“I—” I closed my mouth and took a deep breath. “I said I love you.”
The last word was said in a whisper. But I knew he heard me.
“Fuck.”
He closed his eyes, his face contorted like he was in pain.
Of all the reactions I expected—joy, sadness, and even rejection—Nikolay in pain was not one of them.
When he opened his eyes, there was something animated in them.
Something dangerous.
He was going to detonate.
I tried to move away, but he seemed to come back to himself.
A small squeak of surprise came out of me when he bent down and moved his lips gently across the white gauze, kissing my wound.
“N-Nikolay?”
“Say my name again,” he murmured, his hand gliding to my middle, his finger drawing indistinguishable shapes across the skin there. “Please. Catalina. Say my name again.”
I took a deep breath.
“Nikolay,” I said, my voice coming out stronger. My fingers sifted through his brown locks, feeling the softness of his hair. “Nikolay.”
“Fuck,” he whispered against my skin. “Fuck.”
The words seemed to be choked out of him.
He sat up. I jumped back a little in surprise, but he stopped me, cupping my shoulders in two big hands.
“You are never to do that again. Do you understand me? When you see danger, the only thing I’d better fucking see you do is haul your cute ass out of there. You get me?”
I stared at him in shock before my lips twitched. “Cute?”
He shook me a little. “Out of all the things I said, you choose to focus on that?”
I shrugged.
He tightened his grip around me a fraction. “This is serious, Catalina. Promise me? When faced with danger—and trust me, being with men like us, there will be many times you’ll face danger—” He leaned close to me until I could see the hint of golden flecks reflected in his eyes from the light. “You run.”
I scowled and shook my head.
His eyes narrowed. “I’m serious, princess. You ever put yourself in danger, especially for one of us, ever again, and I’ll fucking spank you until you beg me brokenly to stop—and maybe not even then.”
I shrugged off his hold. “Then spank me.”
He closed his eyes, shaking his head a little. “You’re so fucking lucky you’re injured. Or I would show you what happens when you test a man like me.”
It was supposed to be a threat, but I felt no hint of fear at his words.
I smiled at him.
He closed his eyes and let out a small groan.
“Nikolay?”