgasm last night,” I whispered honestly, not wanting to lie to him.
“Do you want me to do that again?” he asked, crawling upwards until my back was pinned against the headboard while he hovered over me, his gaze predatory.
“Yes,” I nodded, “but not just with your mouth and fingers this time.”
A smirk came over his face while he toyed with the edge of my sweater. I had decided not to wear pants while dressing up and was in nothing but my sweater and panties, both of which were beginning to come off. His thumb slid inside the waistband of my panties, making me gasp at the touch.
“Then how, Ilana?” his name sounded dirty on my lips, but it made me ache in ways I did not even know possible.
“I want to feel you… inside me,” I replied, tracing my hands over his chest from under his t-shirt. He backed away for one second and took his shirt off in one smooth motion, exposing himself before me.
