- Nikolai Volkov:
When I held Alexei's hand to stop him from leaving, my heart felt like it was about to leap out of my chest.
I couldn't let him walk away thinking that kiss was just a ploy. I couldn't let him believe I didn't mean it.
"I didn't kiss you just to piss Damon off," I confessed, my voice trembling.
The words were heavy, and I could feel the heat rush to my cheeks. My face was burning, and I knew Alexei could see it.
He froze, staring at me like he wasn't sure he'd heard me right.
For a moment, I thought he might laugh or pull away, but then his lips curled into a soft, surprised smile.
His hand stayed in mine, and I could feel the strength in his grip, though he wasn't pulling. Instead, he stepped closer to me.
My back brushed against the edge of the counter, and I realized he was trapping me—not in a bad way, but in a way that made my pulse race.
