Claim

He gave her ass another squeeze and stepped away, his expression suddenly serious. “Full disclosure: I didn’t just come to see how the wedding preparations were coming.”

Nervousness thrummed in her stomach. “Okay.”

He dragged one hand across his face and sighed. “I came to ask you again if you’ll consider putting off the wedding and leaving town until we settle the situation with Ivan and Russia.”

“My answer is the same,” she said.

They’d already discussed the possibility of her going into hiding, and she’d flatly refused. Nothing had changed. Her place was still by Lyon’s side.

“You’re being stubborn,” he said. “It will be safest for you.” He walked toward her and put his hand on her stomach. “For the baby.”

“Don’t you dare use our child as an excuse to make me leave,” she snapped. She took a deep breath. “Not when we’re bringing that child into a life that will always be dangerous. I’m not going to pack up our son or daughter and leave town every time there’s danger in the air.”

“I’m not asking you to do that,” he said. “Ivan — ”

“Ivan will be dead the night before the wedding,” she said.

“That doesn’t mean the danger will be behind us, Kira.”

“I’m aware of that,” she said. “I was born into the bratva. I know how it works. The odds of our safety will never be zero, but if we aren’t protected when surrounded by the most dangerous men in the city, men loyal to you, when will we be protected?”

His face had turned stony, and she could tell he was growing impatient. “I need to know you will obey me in these matters.”

Her mouth dropped open. “Obey?” Lyon hadn’t pulled rank on her since they’d reconciled, and she chafed against the confines of the word.

“Yes, obey,” he snapped. His eyes had turned to amber fire, and she sensed the moment getting away from them, their old adversarial relationship rearing its head.

It wasn’t what she wanted. Not ever again.

She dropped to her knees in front of him and watched his expression turn from angry to surprised.

“What are you doing? Get off the floor, Kira.”

“You said you would only get on your knees for me,” she said, looking up at him. She reached for his belt. “Well, I’ll get on my knees for you too. But only like this.”

“Stop it.” He grabbed her wrists and tried to force her to her feet, but she resisted, unfastening his belt and working the zipper on his pants.

“If you want me on my knees, it will only be like this.” She removed his cock, already hardening and lengthening, from his pants. “I’ll take you in my mouth. I’ll let you fuck me from behind. I’ll obey. But everywhere else, I stand by your side or not at all.”

He opened his mouth to respond, then groaned when she wrapped her hand around his shaft and started to stroke him.

“Let me show you.”