Chapter 11 - Avraam
I eat quietly, struggling not to look at her.
Her gentle reaction to my story shocked me and caught me off guard.
The way she held me—I felt incredible warmth—but then mild panic and I had to force myself to move away from her.
I don’t show people that side of myself. Any sign of weakness is a death sentence in my business. I don’t show emotions or share secrets. Everything eventually gets used against you.
So why did I open up to her like that?
She makes small talk for the rest of dinner and I nod, commenting here and there, but still surprised by how she made me feel.
After dinner, I tell her I’m tired and that I’m going straight to bed.
I hurry upstairs and after a really hot shower, I climb into bed. She comes into the room, gathering her sleeping shorts and the oversized t-shirt and carrying them into the bathroom.
My heart is beating too fast.
I don’t know what the hell is going on with me.
I hear the shower go on and smell the sweet scent of her body wash.
The bedroom lights are off and after finishing in the bathroom, she moves in the dark, climbing beneath the covers and lying down next to me.
Quiet, heavy silence floats between us.
There are so many thoughts on my mind that I want to share with her, but I know I can’t.
It’s so strange to be sharing a bed with someone you don’t know but you feel so connected to.
I close my eyes, trying to force sleep to steal me away.
Her breathing changes and becomes deeper and slower. She is asleep long before I am.
At least she isn’t struggling as much as she was when I locked her up in the other room. She hasn’t been difficult or caused any other trouble either—so far. I still need to stay alert, though. She is still my prisoner. I can’t forget that. Even though she doesn’t feel like a prisoner to me at all. This connection between us is intense.
I have to get some rest or I’m going to be a mess tomorrow.
Shutting my eyes, I press the pillow over my face, trying to block out her presence next to me.
***
Warm morning sunshine streaks across my pillow and warms my cheek. I blink my eyes open slowly, enjoying the natural light and how it pulls me slowly from my dreams. I’m lying on my back and Ruslana is right up against me.
Her legs are tangled in mine, draped over my hips, and her arm is wrapped around my waist while her head is resting on my chest.
Every inch of my body becomes hyper-aware of her being this close to me. Desire floods through me and my cock grows hard, throbbing with need.
I squeeze my eyes shut in frustration. I need to get away from her before she wakes up and finds me in this state.
But she is all over me. My arm is beneath her and every move I make is a risk.
After a moment, I realize that I just need to try—I pull my arm away slightly and she stirs.
Her eyes flutter open, looking right up at me.
My heart constricts. Her eyes are gorgeous.
Her lips part and she takes in a sharp breath.
Her leg is over my waist and I know she can instantly feel my cock, rigid against her—my reaction to her.
I wait for her to move away in horror, but she doesn’t. She just continues to look at me, her fingertips moving against my skin.
The tension between us becomes electrified.
Reaching out, I brush her hair away from her face, my hand remains against her cheek, tracing the delicate line of her face—then I cup my hand around her jaw and lean close to kiss her.
It just happens.
Everything in my mind tells me to stop, but my body is in control.
She is too beautiful to resist.
She moves so that she is on top of me, her legs wrapped around my hips. I grab her face in both hands and deepen the kiss and she rocks her hips over me.
My cock is so hard it’s almost painful. I want her more than I have ever wanted anything in my life.
I roll her off me, onto her back, propped on my elbow with my arm around her, I pull her close and drift my hand over her body. She arches her back, moving against my touch. Her body is magnificent and watching her move as I caress her I know—I won’t be able to stop this time.
It’s been building up too long and I can see that she wants this as badly as I do.
She lifts her face towards mine and presses her mouth over mine again. Kissing me while my hands drift over her waist, down her body, sliding beneath her shorts.
She gasps and moans against my mouth, encouraging me—but when my fingers brush over her panties, she seems to go rigid and tense.
I pause, pulling away from her slightly and looking into her eyes to try and read her expression.
“What’s wrong?” I ask, confused because everything about her body language told me that she wanted this.
“Nothing—I just—,“ she bites her lip. I knot my brows, feeling the tension grow.
“What is it, Ruslana?” I ask again, with more force.
“I’ve never done this before,” she blurts out.
Shock steals my words.
I hesitate, unsure what to do.
“You’ve never—are you a virgin?” I ask, my brows raised high.
She nods, biting her lip again.
I open my mouth, but I have no idea what to say.
I thought she was experienced.
The way she acts, she comes across as confident, flirtatious and comfortable. I can barely believe what she’s just told me.
I shift away from her.
I can’t carry on—not knowing that.
As much as I desperately want to be with her—there is no chance in hell that I would ever violate her in that way.
She is a tool that I want to use for business—but not like that.
Not a fucking chance.
I clench my jaw, frustrated to hell and back, as I roll off the bed and sit on the edge for a moment with my head in my hands.
She sits up, sighing softly.
“You should have told me sooner,” I say.
“I’m sorry,” she mutters nervously.
Standing up, I turn to face her. She looks beautiful, demure, pulling the covers up protectively over herself.
I can’t believe I didn’t see it before. The innocence in her. I just assumed and I assumed wrong.
“Nothing will happen between us, Ruslana. I promise you that,”
I say, trying to reassure her that she is safe. That is not why I brought her here and I won’t subject her to anything like that.
She doesn’t have to do things she doesn’t want to do just because she is my prisoner.
She knots her brows and looks away from me. “Ok,” she whispers.
I feel terrible that I almost took that choice from her.
In that moment, I realize that Ruslana is very good at putting on a brave face. She puts on a front—one that makes her look confident and versed. But she isn’t really like that. I don’t know exactly what she is like—but that must be some kind of defensive act of defiance. Trying to appear to be strong and capable.
She is just a girl.
Someone that I need to protect, not harm.
In my heart, I can’t help but think that if someone took my sister, I would want to kill them. I have to respect her and treat her gently, regardless of the business plan and the issues I have against her brothers—I can still have respect for Ruslana.
With one last look at her, and my body filled with desire, I turn away from her watchful eyes and start getting ready for the day.
She sits quietly on the bed, not moving or speaking until I’m done. She looks upset, but I can’t figure out why. She should be happy that I didn’t force anything on her or make her do something that she would regret.
The air in the room feels heavy and uncomfortable. I don’t want to leave her like that—so I pause in the doorway, sighing softly.
“I’ll see you later on this evening, Ruslana.”
She smiles, tight and insecure. “Ok. I hope you have a good day,” she replies. She’s clutching the blanket against her body as though it was providing security.
I can’t believe I was so wrong about her all this time.
I’m seeing her from a completely new perspective.
One that, unfortunately, makes me want her even more.