Chapter 9
Katya woke to the sound of a door closing. The water had grown cold around her. Exhaustion and the warm water had lulled her to sleep in the enormous tub.
“Katya?” Matias called out from the bedroom.
Katya pushed herself up just as he pushed open the door. She covered herself with her arms, trying to hide her nakedness. “Shit, I’m sorry. I called your name. Did you fall asleep in the tub?”
“Um…” She grabbed the towel nearby and pulled it into the water with her. “Yes. Can you give me a minute? I’ll be right out.”
Matias stepped out, leaving the door slightly ajar.
Katya released the plug and stood. She wrung the towel out and tossed it into the sink.
Grabbing a dry one, she wiped the water from her skin and wrapped it around her body.
Stepping out into the bedroom, she was surprised to see Matias propped on the bed.
He had his head down and his arms resting on his legs.
Hearing the door shut, his eyes snapped up to hers.
“Are you alright?”
“Yes. I just dozed off for a bit. I guess I was more tired than I realized.”
“You had me worried.”
Katya fidgeted, the towel brushing against her bare legs.
Matias couldn’t stop his eyes from tracing the edge of the towel up to her face.
He held her gaze until he couldn’t take it anymore.
He rose to his feet with a predatory look in his eyes—a look that was both dangerous and seductive.
Katya stiffened as he walked toward her.
“What are you doing?”
“Something I’ve wanted to do for a while.
” He fisted her hair and pulled her lips to his.
His beard brushed against her skin, eliciting a moan to escape her throat.
His mouth was like heaven against hers. His tongue dominating her in ways she’d never experienced before.
Matias let his hand drift down her side and slide to her backside.
He cupped her ass in his hand and pulled her body against his.
Katya squeaked when her belly made contact with the obvious arousal he had for her. She was on her tiptoes, letting him ravish her mouth with his. Their height difference made the stance awkward, but Matias held firm as he kissed the shit out of her.
The vibration of his phone against her thigh made her giggle against his lips. Breaking apart, Matias kept his hand on her back.
“This better is good,” he barked into the phone.
“Sorry to interrupt, but we have one of Jorge’s men. We thought you’d want to talk to him.” Bastian waited for a reply.
“I’ll be there in fifteen minutes.”
Matias ended the call and slipped the phone back into his pocket. His fingers dug into Katya’s flesh as he walked her backward until her backside hit the wall.
He ground his erection into her belly as he pressed a kiss to her lips. “When I come back, we’ll finish this discussion.”
“This feels like more than a discussion, Matias.”
“I’m tired of fighting this attraction between us, Katya. Tell me you don’t want me, and I won’t touch you again.”
“I can’t do that.”
Matias growled and lifted her off the floor. Her legs wrapped around his waist as he fisted her hair. “You drive me fucking crazy.”
Their mouths met in a frenzy as Matias pressed himself between her legs.
Even through his clothes, he could feel the heat of her center against him.
“As much as I don’t want to, I have to go.
Stay in my room, I want you in my bed when I return.
It’s time I make you mine.” He dropped her to her feet and pressed a kiss to her forehead before opening the door to leave.
“If you aren’t in my room when I return, I’ll understand.
I know Dmitri is your father and this might be too much for you.
But know this, Katya. I take care of what is mine.
If you say yes to me,” he said, holding her gaze, “you’ll never have to worry again. ”
Katya clutched the towel’s fabric against her skin and watched as the door slammed shut.
He was right. This wouldn’t be an easy road if she took it.
She ran her fingers across her swollen lips and closed her eyes.
Katya could still taste him. The feel of his body against hers still permeated her brain, making her want more.
The moment her father sold her to another man, Katya knew there would never be a happy father-daughter reunion, but giving into her heart meant walking away from the only blood relative she had left.
Was losing her father worth the risk? Should she take a chance on a man capable of destroying her even more than her own flesh and blood?
Katya walked to the bed and pulled the covers down.
She stared at the space for a long time before finally dropping the towel and crawling in.
Her life had been controlled by the one person who was supposed to protect her from evil.
Instead of protecting her, he fed her to the wolves for his own gain.
It was time to let go of her past and give into what she wanted—maybe it was time to let a wolf protect her instead.