Her mouth curves up as she takes a step closer to me. “Why wouldn’t you fight me during training?”
“Full of questions, aren’t you?” I ask as I wrap my fingers around her throat, enjoying the soft feel of her skin.
“Just curious. You were always closed off, and I couldn’t read your facial expressions.”
“I refused to fight you because you’re so small. There’s no victory in beating someone half my size.”
I brush my thumb over her scar as she asks, “And during the laser game? Did you want to kiss me?”
“Yes, but I also wanted to strangle you for shooting Carson,” I mutter, the corner of my mouth twitching at the memory.
“Are you in love with me?” she asks without blinking an eye.
Am I?
My eyes drift over her face, and then I shake my head, and it makes the playfulness vanish from her eyes.
“I’m not sure,” I admit. My words make a frown form on her forehead. “Love is a foreign concept in my world. I understand loyalty, desire, hatred, but love…” I shake my head again. “Would I die for you? Yes. Do I want you? Yes. Will I kill anyone who hurts you? Yes.”
“What do you feel when you think of losing me?” she asks.
Without having to think about it, I growl, “Murderous.”
What would I do if someone took Winter from me?
I’d lose my mind.
My jaw clenches, and I pull her closer until I feel her breath on my lips, and then I admit, “I’m obsessed with you.”
Winter searches my eyes before she murmurs, “To me, it sounds a lot like love, Damien.”
I consider her words. “Then you’re the only one I’ll ever love.”
Winter pushes against my hold on her throat and presses a kiss to my lips. “I’m obsessed with you too.”
I smile against her mouth. “Good.”
Suddenly she pulls out of my hold and walks to the bathroom. I hear her open the faucets, and then she goes to take clothes from the closet.
“Don’t bother with those. I want you naked next to me every night.”
She lets out a burst of silent laughter as she leaves the clothes and goes to bath.
Walking closer, I push the door open and lean my shoulder against the doorjamb. I watch as my wife undresses. When she steps into the tub, I catch sight of the bruises between her thighs.
“I marked you,” I murmur.
“You sure did,” she chuckles as she sinks down into the water. “And I’m not complaining one bit.”
“Good, because I intend to do it again.” I move closer and crouch next to the tub. I reach for the loofah and body wash.
“You’re going to bathe me?” Winter asks, her eyes following my movements.
“Yes.”
As I begin to wash her snow-white skin, she chuckles. “First you feed me, and now this? Why?”
The corner of my mouth lifts. “You don’t know why?”
“No. Tell me.”
My gaze locks on hers. “I’m making you submit to me.”
Defiance sparks in her eyes. “Is it what you really want? For me to be a submissive wife?”
“No. I never want you to lose your fighting spirit. It’s what drew me to you. But knowing you’ll submit willingly whenever I want you to is exhilarating.”
“A turn-on,” she murmurs as understanding dawns on her face.
Leaning forward, I wash between her legs. My voice is low with a burning desire. “Yes, and now you need to get out so I can fuck you.”
“You need to shower,” she gives me a look filled with warning. “You’re not getting into bed all sweaty.”
I let out a chuckle. “Fine, but get your ass to bed.”
I begin to undress as Winter climbs out of the tub and dries herself. Giving me a seductive look as she walks by me, she says, “Don’t take too long.”
Unable to resist, I slap her ass, and she makes an adorable squeaking sound.
I only take ten minutes to shower, but when I walk into the bedroom, I find my wife fast asleep. My eyes drift over her sexy body, and crawling over her, I press a kiss to her shoulder and another to her temple. Then I whisper, “Slava ne mogut apisat' mayu lyubof' k tebe.”
Sleepily, Winter mumbles, “What?”
I lie down behind her and pull her against me. Pressing another kiss to her shoulder, I say, “Words can’t describe my love for you.”
Fast asleep again, she doesn’t hear the translation.
After breakfast, I lead Winter to the barn. While inspecting the grounds, I saw it was set up for training.
“Why are you bringing me here?” She asks as we step inside.
“You’re a Vetrov which means you need to fight like one.”
Instantly there’s a spark in her eyes. “You’re going to train me?”
“Yes.” She knows how to fire a weapon, so I pull her to the mat, and turning to face her, I say, “When you’re faced with an enemy, there’s no time to size them up.” I begin to circle her, my gaze drifting over her body. “You’re not strong enough to go up against a man, but you’re quick.”
I move a couple of steps away from Winter and meet her gaze. “Attack me.”
She immediately assumes a fighting stance, and it has me shaking my head. “This isn’t St. Monarch’s. There will be no time to take in a fighting stance. Just attack.”
Winter darts forward, and I expect her to go for my legs, but instead, her arm wraps around my neck, and the next second she’s on my back, her legs wrapped around my waist. She tightens her hold, and I chuckle before I bend over and slam her against the mat. “Good move but instead of the neck, go for the eyes.”
Winter nods as she climbs to her feet. Her cheeks are flushed, and the paleness of grief removed.
I dart forward, and wrapping my arm around her neck, I yank her body back against mine. “Free yourself before I choke you.”
Winter struggles against my hold, and then her nails dig into my forearm.
“You know that’s not going to work on me. Do better,” I growl as I tighten my hold on her.
The next moment, Alexei says, “Slam your head into his face.”
Winter just reacts, and before her head can connect with my face, I step back, letting go of her.
Alexei and Demitri come to stand next to the mat, their arms crossed over their chests, then Alexei says, “A man has two weak spots. His cock and his face. If you can’t knee him, then you either remove his eyes or break his nose. It will buy you time to finish him off.”
Winter nods, drinking the information in.
“But,” Demitri says as he steps onto the mat, “It’s seldom you’re faced with only one enemy. What do you do when you’re outnumbered?”
“Fight like hell,” Winter mutters, making me chuckle.
“You go for the strongest one first,” Alexei advises her as he steps onto the mat as well.
Winter moves back as her eyes dart between the three of us, sizing up which of us are her most significant threat. She darts forward, and the next instant, Demitri has to quickly block before she knees him. I begin to laugh from the surprised expression on my brother’s face.