I gasp and sit up as I come to. My hand goes to my arm where I felt the prick of a needle before I passed out. It was the same as when they kidnapped me.
When I look around, I see Nathan sitting on the love seat while I’m laid out on the couch. He turns his head to look my way, then picks up the remote and turns off the TV.
He’s in a pair of jeans and a wrinkled polo with the collar popped up. He’s such a frat boy, and I can’t understand why I ever liked him. It’s probably because my friends said I should try dating and that it would be fun. Yeah, this is a barrel of fun.
“I didn't know you were such a feisty thing.”
I look down at my hands to see my knuckles are red. I lost it, and I don’t remember anything after hitting her and then the needle going into my arm. I hated that she was in her wedding dress, knowing she was on her way to see Frost.
Frost is mine. Even if I was running from him he’s still mine. I don’t care if that’s crazy; it’s the truth. He’ll look as bad as Chel if he marries her thinking he can save me.
“I would have put my money on Chel. She’s pretty strong and spends a couple hours in the gym a day.” His eyebrows furrow. “But you do weigh more.”
He’s really thinking this through, and it irritates me. Who spends hours in the gym and why am I thinking about this right now?
“Where are we?” I look around the house. It’s cute but small and still reeks of money.
“Think it’s like the guest house or something,” he answers, and I throw my legs over the side of the couch.
Nathan stands, and I have a feeling it’s only him and me in the house. I look down at my clothes and everything looks in place.
“I didn't touch you,” he snaps, and I jerk my head up to meet his eyes.
How did I ever date this man? Here I am making Frost chase me around when he’s always been so good to me. Then you have Nathan here, who I openly went on dates with. I am truly terrible at choosing men. “You’ve still got a little time before you’re all mine.” He smirks and my stomach rolls.
“He’s not going to marry her,” I blurt out, and I think it’s mostly to reassure myself.
“I don’t give a shit one way or the other.”
“You should.” I let out a humorless laugh. “Their mother is crazy, but she’s a Ranov. While she might be pure evil, I think everyone can agree Ranovs do whatever it takes to get what they want. Hence her crazy idea that this could possibly work.” It takes a certain level of crazy to think this is all going to go to plan.
Nathan takes a step toward me, and I jump up from the sofa and run to the other side. I need as much space as possible between us. I grip the back of the couch when a dizzy spell hits me. The lingering drugs are slowly fading from my system. Nathan runs toward me, jumps on the couch, and starts to climb over. His foot hits the top, and it catches as he falls flat on the floor.
A laugh bursts from me, but it dies quickly when I see the rage on his face. I race for the door and I hear him behind me, but I don’t look as I grab the handle and fling it wide open. The sun hits me in the face, and it blinds me. I just keep moving. Before I can figure out where I am, my body collides with someone else.
I brace myself for a fall, but arms wrap around me and hold me close before I hit the ground. When they lift me off my feet, my vision starts to come into focus, and I know who it is. His touch and his scent surround me, and I burst into tears as I cling to Frost. I bury my face in his chest and inhale, breathing him in.
I hear Nathan curse, and the sound is followed by someone taking a few hits. I can’t see, but I’m guessing it’s Nathan. There’s a loud thud as a body hits the ground.
I don’t care. I should be happy, and although I am, the tears come flooding and I can’t bring myself to loosen my hold on him. He hugs me just as tightly, his hands moving up and down my back. His voice is low as he tells me I’m okay and everything is going to be all right. His words are so filled with emotion, his accent thickens and Russian words bleed into his comforting whispers.
I can feel him moving around, then my knees rest on something soft. I’m straddling him in the back of a car, and I can feel the hum of the engine before it starts to move. Slowly I lift my head to meet Frost's gaze, and I’ve never seen anything more beautiful. Even though I’m sure I look a mess.
“I knew you’d come for me,” I get out before I start crying again. So many things could have gone wrong.
“I’ll always chase after you. Nothing will ever stand in the way of that, Cookie.” I nod, knowing it’s true. His eyes are soft on me, but I can feel the tension in his body. I have no doubt he wanted to go after Nathan himself, but I know that for Frost I come before everything else.
“Where are we going?” I ask, suddenly feeling very tired. I want a hot shower and a bed. Both of them with Frost. I want to be in his home and in his bed because I know it’s where I’ll feel the safest. I’ll sleep in his arms as he holds me tight, only the two of us.
“The hospital?” he asks, and I shake my head.
“I want to go home with you.”
“Your family is worried.” I’m sure they have already been told I’m fine. I heard Miller somewhere in the background talking as my face was buried in Frost’s chest. I didn't know what they were saying because it was all in Russian.
“Please.” My fingers tangle into his shirt.
“You don’t need to see a doctor?” He pulls my hands off his shirt to look at my knuckles. I’m kinda proud of the damage I did.
“They drugged me twice and it knocked me out. That’s about it,” I tell him. I can see him trying to control his anger at that admission.
“We’ll go to my place. I’ll have a doctor come by.” That last bit of tension I didn't realize I was holding on to dissipates. I don’t think I’ve ever seen another person go inside his home. I’m sure his brother has, but it’s always Frost who comes over to Pumpkin and Miller’s house, never the other way around.
“It’s Christmas Eve,” I remind him.
“It’s fine,” he says, and I nod.
I’m getting what I want, which is to be with him.
His hands cup my face. “I’m so sorry.” He pulls my face to him as he ever so gently places a soft kiss on my cheek.
This only makes me cry more. “I’m sorry too. I never should have run from you.”
“It was good for me, kiska. I enjoy catching you.”
“I don’t know how anyone says you’re so cold. You’ve never been that way with me and my family.”
“You walked into my life and all that coldness melted away.”
“You’re just saying corny, sappy stuff to make me smile.” It makes me smile so big my face almost hurts.
“Da, my kiska. It makes you smile, so I’ll keep doing it.”
“Frost.” I sniff, shifting against him, and then I let out a small gasp when I feel his hard cock pressing against me.”
“Ignore it. It’s not the time and it’s my normal reaction to seeing you. I have no control of my cock if you’re anywhere near. Even if someone says your name, I harden.”
That makes me smile again as I continue. “Frost, I think I’m in love with you.”
He opens his mouth to say something, but instead of letting him speak, I kiss him. I don’t want him saying it back because he feels like he has to. I also don’t want him to say that my emotions might be getting the best of me right now. They might be, but I know I’m in love with him. It’s why I was scared to get closer. I knew that if I let myself, I could fall so deep I might never return. But after all of this, it doesn’t scare me anymore.
I’m ready to jump headfirst because there’s no return now. There’s only him.