It’s on the tip of my tongue to say Alexei will be willing to do it, but I can’t get the words out. After a long moment, I say, “Me.”

Ariana sucks in a breath of air, her features tightening as an emotion I haven’t seen before flashes over her face. “Really? You’ll even help me with that?”

My fingers brush up her jawline, reveling in the feel of her soft skin. “I’ll take care of everything.”

Hope flickers in her eyes, and the longer she stares at me, the more intimate the moment becomes.

Moving my hand behind her neck, I slowly pull her face to mine until her breaths warm my lips. “You feel that, Malyshka?”

Her eyes search mine, and then she nods.

I worry she only feels the attraction because I’m protecting her. Before I can voice the concern, she closes the distance between us, and her lips softly brush against mine.

Ariana pulls back to see my reaction, and when our eyes meet again, the intensity between us rockets.

Lifting my head, I nip at her lips before trailing kisses over her jaw. Her breaths instantly speed up, and her hand slides from my abs to my chest. I take a deep breath of her scent, and it’s fucking intoxicating.

My fingers tighten around her neck, and then our mouths crash together, and I plunge my tongue into her heat.

This time I focus on how she tastes and the velvety feel of her tongue as it strokes against mine. She lets out a moan, and it sends a bolt of electricity straight to my cock.

For a moment, the kiss spirals out of control, and I push her onto her back. Framing her face, I hold her in place as my tongue fucks her, my teeth biting her lips until they're hot and swollen against mine.

Ariana moans into my mouth, the sound almost sending me over the edge, but I manage to keep control over the burning desire to fuck her until she’s only focused on me.

Not tonight. I can’t fuck Ariana while she’s in shock from her brother’s betrayal. Taking her right after she learned of her father’s passing was bad enough.

The next time I bury myself deep inside her, it will be because she wants me and not because she’s looking for an escape.

I slow the kiss down until we’re just gasping for air, and when I lift my head, I brush my thumbs over the curves of her cheeks.

Once Ariana has control over her breathing, she gives me an unsure look. “What’s happening between us?”

I shake my head. “Let’s not label it and just see where it goes.”

Especially once she returns to her everyday life. Then only will we see if what she feels is real or whether this is all because of our forced proximity.

ARIANA

I wake up alone and even more confused. I swear, it feels like I’m stuck on a rollercoaster ride from hell.