Take Me Under (The Bratva Chronicles 2)

His orgasm was fierce, taking his breath away and nearly stopping his heart. When he was able to focus again, he started to pull out of her. He could have stayed inside of her all night. He looked down and saw his cum starting to slip from her pussy.

That was hot as hell.

Breathing hard and feeling sated, he collapsed on the bed beside her. He needed her right up against him, so Yvgeny pulled her close.

She was relaxed, and he was proud he was the one to bring that out in her.

Before Alexa, Yvgeny had never known what living could really be like. It was the light she brought to his darkness that made him whole.

It was the fact she didn’t want him to change that told him the power of love.

And it was the fact she knew his faults, but held him tighter, that let Yvgeny know this world meant nothing without her.

She was it for him.

He’d die for her, kill for her, and there was nothing in this world, not even the darkness that he surrounded himself with, that would ever rip her from his life.

He’d already proved the lengths he’d go to make her safe, and he’d do that ten times over to make sure she knew she was his.

“It’s always been you, Alexa,” he whispered against the side of her head as she lay beside him. He pulled her in close, cupped the back of her head, and kept her so close to his body it was as if they were one. With others, he was ruthless, a tyrant when needed, and would kill without empathy.

But with Alexa, he could give her that gentleness and softness that was lacking in his life.

But only with her.

“Yvgeny,” she whispered in a sleepy tone, and he pulled back to look down at her face. Her eyes were still closed, but after a second, she slowly opened them.

“What is it, Zvyozdochka?” He tucked a stray piece of hair behind her ear.

“You’re happy?” She sounded so hesitant that he wanted to kiss her until she realized how foolish that question was.

“More than you’ll ever know.”

She smiled, and this nervousness started to cover her like a second skin. She bit her lip, ran her hands over her legs, and stared at him with wide eyes.

“What is it?” He was becoming alert, the very thought that something could be wrong raising his protective side. “You’re okay? You’re hurt?”

She shook her head and smoothed her hand over his chest, tracing his tattoos for long seconds. “I’m fine, but…” She dragged that last word out until he felt his heart stop in his chest. “I wanted to make sure you’re happy, that this is what you want … with me.”

He rose up, not sure where this was coming from. She sat up as well, and he brought the blanket around her nude body. “What’s this all about? Are you happy?” This whole time he’d been worried about someone else trying to take Alexa from him, whether that be from his life or fate. But he’d never thought maybe she’d be unhappy. He didn’t want that. Yvgeny wanted to make sure she was good in this life, with him.

“I—”

“Because if you’re not happy, tell me, and I’ll make it right.” Shit, in all his life Yvgeny never thought he’d be willing to do anything, come hell or high water, to be with a woman. But Alexa wasn’t just a woman. She was his, the light of his life, and he’d do whatever it took to make this work.

Because not having her in his life wasn’t an option. He cupped her face, about to fucking give her the world if that’s what she wanted, but when she placed her hands over his and smiled, he knew things weren’t as bad as he was envisioning.

“I’m happy. You make me happy. Despite the danger I know surrounds you, this is the life I want, Yvgeny.”

The weight of the fucking universe fell off of his shoulders at her words.

The silence stretched on for long seconds, and finally when she exhaled and closed her eyes, he knew she was ready to tell him whatever was on her mind. He let go of her face, and she grabbed his hand and placed it right on her belly.

His heart fucking jumped into his throat.

He wasn’t a fucking idiot. He knew what she was saying without actually verbally expressing the words.

“Alex…” His words got caught in his throat.

“You’re going to be a father, Yvgeny.”

He gently curled his fingers against her belly.

“Are you ready for that?” She sounded so damn worried. He pulled her into the hardness of his body, buried his face in her hair, and inhaled deeply. “I’m more than ready, Zvyozdochka.”

It was one of those moments he’d never seen happening in his life. If he thought he was protective of Alexa before, he knew he hadn’t felt anything yet. This was his woman—his pregnant woman. He felt that surge wash through him so powerfully, so intensely, he knew there was nothing that could compare.