Page 69 of The Bratva Enforcer and His Virgin Bride

My jaw tightens.

When I reach her, I simply take hold of the box.

She startles. “What are you doing?”

I pull it from her arms.

She immediately reaches for it again. “I’ve got it.”

“No, you don’t.”

“I can carry it.”

I give her a look.

The argument dies before it fully begins.

She releases the box with obvious reluctance.

The moment the weight settles into my arms, I realize just how heavy it actually is.

Jesus Christ.

“What’s in this?” I ask, like I haven’t been watching her from my balcony.

She grins. “My books.”

“Where do you want this to go?” I pretend like her grin didn’t just set my blood on fire.

“The library.”

I nod and start toward the staircase.

Behind me, she hurries to keep up.

“The library is all the way on the third floor,” she says. “You don’t have to do this.”

I continue climbing.

“It’s heavy.”

“I noticed.”

“You probably have important things to do. I don’t want to bother you.”

I glance over my shoulder. “You’re my wife, Sofia. You’re not bothering me.”

The words leave my mouth before I think about them. Her footsteps falter. I catch the look of surprise that flashes across her face.

I turn away before I can examine that thought too closely and continue upstairs.

The rest of the climb passes in silence.

When we reach the library, she moves ahead of me and leads me toward an empty section of shelving near the far wall.

I stop.

I don’t remember that space being empty. She probably made room for them. While waiting for her books to arrive.