Someone behind them cleared their throat. Vitali tensed, and Mariana let out the breath she’d been holding. Leaning to the side, she saw Margo standing in the doorway, her eyes wide.

“Ms. Sanchez…?” Poor Margo, she sounded incredibly embarrassed, which only made the situation all the more awkward.

Clearing her throat, Mariana raised her hand and offered the older woman a slight smile.

“It’s okay, Margo. You can take your lunch early, and tell Mia she can take her lunch, too.” She had no idea what the hell was going on with Vitali, but…her heart wanted it to be the truth; that he loved her. Because she loved him. She loved him so much it hurt like hell.

After a short hesitation, Margo turned and left, closing the door behind her. The click of the latch echoed through the office, reminding her that she was now alone, with her husband, and he’d just confessed his love for her—love at first sight, no less.

But could she believe him? Did she dare believe that this man, the man who made glorious love to her, showed her a life of new experiences and joys, and made her feel like the most beautiful woman in the world—for two short weeks—actually loved her?

“Moya lyubov,” he breathed before pulling her in to his chest and wrapping his arms around her. Sighing, she couldn’t stop marveling at the steady yet rapid beating of his heart against her cheek. Had he really meant all that he’d just said?

Stop second guessing! This is what you wanted!

Pulling away, Mariana looked up into his face, and the heartrending tenderness in his gaze undid her.

“Vitali…” What the hell was she supposed to say? She’d been bawling her eyes out only a few minutes before, and then she’d heard he was there and the rage took over. But now…she didn’t know what to feel. All she knew was that, since turning around to face him, every time their gazes collided, her heart flipped over in her chest, and her belly clenched with want of him. “What do you want me to say?” She held her breath and allowed her gaze to take him in. He was wearing a designer t-shirt in light gray, and it was so tight she could see every bulge and taut line of muscle through it. God how she missed those muscles—beneath her fingers and her tongue. Swallowing, she forced her gaze back to his face, where a lopsided, cocky smile knocked the wind out of her.

“I know you must feel something for me, Mariana,” he practically purred. “I can see it in your eyes; how they light up then grow dark with desire.

Somewhat chagrined by his observation, she shrugged. “I never denied that you’re the hottest thing on two legs, but physical attraction isn’t enough to build a relationship on—especially not a marriage.”

Vitali rubbed his chin, his forehead, and finally the back of his neck. He let out a huff, and Mariana realized what was going on: Vitali was uncertain! The confident billionaire was in uncharted territory. The knowledge both pleased her and cut her; she wanted the big, bad billionaire to know what she’d felt almost from the moment they met, but she also hated that the man she cared about was experiencing it.

Marriage was confusing and frustrating as hell. But she didn’t want it to end.

“I know I have been an ass, Mariana. And I know that letting you in has the potential to hurt like hell, but… Not letting you in has hurt so much more.”

A heavy boulder dropped into her belly at the same time a great weight lifted from her shoulders.

Closing the distance between them, she stood on her tip toes and pressed a soft kiss to his lips. He tensed, probably holding his breath to see what else she’d do. Instead of deepening the kiss as she desperately wanted to, she broke the kiss and stepped back.

“Relying on people who love you doesn’t make you weak, it doesn’t make you any more vulnerable. It makes you stronger. I know it doesn’t make sense—people can let you down, they lie, they cheat, they break your heart, but they also lift you up, hold you there, have your back, and clean up your messes. They can be the foundation you build your life on. Look around you,” she said, raising her arms and turning in a semi-circle. His gaze never left her face. “This—all of this is something I built from nothing. And I’d still be nothing if it weren’t for my mother and Mia. Those two women were the rock supporting me through all the shit and success over the years. I cannot imagine being where I am without them. If I hadn’t put my trust in someone other than myself, I’d still be living in Miami, probably on my fifth crackhead boyfriend, living on government aide, and hoping to survive the next gang war.”

Vitali drew up to his full height, towering over her with a lethal darkness in his eyes, one that told her he was contemplating murder. She couldn’t help but smile; he was like a wolf, snarling at imaginary rival alphas. It was both humorous and hot as hell.

“I would protect you,” he said, his deep voice a near inarticulate growl. He raised his large hands to her face but stopped just shy of actually touching her, his expression, once again, filling with uncertainty.

Eager to feel his hands on her, she reached up and completed the circuit, pressing his hands into her cheeks. The warmth of his flesh poured into her, and the electricity of the contact zinged across every nerve ending.

“I know you would, Vitali, and that means a lot to me,” she murmured, her voice losing some of its power as she stared up into the unfathomable emotion in his gaze.

“I may not know how to be good at love, but I know how to protect what is mine. And I am scared to death of losing you.” He swallowed, tension rolling from his broad shoulders. “I haven’t been this scared in years.”

Closing her eyes to block out the frightened look on his face, she took a deep breath, knowing there was more to say, and hoping he would listen. She needed him to listen.

“I understand the fear, Vitali, I do.” She opened her eyes to stare at his Adam’s apple, which was bobbing with his nervousness. “I know you endured a lot of shit when you were a kid. But so did I. And I refuse to let that keep me from knowing what a full and happy life feels like.” Gathering all her daring around her, she flicked her eyes up to his.

He was peering down into her soul. “I want a full and happy life with you, Mariana. Do I even have a chance?”

“Vitali, I am not asking you to forget where you come from or what you’ve been through; they’ve helped you become the man you are. But you cannot use your past as an excuse to deny yourself a future…” She hesitated the barest moment. “…with me.”

His eyes widened in surprise, but then they brightened with more joy than Mariana thought possible. His grip on her face tightened, and he bent down to bring their faces within inches of one another—as if he were looking for any hint that she didn’t mean what she’d just said.

“Mariana?” he breathed. “Does that mean that… Can you love me, too? Even with my past and my mistakes and my fears?”

She grinned. “Vitali, I love you.”

Before she could gauge his reaction, Vitali claimed her mouth in a searing kiss too long in coming. His hard lips ravaged the softness of hers, shattering her apart. This—this is what she’d been missing, what she’d been starving for since that day in Koh Tao. This man and his mind-blowing kisses. Desperate for more of him, she slid her aching breasts against his chest, groaning at the scape of her nipples along his rock-hard body.

A low rumbling began in his chest, and he deepened the kiss, his tongue sweeping into her hot mouth to set her world on fire. He mastered her, liberated her, made her come alive with pleasure, and die from the agony of his not being buried deep inside her.

He must’ve read her mind because he tore his mouth from hers and, chest heaving with each breath, strode to the door to lock it.

Mariana watched the movements in the muscles of his ass as he walked, and the wetness in her panties grew until she could feel the dampness against her inner thighs. When he turned back to her, his gorgeous face was hard, wicked, and his brilliant green eyes flashed with emerald fire, burning her, cauterizing the wound his previous actions had caused. His perfect lips curled up on one side, and her pussy thrummed with want. Her gaze dropped to the immense erect cock pushing against the seam in his trousers.

She licked her lips.

He growled. “I’m glad you sent your employees to lunch because I am going to fuck you on your desk—Mrs. Pavlovich.”

Shuddering, Mariana felt the world right itself.

A bright and joyful laugh burst from her chest. “Then come get me, husband.”