His warm breath ghosted my ear, patient in a way that felt like poison.
A tiny click. The ring settled heavy and cool against my chest, resting right between my breasts.
"Wear it like this then," he said. "Valentine's gift. I figured the swelling might be an issue, so I got the chain ready."
His words were still clipped, but I heard what he wasn't saying.
Desire, emotional this time, not just physical, flooded me again. I needed to know this tenderness wasn't imaginary.
I leaned up and kissed his jaw, awkward because he never liked mouth kisses. His stubble scraped my lips. I didn't care.
"One more time, Silas." My voice came out shameless. I pushed at his shoulders. "I want you."
One dark brow lifted. Amused, he let himself sink back against the headboard.
I took a shaky breath and straddled him. The position forced me to face my own swollen belly and his intense stare. I probably looked ridiculous. But the heat in his eyes gave me courage.
I gripped him, still slick and hard, and slowly sank down.
"Fuck…" we both groaned at the same time.
I started moving, rolling my hips, controlling the depth, the angle. The control made my scalp tingle. Silas clearly loved the view. His big hands immediately claimed my breasts, squeezing, kneading, thumbs flicking the sensitive tips.
"Ride me, Anthea," he rasped, fingers digging in like he wanted to milk me.
Pleasure built in crashing waves. I moved faster, sweat slicking my skin, vision blurring. I was so close—
Knock. Knock. Knock.
Silas froze.
"Sir," came Maria, the housekeeper's tense voice through the door. "Miss Zaitseva is back from Europe. She and the Pakhan are waiting in the living room."
In a heartbeat, the man who'd been buried inside me turned ice-cold. He gripped my hips and lifted me off him without ceremony.
The sudden emptiness ripped a startled cry from my throat. I watched him roll out of bed, back to me, already reaching for his shirt.
"Silas?" My voice cracked.
He didn't turn around. Just kept buttoning.
"Stay in the room," he said flatly. "You don't leave without my permission."
"Why?" The question burst out before I could stop it, the mostdangerous question someone in my position could ask.
"It's an order, Anthea."
He finally glanced back. No trace of desire left. Just cold, absolute control.
Then he was gone.
The door closed with a heavy click.
Maria's voice murmured something obedient in the hallway.
Alone in the huge room, the silence pressed in. Outside, the wind howled.
My body cooled. My brain started working again. Zaitseva.
