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protect me. I don't have an army of street-smart soldiers to back me up and keep you
safe."
Her concern touched him so deeply. "I can take care of myself."
"You don t always have to do everything alone."
"I'm not doing it alone. I have Kostya and Sergei and the others."
She gulped nervously. "And me? Where do I fit in to your life?"
Grasping the chance to show Vivian exactly what he wanted with her, he slid his arms
around her waist and tugged her close. "You fit right here."
Like a teenager with his first girl, Nikolai's fingers trembled slightly as excitement and
anxiety rippled through his core. He caressed her cheek and slid his hand along the nape
of her neck. Cupping the back of her head, he lowered his mouth to hers.
He took his time, teasingly dipping his head until their lips were mere centimeters
apart. Their excited breaths mingled as the moment they'd both desired for so long finally
arrived. Heart racing and stomach pitching, he pressed his lips to hers in a chaste,
innocent kiss.
Her hands flew to his arms as if she needed to steady herself. His hand drifted along
the side of her neck, sliding across that spot where her pulse beat so quickly. Desperate
for more of her, he flicked his tongue against the seam of her mouth and silently asked
for permission to enter.
As her lips parted, Vivian made a whimpering, kittenish sound that God help him
traveled straight to his cock. Rock-hard and aching, he stabbed his tongue between her
lips and tasted the minty hint of her toothpaste. He warred with himself for control as he
devoured her sweet mouth, gliding his tongue against hers in the same way he wanted to
sink into her hot willing flesh. The knowledge that his bed was only a few feet away
tempted him greatly.
But he mastered his desires and forced them into submission. Vivian deserved so
much better than a rough, frantic fuck while his house teemed with police and lawyers
and his soldiers.
He eased off the intensity and drew their wickedly sensual kisses to a slow stop.
Shuddering in his arms, she pressed her cheek to his chest. He lowered his lips to the
crown of her head and held her.
When she spoke, her voice was husky and filled with determination. "We can't go back
to the way it was, Kolya. You can't push me away. If we're going to get through this, we
need each other."
"I'm done playing that game."
"Good." With a steady inhale, she straightened and stepped out of his embrace. "We
should go down and face the police now. Better to get it over with, you know?"
"I want you to eat first. Your priest is here. You should let him counsel you." Nikolai
felt awkward discussing matters of faith. "I m sure he'll know the right things to say to
help you. You can speak with my lawyer and your cousin while you have breakfast. The
detectives can wait."
"They're busy people "
"Who can reschedule if they're in that big of a rush," he interjected. "You've been
through hell and need to rest. The doctor gave me strict instructions about your fluid and
food intake. If you don't take the time to recover, you'll end up in the hospital."
"And you?" She gently rubbed his chest. "You suffered more injuries than me. You
need to rest. You need to recuperate."
"I've survived worse."
"I don't find that comforting."
Certain she wasn't going to let it go, he promised, "I'll try to take it easy tonight."
When one of her delicately shaped eyebrows arched, he quickly amended, "I will take it
easy tonight."
Seeming satisfied with his promise, she let her hand drop from his chest. He touched
the small of her back and guided her toward the door. As they drew close, she started to
resist. Suddenly anxious, she asked, "What am I supposed to say?"
"The truth," he said simply. "You should tell them absolutely everything that
happened until the moment we rescued you. We want them to find those other women
who were taken and trafficked. You have to give them all the help you can because
they're going to need it."
"I do want to help those girls." She looked so sad. "I think you might be better
equipped for that one. You and Eric found me in that warehouse before the police did."
"We have better contacts."
"Funny," she said rather dryly. "What do I say about the doctor?"
"You tell them that we had a family doctor visit you here."
"A family doctor?"
"Do you know Dr. Moscowitz?" He named one of Samovar's regular visitors.
"Nikolai, he's, like, ninety years old and hasn't practiced medicine since the fall of the
Berlin Wall. Does he even have a medical license?"
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