Chapter 25 Tess
TESS
Kirill insists on carrying me all the way to his ensuite shower room, where he removes my utterly wrecked clothes, and his, and puts me under the gloriously warm water.
Within minutes of covering me with soft soapy bubbles, he’s hard again, and my curious exploration of his tattooed skin and warm muscles is enough to tempt him to have me.
This time he orders me to lean on the cool tiles, and he fucks me from behind, hands roaming from my nipples down to my clit, up to tug my hair, before finishing grasping my hips as he rams into me.
But only once I’ve come twice more, his patient fingers playing me like I was made for him.
When he stands up straight, I kiss his chest, right over his heart.
Mine.
He’s said that over and over to me, but he belongs to me too.
And it’s only once we’re both clean again a second time that he tips my chin up to make me look into his silver eyes, then blinks as though he’s read something on my face.
“Ohhh, shit.” He begins to laugh, and the delight I hear in it makes me look up into his silver eyes. “I finally got it.”
“Got what?” I’m so drunk with desire and love, I can barely think. I’ve never felt this good before in my life.
“The meaning of your wishes, Tess.” He’s grinning as he falls to one knee and surprise turns my brain to fluff.
I stare.
“You are the love of my life. You’re smart, and I adore you. The world is better for you being in it. My life is infinitely better with you in it, and I will never let you go. Marry me.”
Through the disbelief at my good luck, I realise this amazing man is proposing marriage, and my head clears just enough to have my body respond. My heart expands, lifting me until I could float away.
“You already bargained to have half my fortune and bear my child. You own every part of my bleak, dark soul. Marriage is only making it official.” Kirill has sobered, expression sincere and a little apprehensive as he takes my hand.
“I didn’t have to kidnap you, lapochka. But I needed to.
I saw you, and something clicked. I don’t usually feel anything.
I want to care for you, and have you close to me.
I long to see you flourish and achieve everything you’ve ever dreamed of.
I can’t get enough of that mind of yours.
Or your body.” He drags his eyes over my naked breasts and all the way to my feet, then back to my face. “You’re so utterly delicious.”
Bringing my palm to his lips, he presses a kiss into the centre.
I gaze down at him. Only by a little, because he’s ridiculously tall. It’s such a different view of him. He seems younger, and has a touch of vulnerability.
“I chased you that first night because letting you out of my sight and risking never seeing you again was impossible on a physical level. I didn’t make a conscious decision. My heart had already chosen you.”
“I think I’d chosen you too,” I admit.
He’s silent for a moment, and there’s just the sound of the shower beating on the tiles.
“I chased you because I want you, Tess. Because life without you looks as grey as my morality. Because you called me on my shit. Because you saw me. Giving you things you enjoy is the best form of happiness I’ve ever experienced.
I’m indifferent to the world, but you? You’re everything.
I don’t think I could give you up if I tried. ”
I open my mouth to respond, and he puts his finger over my lips. Warm. Solid. His grey eyes are serious.
“My heart was in your hands, raw, bloody, beating only for you,” he says roughly, “before I realised it wasn’t in my chest. Please be my wife.”
My heart might burst. I love this man so much. There’s no answer but to fall down into his arms, nodding, needing to get close to him to be sure this is real.
He pushes his hands into my hair, holding my head as he kisses me again, the water running over us.
“Say yes, Tess. You’re mine either way. I’ll never let you go,” he murmurs against my lips, even as he nips at me, like he might devour me whole. “Say you’ll marry me. One more favour. My final wish.”
“Yes,” I whisper back. “Always yes. Anything you want, the answer is yes.”