“Not until you tell me what’s going on.”
She’s drunk, and I won’t have this conversation here. Not in her state, not with my brothers watching, but I’m done arguing. She should know by now that my word is law.
Without another word, I pick her up and throw her over my shoulder.
“What the hell!?” Georgia yells, but I’m already walking out of the room, Daniil’s howl of laughter behind us. “Put me down, I can walk.”
“Not in a straight line, you can’t.” I continue towards Georgia’s bedroom, right beside my own. She struggles in my arms, but I have her in a tight grip, ass in the air. I am sorely tempted to punish her for everything. All of it. Except, other than her smart mouth, tonight is all my fault.
I throw open the door to her bedroom and release her down on the bed while I lean over her, making sure that she’s actually all right. Her throat bobs, color rising to her cheeks.
“Whoa, two women in one night,” she seethes. “That’s even rich for you, bratva kingpin. Or maybe that’s how you usually roll.”
Gently gripping the side of her neck, my voice is low and soft when I finally respond. “There was no one else. No date. Nothing happened. You think I can touch another woman, no less think of anyone else? You consume all of my waking thoughts, krasotka, and it’s driving me fucking mad.”
Her face lights up at my words, seeming to sober her up faster than a double espresso. She grabs my shirt and brings her mouth to mine.
For a heartbeat, time comes to a standstill. My world shrinks to this moment— the feel of Georgia’s shapely body pressed to mine, how she opens her mouth on a moan, allowing my tongue to sweep in and taste her—like vodka and sunshine.
Like perfection.
Her fingers curl into my hair, digging into my scalp as she wraps her legs around my waist, moaning when I slide my hands around her, grabbing her ass, and grinding myself into her core.
I would do anything to bury myself deep inside her right now.
Anything.
But a niggling voice stops me. She’s drunk, and I’m leading her on. Exactly what I said I wouldn’t do.
I pull back to find her eyes hazy, her breathing harsh.
I shake my head. “We can’t…”
“Why not?” Her gray eyes spit fire. “Fuck you and all your rules when you know we both need this.”
She dares me to contradict her, but I hold my tongue. She’s not wrong, but I can’t be weak. The fate of my family rests on my ability to be strong. Make the right decisions for us as an organization. It’s not just about me anymore.
“This thing between us.” I hold her face in my hands, desperate for her to understand. “It's never going to end well.”
She pushes me away. “Because I’m just a pawn and nothing more.”
I clamp my jaw shut. It’s better for her to believe that, than to learn the truth that I can never give my heart away. The woman who I marry will stand by me out of duty, nothing more. And I won’t feel a quarter of what I feel for Georgia, for my future wife. And that’s the way it needs to be.
Her eyes blaze. “Fine. You’ve made yourself clear. Just go.” She points at the door, her lip quivering as she does so.
“Krasotka—”
“I’m tired, and drunk, and I need you to go.”
“I'll go when I make sure you are all right,” I say, channeling pakhan authority. “Get under the covers.”
“Oh, now you’re making demands of me.” She turns away from me.
I go to the bathroom to get her a glass of water and a Tylenol. When I come back, she’s tucked herself in, eyes closed. I can’t tell if she’s actually asleep or just pretending, but her breathing is steady and she looks at peace.
Leaning over her still body, I drop a kiss on her cheek. “Sweet dreams,dusha moya.”
My soul.