Chapter 35 #2
My grin widens. Yeah, I’d have been disappointed if she’d done anything else. I reach out and grip her hips, and I see the slightest tilt of her lips. “I can do a lot in ten minutes, orsetta.”
“Ilya would probably shoot you.” But she doesn’t look concerned about that possibility.
“You’d protect me, wouldn’t you, orsetta?
Especially if I laid you back and licked that pretty pussy so nicely, wouldn’t you?
Making you come on my tongue and fingers.
” I slide my hands slowly down the outside of her thighs, before gripping her and pulling them wider. She doesn’t fight me, just watching me.
“Are you trying to sex your way into my good graces again, Goliath?” she finally asks.
Elation fills me, but I’m careful not to let it show. She called me that during our little tryst in the woods, but this, this feels more significant. One more brick of her wall falling. “Is it working?” I ask, leaning forward to press my mouth to the skin just above her exposed collarbone.
Goose bumps pebble her skin. “Perhaps. Though the rose you left on my pillow certainly helps your case today.”
Wait, what?
I pull back and look at her, arching a brow, confused.
She gives me a careless shrug, but I see the softness in her eyes.
“I don’t know how you knew I liked roses, but it was still sweet, even if you didn’t.
And if you tell anyone that I’m a sucker for flowers, I’m going to have to kill you.
” It’s said lightly, almost teasing, but I’m not laughing.
I can see the moment she registers my expression. I stare at her, fear and jealousy warring. “I didn’t leave you a flower, Aurora.” But I fucking should have. Another failure on my part if I’d have given it an ounce of thought.
Last night was emotional for both of us, but especially her. I should have realized that dealing with all of that might make her feel vulnerable. I should have taken the time to think about what that meant to her and not jumped out of bed, annoyed that she snuck out without waking me.
Now, however, knowing that someone got that close, got into her space without anyone knowing, or tipping her off, infuriates me.
Rori’s face doesn’t fall, but it tightens. She eases away from me, and I let her go, even though I want to snatch her back as she moves from the desk to the windows behind me.
Who the fuck was in her room? And what kind of message were they trying to deliver?
I turn to look at her. “I’ll have Ilya and Zakhar pull the footage.
It was probably Simeon trying to be romantic or some bullshit to make you think he wants you as his fiancée.
A way to convince you to play his idiotic game.
” And I’m going to punch that fucker in the face again for even trying to attempt it.
Rori is mine. The only one who will be giving her flowers from now on will be me.
Something crosses over her face and I instantly recognize it. Grief. Sharp, clear. I get to my feet, needing to be close to her. To offer some kind of comfort. “What is it, orsetta?” I wrap my arm around her, pulling her back into me.
She doesn’t fight me, instead leaning her head back against my chest. “If it wasn’t you, it was a cruel statement by Simeon.
Mishka used to leave flowers for me everywhere.
” My grip tightens on her as I try to deal with my jealousy of a dead man.
Even now, years later, she loves him. And what kind of an asshole am I to hate a man that’s lying six feet down?
“Always roses?” I force myself to ask. I need to push these emotions aside. This is about Rori. About helping her past whatever demons are rolling around in her mind.
“Not always, but mostly the majority of the time when he found out they’re my favorite flower.
I like all the colors, but especially the red.
Timur used to get so disgusted with Mishka for giving them to me, but it was mostly to cheer me up, knowing I was struggling being in that house.
Or it was just his way of letting me know he was thinking of me. ”
“He loved you.” Fucker.
“I loved him too, but neither of us loved each other in a romantic sense. I saw him as a best friend, and someone who understood me. Saw me struggling in the real world and not in a regimented torturous school. And I saw a man that was trying to live up to his father’s impossible standards to protect his older brother that was going to be the heir.
It pissed me off to see him struggle all the time, but we had each other and we agreed we’d see each other through it. ”
Another wave of grief slices across her expression. I tighten my hold on her and lean down to press a kiss to the top of her head. “And then he was gone and you had to figure it out on your own,” I finish, understanding.
She nods. “It’s why I struggled so much until Timur let me leave.
I was of no use to him, and he didn’t want to continue to see me moping.
I’m still not sure what convinced him not to send me back to my father for re-training or just to get rid of me, but it let me live.
It led me to Sienna.” A deep breath. “And you. Even if you have been a pain in the ass.”
I chuckle. “And you love it, orsetta. You’d be bored to tears with someone that didn’t challenge you and didn’t piss you off on a daily basis.” I nip at the top of her ear, making her hiss and tilt her head to glare up at me. “You never have to worry about that with me.”
“I have to worry about wanting to shoot you and feed you to my dog,” she agrees drily.
“See? You’ll never be bored.”
She sighs. “Alonzo, I don’t know if we—”
“Do all that shit later,” Ilya barks sharply behind us as the door flies open. “We’ve got a problem.”
I want to growl at him to handle it, but I force myself to pull away from Rori. She shoots me a knowing look, like she didn’t want it to end either, and it soothes some of the annoyance.
Before I can demand to know what the hell is going on, my phone buzzes. I check it quickly, stiffening when I see the message. Rori arches a brow at me in question and I turn my phone toward her.
Urso: Get ready. You’ve got a convoy heading your way. Half an hour tops.
“Shit,” I mutter.
“Let them come,” Rori says, voice cold, sharp. She looks at Ilya. “Where’s Simeon?”
“In his room. Freya and Oleg are watching him to make sure he doesn’t try anything.”
“Get them all down here. It’s time to see just how much Timur cares about his son. And we need to be ready. That convoy coming is Timur and probably my father, but whoever the new replacement is is possibly with them, but most likely already here or close by.”
He nods, his expression grim. “What do you need?”
“Guns, ammo, and any surprises you have. We’re going to need them all.” She looks up at me. “Last chance to bow out, Goliath.”
“I’m not leaving you, orsetta. Ever.” I stare down into her eyes. Needing her to believe me. And I don’t just mean this moment, even if she wants to pretend otherwise.
I see the moment she accepts it. “Then you better not die on me, Goliath.”
“I’ll do my best, orsetta. Not when I have you to live for.” Her eyes burn into mine, and she swiftly grabs the back of my neck and hauls me down to kiss me hard.
“I forgive you, Alonzo,” she murmurs when she pulls away. “We survive this, and we’ll figure out what happens next.”
“Then that’s all I need to make sure I keep on living, Aurora. I love you, orsetta.” Then to lighten the emotional intensity, I grin at her. “And if you get yourself hurt, I’ve got some creative punishments coming your way.”
Her laugh is sultry, making my cock harden. Fuck, definitely not the time. “I’ll hold you to that, Goliath.” She pulls away and we turn to look at Ilya. I try not to let the fact that she hasn’t told me she loves me back irritate me. We’ll have the time to get to that. I’m sure of it.
“You two done all your bullshit now? Not like we don’t have a fucking fight to win,” he sneers, grabbing a gun from his desk drawer.
“You really should get laid, Romanov,” Rori replies drily. “Might make things a little less dire for you.”
He ignores her and we head for the door. Rori whistles for Hades, and I call Titus to meet us. I just hope we’re ready for this fight.
I have too much riding on winning it to lose. Aurora O’Brien is finally mine, and nothing short of death will stop me from bringing her home. And this time, it’s a home that will welcome her with open arms.