“We’ll be civil toward each other. If we become friends, everyone will know something’s up.”
“Okay.” She gives me a quivering smile. “So you’re not allowed to bully me anymore.”
Letting out a chuckle, I say, “That wasn’t me bullying you. I just kept you at a distance.”
“You could’ve fooled me.”
I step closer to her again, and placing a finger beneath her chin, I ask, “Can I have a last kiss?”
Fuck, there’s no way this can be our last kiss. How the hell am I going to stay away from her?
She just nods as emotion tightens her features.
Pressing my mouth to hers, I keep still and just breathe in her scent. I memorize the feel of her and hate that it might have to last me a lifetime.
I have to find a way for us to be together.
I’m going to risk my life and ask for a meeting with Viktor, the head of the bratva. If he agrees that we can be together, I’ll fucking kidnap her if I have to.
With a plan of action forming, I move my hand behind her neck and hold her in place as I deepen the kiss.
You will be mine, Aurora.
Her fingers grip my shirt, and I swear, if Abbie weren’t in the bedroom, I’d strip my little deer naked and fuck her until she couldn’t walk.
Ending the kiss, my teeth tug at her bottom lip. Our eyes lock, and seeing the sadness in her emerald irises, I promise, “I’ll find a way. Just give me time.”
Aurora nods, and when I walk to the door, she says, “I love you, Misha. You’ll be my first and only. Whatever happens.”
I open the door and whisper, “Slava ne mogut apisat’ mayu u lyubof’ k tebe, moy malen'kiy olen'.”
After telling Aurora that words can’t describe my love for her, I leave the room and shut the door.
Not in the mood for anything, I walk to my suite so I can be alone with my thoughts.
Chapter 23
Aurora
I walk to the bedroom, and opening the door, I see Abbie sitting on my bed, her face blotchy from crying.
“My God,” she sniffles. “That was so romantic and sad. It makes Romeo and Juliet’s story look like a walk in the park.”
“Yeah.” I take a seat on the bed and let out a sigh. “Do you think my dad–”
“He’ll kill both of you,” Abbie answers before I can finish the sentence. “He hates the bratva.”
My shoulders slump in defeat. “You’re right.”
“I need comfort food after today. It’s been rough,” Abbie says as she climbs to her feet. “Let’s order something and go to the waterfall.”
“I just want to change into something warmer.” I grab sweatpants and quickly pull them on before taking a jacket. “Let’s go.”
Finding my sneakers in the living room, I shove my feet into them and walk to the door. “What are you in the mood for?”
Abbie steps into the hallway and almost bumps into Instructor Nikolai, who’s walking toward his suite.
He takes one look at her blotchy face, then grabs her shoulder, and demands, “Why did you cry?”