Midnight Oath (Tasarov Bratva 1)

But even monsters have scars.

Slowly, I lift my left hand up and bring it to his face. His jaw tightens for a second, but it eases as I touch his cheek.

“I’m not,” I say again. “I’m not betraying you. I wouldn’t dare.”

His dark hair is silky smooth. It flows through my fingers like water, and I glide my hand down the back of his neck.

I feel like I'm being allowed to pet a dangerous beast. Like I'm in a lion's den, one wrong move away from death.

But it's exhilarating. I want more.

"Adrik." I say his name on a sigh.

He doesn't move above me. His face is distant, unreadable.

Then he closes the distance between us.

It happens in an instant. Between one blink and the next, we're kissing. Adrik's mouth is on mine, hot and fierce, and I come alive.

He's still pinning me to the floor, but I arch into him, throwing my entire self into the kiss. I've denied this for too long. I swore I didn’t want it, but my body is revealing the truth now.

With my free hand, I pull him closer. I run a hand over his sculpted shoulder. I slide my hand down his chest and feel his pulse hammering against my fingers.

I want to touch him everywhere at once.

I try to lift my other hand, but he's still holding my wrist.

“Adrik,” I moan against his mouth. “Let go.”

He pulls back and his eyes are dark again. His lips are swollen because of me. It’s a powerful feeling.

“My wrist.” I tug against his steely grip. “Let go.”

“You must think I’m stupid.”

“Are you afraid I’ll hurt you?”

He sees it for what it is immediately—a bare-faced taunt. Bait, blunt and obvious. We both know I can't imagine him being afraid of anything, least of all me.

“The real question is, kiska, are you afraid that I’ll hurt you?”

I just swore to him I wouldn’t lie. And there’s no sense in it now.

So I swallow and tell him the truth.

“I’m terrified.”

He nods and growls low in his chest, “You should be.”

His knee drops between my legs, parting me so gently I barely recognize him. He dips low, and his lips graze across my jawline, my nose. He’s everywhere and nowhere at the same time. Impossibly close, but not close enough.

“Please,” I rasp.

I can’t believe I’ve said it. I’m tempted to look around and see who spoke because it couldn’t have been me.

But there’s no one else. Just the two of us.

Adrik didn’t miss it, either. “Say it again,” he orders.

I grip his waist and try to pull him against me, but he keeps a stubborn distance between us.

“Say it,” he growls. “For once in your fucking life, follow orders.”

I roll my hips in search of that sweet friction against my aching heat, but Adrik pulls his knee away. Every time I reach for him or rise to meet him, he shifts, refusing to give me what I want. What I need.

He was serious when he told me I’d beg him for his cock.

I despise that. I want to prove him wrong. I want to be strong enough to walk away from him…

But it’s been so long since I felt good. So long since I’ve been touched and experienced anything but revulsion or fear.

So right now, I want to chase this feeling.

I need it.

“Please,” I whine. “Please, Adrik. Touch me.”

His knee moves back between my legs, and he rocks it against me exactly where I need it. I whimper with relief. I’m like a starving animal, clawing at him. But I don’t even have it in me to be embarrassed. That’ll come later, I’m sure, but right now is pure need.