I smashed my finger against his lips, silencing him. “Shut up, Adrik.Believeit. Seriously, I can’t imagine what you see inme.”
Adrik huffed. “You’re fucking gorgeous, Annika.”
Warmth swelled in my chest, pleasure spreading throughout my entire body. He thought I was gorgeous?Wow.
“No one has ever said that to me before. I’m…speechless.”
He blinked. “No one?”
“No.”
As we stared at each other, the sexual tension climbed higher, wrapping around us like a heavy fog. He was already helping me overcome my insecurities and I hoped I was helping him to overcome his.
“I don’t do casual sex, Adrik,” I assured him. “If I choose to be with a man, it’s because I care about him. I havefeelingsfor him. Do you understand what I’m saying?”
He sucked in a breath, his fingers wrapping around my wrist and pressing my hand against his chest. His heart thudded rapidly against my palm.Thump-thump, thump-thump, thump-thump.
“Feel that? It’s what you do to me. What you’vealwaysdone to me,” he whispered, his gaze sincere as it bore into mine. “I’ve only ever wantedyou.”
Excitement pumped through my veins. A pleasing warmth ignited in the center of my chest and slowly spread outward.Oh, Adrik, do you have any idea how special you are?How truly beautiful?
“I wish I’d met you sooner,” I admitted softly. “I wish you hadn’t hidden from me all these years.”
Regret swam in his eyes. “Me, too. Somehow, you see me—thetrueme—when no one else even bothers to look beyond my face.” He scooted back against the headboard, his large hands circling my waist. In a swift move, he hefted me into his lap. “I have a feeling you’re going to break my heart,” he whispered, his soulful dark eyes gazing into mine. “But right now, I don’t care. I can’t stop whatever’s going to happen between us. I don’t want to.”
I looked deeply into his eyes, making myself open and vulnerable, wanting him to see into my soul. “Me, neither.”
He groaned softly. “There’s so many places I want to kiss you, Annika. I’ve dreamed about it for so long. I’ve dreamed aboutyoufor so long.”
Desire stabbed through me, hot and needy. Really? He’d fantasized about me?
I slid my hands up inside his shirt, my fingers exploring over hot skin and hard muscles, across firm, hairless pecs and taut nipples. I didn’t have to wonder about his chest any longer. No fur. It was soft and smooth and hard underneath.
“What are we waiting for? Let’s get started. You’re so sexy, Adrik.” I breathed in his ear. “Let me see you.”
He tensed, leaning back, his gaze questioning as it met mine. I pulled at the hem of his shirt, letting him know I was serious.
“Off,” I demanded. “I want to see this sexy body.”
He made a sound in his throat—half laugh, half snort—then yanked his shirt free and tossed it aside.
Ooh, yes! I leaned back, my hungry gaze feasting on his male beauty. Adrik had a smoking hot body. Lean and corded, muscles upon muscles, he was breathtaking. Gorgeous.
Color rose up his neck and into his face. “You’re staring,” he muttered, sounding embarrassed.
“Indeed,” I agreed. “You’re hot as fuck. You must work out a lot.”
He made a choking sound. “Um, yeah. I need to stay in shape for my job.”
His job. As the Bratva’s interrogator. That role didn’t suit him. Not at all. At least, not in my eyes.
The role he would no longer have after the new soldiers arrived tomorrow.
Papa had refused to let Adrik stay, remaining firm in his belief that it was for my own safety. He had conceded that maybe after Adrik got help for his phobia, then maybe he could return to the Bratva, but until then, Adrik wasn’t fit to be a soldier.
I disagreed.
But I would take advantage of my time with him now.