“Christ,moeto hubavo mishle,” he whispers tenderly.
Pulling me against his chest, he holds me tightly, his body folding protectively around mine. I’ve never been held like this, and it makes me freeze because I’m scared that if I move, he’ll stop.
For months, Simi’s been living in her make-believe land where her prince would come to rescue us.
Desperate for that to be true, I beg, “Please, Georgi…” I choke on another sob. “I don’t want Simi to suffer the way I have.”
“I’ll protect her with my life.” Pulling back, his gaze drops to the dress and heels before flicking to the bold lipstick I’m wearing.
His jaw clenches, and lifting his hand, he smears the lipstick from my lips with his thumb before wiping it off on his shirt.
“Never wear this again.” His command heals something in the darkest parts of my soul where all my broken pieces lie. “This is not you.” He steps back again and shakes his head. “You will never be beaten, used, or raped again. Go change.”
Georgi is rejecting me.
The realization fills me with such relief, I feel a little lightheaded, then it hits hard…I can really trust this man.
Trying to understand why he’s so different, I dare to ask, “Why are you being kind to me?”
A dark, almost savage expression tenses his features. “Because you were kind to me, Nina. You disobeyed orders and gave me water, knowing how severe the punishments would have been if you were caught.” He shakes his head, his expression becoming even more tender. “You kneeled on a cold, hard concrete floor for hours so that I could sleep.” Lifting hishand again, he brushes his fingers tenderly over the bruises on my cheek. “We bonded in that hellhole. I know you felt it too.”
I’ve never had such a strong urge to keep someone alive before. Next to Simi being hurt, my biggest fear was Georgi dying.
My mind screams at me to keep quiet, but my heart gives in, and I whisper, “I felt it.”
Slowly, the corner of his mouth lifts, and this time he’s the one giving me a pleading look. “I don’t want this act you put on to keep Simi safe. I want the real you, the one I know is somewhere deep inside all that fucked up trauma you survived. I want you to feel safe so you can heal. One day, when you feel like yourself again,and you want me, we’ll talk again.”
I stare into his eyes, searching for any sign that this is a trick, but I can’t find a single thing. All I see is honesty.
I wipe my palms down my sides, the cocktail dress feeling like years of blood and screams against my skin.
“Go change, then come back and have some tea with me. There’s a lot we have to talk about.”
Obeying, I turn around and head back up the stairs.
Chapter 19
Nina
While I’m changing back into my jeans and T-shirt, my hands shake so much I have to pause and breathe through the emotions spinning wildly in my stomach.
Georgi doesn’t want sex with me unless it’s what I want.
The thought is life-altering. It bends the brutal reality that’s been my existence for nine years until its hold on me threatens to snap, the first tendrils of trust curling through my heart.
Whatever Georgi expects of me will be easy to give. No beatings. No using Simi against me. No rape. Anything else pales in comparison, so I hardly care. I’ll obey whatever rules he sets without hesitation.
I quickly wash my face and pat it dry before I check on Simi to make sure she’s still sleeping. Hurrying out of the bedroom, I settle a hand over my stomach that feels like it’s doing cartwheels.
When I come down the stairs, there’s no sign of Georgi in the living room, but then I hear a clinking sound, and I follow it to the kitchen.
As I enter the room, Georgi stops stirring the cup of coffee, and turning around, he comes right at me.
My chaotic emotions scatter everywhere, and I gasp when his hands settle on my waist, and I’m lifted into the air. I’m set down on the marble top of the island, and before I can steady myself, his abs press against my knees as he bends forward, placing his hands on either side of my hips to cage me in.
Shit!
He leans down until we’re eye level, his hazel irises alight with a possessive look that holds my gaze captive with such intensity, it’s impossible to escape.
