Total pages in book: 71
Estimated words: 66833 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 334(@200wpm)___ 267(@250wpm)___ 223(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 66833 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 334(@200wpm)___ 267(@250wpm)___ 223(@300wpm)
Nor are they sad ones.
I can’t make sense of the way I’m feeling.
All I know is that Alexei wraps his strong arms around me and presses me so tightly against his chest that his heartbeat is a violent thunderstorm in my ear, his breath ragged gusts of wind on the top of my shorn skull.
Whatever my husband is feeling, I doubt it’s as simple and straightforward as relief either.
Distantly, I’m aware of the doctor clearing his throat once, twice. When I reluctantly pull away from Alexei and give Fasseau my attention, his expression is somber again. And oddly sympathetic.
“If I might make a suggestion,” he says gently. “You’ve been through a lot, Mrs. Leonov. With a diagnosis like yours, therapy is often highly beneficial.” He glances cautiously at Alexei before adding, “Possibly for the both of you.”
Therapy. I’d tried that once, and—I steal a look at Alexei, whose face might as well be carved from stone—it didn’t exactly go well. But everything was different then.
I was different.
I don’t know this new person who looks at me from the mirror, irrationally proud of the stubble on her head. Nor do I understand why, where there should be relief, there’s only a growing sense of impending doom, a dread so deep that no amount of good news can obliterate it.
Maybe something went wrong during the surgery, and they cut off some crucial portion of my brain.
Or maybe therapy is a good idea.
“We’ll look into it,” Alexei says in a clipped tone, and I wonder if he means it.
Does he really want me dissecting our complicated relationship with a total stranger?
“So what are the next steps?” Alexei asks before I can do so. “Is Alina done with treatment?”
“With the active portion of it, yes.” Fasseau shifts his gaze to me. “We’ll continue to monitor you closely, Mrs. Leonov, but there’s no longer any need for you to reside at the clinic, as long as you’re able to come in for important scans.”
“That won’t be a problem,” Alexei says. “Just let us know when, and we’ll be here.”
The doctor beams again. “Sounds good. Congratulations to you both.”
With that, he departs, leaving us alone to process the news he’s delivered.
Alexei grips my arm and turns me to face him. His face is taut, his eyes glittering once more. “Fuck, Alinyonok. You did it. You beat this thing.”
Did I? It doesn’t feel like it. But I nod anyway because that’s what the doctor said. I have no reason not to believe him, especially since I am feeling better. Stronger.
Physically, at least.
Alexei pulls me into another long, fierce hug. Before I can recover my breath, he cradles my face in his palms and, for the first time in weeks, kisses me with such unabashed hunger that I forget I’ve ever been ill. My entire body ignites, each cell coming back to life with a furious need that heats my skin and sends my heart racing. Panting, I cling to him, gripping his shirt in my fists as he bends me over his arm, devouring my mouth with a ravenousness that leaves no doubt of his intentions.
Finally, after treating me like a priceless glass figurine for so long, he’ll fuck me hard, and I will enjoy every bit of it.
I’m honest enough with myself to admit that.
Except… he doesn’t fuck me. Hard or otherwise. Breathing raggedly, he ends the kiss and, holding my hips to steady me, steps back. Then he releases me and takes another step back, putting more distance between us.
I stare at him as he shoves his fingers through his dark hair, agitated.
What the fuck just happened?
Did he not like kissing me?
“We should get you ready to go.” His voice is strained as he drops his hand. “I’ll make the arrangements with my security team.”
And just like that, he’s gone.
Chapter 15
Alina
Within an hour, I’m hustled out of the clinic and across the street to Alexei’s penthouse. Guards surround us as we make the short trip—way too many guards, and they don’t even bother to stay out of sight.
What is Alexei afraid of? That I’ll make a run for it the moment I’m out on the street? Or that my brothers will swoop in to snatch me away for good?
The latter is an actual possibility, to be fair. Though… if he doesn’t want me anymore, shouldn’t he be glad to be rid of me?
I steal a glance at his tense features as we ride the elevator up to the penthouse.
Does Alexei still want me? Could I have misread the way he pulled away after that kiss? We haven’t had sex since before my escape, but I thought that was due to my state after the surgery and during the treatment. But maybe it was because he was starting to grow cold on me? Then again, if that were the case, why would he take care of me with such dedication? Out of some misguided sense of duty? Or is he feeling guilty for stalking me all those years?