As he approaches me, looking bigger than a god and just as deadly, the reason behind my frozen state rushes back to me.
Did Nadia just call me his…wife?
There must be some sort of misunderstanding, because what the fuck?
My thoughts whither and vanish as he sits beside me on the mattress and wraps his arm around my waist.
The heavy weight of his hand settles on my hip, large and imposing, and effectively steals my breath.
His fingers splay out on the fabric, and even though our skin is separated by the nightgown, he might as well be touching me naked. He’s never touched me this way, and the novelty of it throws me off.
“Capt…”
I trail off when my eyes clash with the warning in his harsh ones. The intensity behind them rivals the pain in my shoulder.
“It’s only a needle.” His voice carries like warmth in the harsh winter. Deep and firm, but not as authoritative as I’m used to. Jesus. Is this an imposter or something?
“That’s what I’ve been telling her,” Nadia supplies from beside me, but I’m too focused on the captain’s face to pay attention to her.
His free hand strokes my cheek so gently and lovingly, I think I’m going to melt. “You can do this, Solnyshko.”
No.
Nope.
I must be dreaming or else…or else…Captain Kirill just called me his sun. A term of endearment that’s only used between lovers.
My jaw is about to hit the ground when he strokes my chin, subtly closing my parted lips.
The motion is fast and straightforward, but he might as well have provoked a war in my chest. The place where he touched me tingles and heats, leaving me gasping due to something a lot different than pain.
A prick swerves my attention to my arm that Nadia has successfully gotten a needle into. The sight fills my throat with nausea.
“Look at me, Solnyshko.”
As if hypnotized, I turn my head in his direction. For some reason, his icy eyes aren’t so savage anymore, but they’re still dangerous. He’s successfully hidden his nature behind the black-framed glasses, but not enough to fool me.
“It’s going to be okay,” he says in that fake softness that wrenches a shiver out of me.
What…is this? How am I supposed to stare at the captain and not think of him as my captain?
The space between my legs warms and tingles. It’s uncomfortable enough that I want to push him away and go hide somewhere.
“We’re all done.” Nadia interrupts the moment, and I blink once as I break contact with his hypnotizing eyes.
Nadia hands over my painkillers and a glass of water. “These will dull the pain. If you’re tired, sleep. My husband will be here to see you shortly.”
“Thank you, Nadia, and not only for this, but also for taking us in when we had nowhere to go,” the captain says in that weird tone. He sounds like the most eloquent gentleman, who’s impossible to resist.
“At least one of you has manners,” she says without changing her expression.
“T-thank you,” I blurt.
“Excuse my wife.” The captain tightens his hold on my waist. “She’s not usually this way, but the gunshot has flipped our world upside down.”
“I understand.” Her gaze softens before she directs it at me. “You’re lucky to have such a devoted husband, young lady. Not many would carry another person all that distance during a snowstorm.”
My lips are parted again because they said those words.Again.