Alexandr's Reluctant Submissive Read Free Page B

vulnerability and she understood that, understood a lot of things about her husband that had been a mystery to her before. Now she treasured the intimacy of this moment, fully appreciating it and realizing what an honor it was that he sought comfort from her.
    She closed the distance between them then stroked his face gently and he turned into her touch, his eyes closed so tightly the faint lines around them had deepened into crevices. When he whispered her name, it was filled with a heartbreaking mixture of love and sorrow.
    She was scarcely aware of her surroundings, could have been in the middle of a circus and the only thing she would be able to see was Alex. The entire situation was so surreal, and her mind was beginning to sort out the convoluted events that led to this moment, but she was still confused. First she needed to hear again what an evil, manipulative, powerful genius Alex’s father was. If she was thinking right, he’d played her with ease. Knowing just what to say to her younger self to make her flee, how to pray on her fears and weaknesses.
    “You left me,” he murmured, his voice breaking.
    “I didn’t want to leave you, it almost killed me, but your father made me believe some terrible things would happen if I stayed. I can’t understand why he gave you the information on me when he worked so hard to keep me from ever going back to you. It just doesn’t make sense.” Her breath hitched. “Why would he do this to us? Alex? Why? I never did anything to that man to justify this cruel game he’s played with our lives. How could he be so brutal? How could he deny Tatiana her father? And me my husband? Who the hell does he think he is?!”
    He cupped her face in his rough hands as she fought back her tears and drank in the harsh, masculine beauty of his face. Right away she noted the scars that had been added to his handsome visage while they’d been apart, the worry lines. Even his gaze was duller beneath the anger and she longed for those gray depths to glow like they used to when he’d look at her. The memory of meeting all those years ago in her uncle Peter’s bar swamped her, and her breath hitched again and a tear spilled down her cheek.
    “Alex. I’ve missed you so much.”
    “ Eto piz`dets. ” He let out a low sigh and again closed his eyes, hiding his emotions from her. “You need to know that you are never leaving me. Ever. And neither is our daughter. We will be the family we are meant to be.”
    She jolted and a small burst of adrenaline went through her. Right now Tatiana was vulnerable back in the States with just her nanny, Gwen, and a good security system to protect them. All too easily she could imagine a group of thugs sneaking their way up to the house, ready to kidnap or kill the vibrant and loving little girl. The need to physically hold Tatiana consumed her and she grasped the edges of Alex’s jacket, her worry evident in her voice. “Alex, we have to get Tatiana! We can’t leave her alone.”
    “She is safe, I already have men loyal to me guarding her, unseen, and Krom is on his way to retrieve her.” His jaw clenched and his body tensed as well. “Besides, you were never alone. My father had men watching you. In the packet my father gave to Peter there were details from various security reports, including one where they had to stop a thief who had thought to target you.”
    She blinked rapidly. “A thief? I can’t remember anyone trying to rob me.”
    “Of course you do not. Your bodyguards did their job and you were never aware of the danger.”
    The headache worsened and she pressed her fingertips to her forehead, trying to will it away. She’d been under so much stress lately and without fail, it triggered migraines. At first she’d been freaked out she had a tumor, it would be just her luck, but after extensive testing, her team of doctors had chalked it up to a hormonal shift that had happened after she gave birth. All she knew was that she had to get a