Total pages in book: 148
Estimated words: 147734 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 739(@200wpm)___ 591(@250wpm)___ 492(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 147734 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 739(@200wpm)___ 591(@250wpm)___ 492(@300wpm)
“I said no.”
His refusal doesn’t hit as hard this time—probably because even he can feel the damn draft sneaking through the branches he jammed across the entrance.
The place is freezing, the floor slick and clammy, and it’s only going to get worse once night really digs its claws in. My skin’s on fire, burning with fever, but the cave remains mercilessly frigid.
“All righty then, let’s both die of hypothermia. I wouldn’t say it was nice knowing you.” I start to scoot back into my position against the wall, my arms clenched around my ribs as if that’ll quell the fire burning beneath the stitches.
A long, exasperated sigh spills from Vaughn as he stands up.
Footsteps crunch in the silence, and I hear the shift of his weight as he lowers himself behind me.
I stiffen.
“Whoa, hold up. What are you—”
“Shut up. You’re the one who wanted to hug.”
“I didn’t want to hug. I wanted body warmth.”
He says nothing as his legs press against mine that are bent at the knees, then he shifts until his chest is glued to my back.
A zap of electricity jolts through me, similar to but more potent than when he touched my chest earlier at camp.
This time, it burns more than my wound.
It’s suffocating, actually.
I can’t breathe.
Fuck, I can’t breathe.
It’s the injury. Please tell me it’s the fucking injury, brain.
His arms curl around my front—just above my stitched side, carefully and deliberately avoiding it.
I suck in a sharp breath and jerk forward. I don’t mean it, but this closeness sends a rush of blood to my groin and my head, and I kind of blank out.
“You’re burning up,” he speaks so close to my ear, a shiver zaps down my spine, and the hairs on my arms stand on end.
I’m truly fucked, aren’t I?
“We only had that one shot of antibiotic, but I’ll give you more ibuprofen.”
I make an affirmative sound because, really, that’s the only sound I can make under the circumstances.
He moves and hands me two pills that I swallow with some water, then he’s back behind me in the same position.
His heartbeat knocks slow and steady against my spine, and I track it like a countdown, registering each thump as if my life depends on it.
Must be nice to be so calm. I think my own heart is sort of shoving itself against Vaughn’s palms like a slut.
Jesus Christ.
My fingers twitch. My breath catches. My whole body aches, but it’s not due to the wound.
No.
This is much more serious than a hole in my side.
I want him gone.
No. I want him closer.
“Let’s continue the questions.” His voice drifts calmly in the silence, sounding so fucking close to my ear, my head, and my thumping chest. “Is it my turn?”
“Mmm,” I say, because fucking hell I can’t even think past the feel of his chest against my back and his hands on my pectoral muscles and his legs rubbing against mine, let alone some stupid questions.
“Why did you take a bullet for me, Yulian?”
I shrug. “Because.”
“That’s not a reason.”
I don’t have another to offer, and I seriously don’t even want to think about it at this moment, so I just remain silent.
“Since you didn’t answer that question, I’ll ask another one.”
“Whatever.
“What do you plan to be when you grow up?”
“Huh?”
“I’ll go first,” he says. “I want to inherit my dad’s position and continue his and Mom’s legacy. I want to give them back a fraction of what they’ve given me and make them proud of how I take our Bratva to the next level. I’ll be the strongest, most educated, and best strategizing genius our world has ever known. After Dad, of course.”
I gulp because the whole time he was talking, his chest was vibrating against my back, and I kind of need to stop myself from getting hard, because I’m so close to embarrassing myself.
“What about you?” he asks when I remain silent, looking straight down and not daring to even peek sideways.
I, Yulian Dimitriev, who fucks around for breakfast, is absolutely terrified of Vaughn seeing the look in my eyes right now.
Cy would have a field day with this, record it, and show it to my goddamn grandchildren.
I clear my throat. “I’ll take over fucking Chicago and become so powerful, no one would dare to fuck with me, Mom, or Alya. I’ll be their shield even if it’s the last thing I do.”
“Hmm. That’s nice.” He sounds a bit sleepy. “I have so many people to protect, too. Mom, Dad, Lidya, my family’s legacy…”
He trails off, his head falling against my shoulder.
I hold my breath, willing my heart to stop beating so loudly.
He’ll definitely feel it against his palms and ridicule me…
“We should help each other out when we’re older, Yulian. We could make a great team. You can be the muscle, and I’ll be the brains…”