Popping my chin up on my hand, I listened for Kova, but it was oddly quiet. I shuddered under the covers and pulled them tighter to me. Maybe he left without telling me, which would be a blessing in disguise, but at the same time I hoped not. God, I was so indecisive. The way we were with each other, both too drawn to each other, it made us equally awkward and stupid.

Expelling a heavy breath, I climbed out of bed and gripped the towel to me. I tiptoed to the living room, questioning how people lived in places cooler than eighty-five degrees. I'd give anything to sit in a sauna right now.

I hated this.

Crouching down with my knees pressed to my chest, I shivered as I tried to unzip my duffle bag with shaking fingers. The towel loosened around me and draped low down my back. Cool air struck my bare skin.

"What the hell are you doing?" Kova’s raucous voice stopped me in my tracks. I didn't need to look over my shoulder to know he was on my couch. He must've been lying down because I hadn't seen him when I walked in. I clutched my cell phone in my shaky hand.

"I got it from here. Th-Thanks for everything, but I-I think you should leave now."

"Get back in bed."

I scowled. Of course he ignored my request.

"Kova, I appreciate everything you-you’ve done, I-I do, but please leave."

"I will not say it again… Get back in bed." The inflection in his tone caused my heart to skip. His deep, rough lilt sent a new wave of goose bumps over my arms. Releasing a quiet sigh of agitation, I told him my plans.

"I'm having Hayden come over. I need him to h-help me right now. You ca-ca-can’t be here when he gets here."

The loud cracking in Kova's knees told me he stood. I risked a glance over my shoulder just in time to catch him scowling at me.

"Like hell you are. Tell me what you need and I will get it. Hot tea? Coffee? Something to eat? Another blanket? What is it that you need?"

You. I needed body heat.

I shook my head and pouted. As if that was possible. I stood, the brisk air wafted across my uncovered flesh. A hard tremor shot down my exposed spine.

"None of those right now."

He threw his hands out in front of him, his brows shot up. "Then what?"

"Just go," I said, scrolling through my phone for Hayden's name. When I found it, I began texting him with jittery fingers. Kova stalked over and ripped my phone from my hands before I could press send.

"Wh-what are you doing?" I reached for my phone. He stepped back when I stepped forward.

"Adrianna."

"What?" I snapped.

"Put your towel back on," he said in a guttural voice. A crease formed between my brows and I glanced down.

Shit. I hadn't even noticed.

If being naked in front of Kova bothered him so much, then this would help get him out of my house faster. Placing my hands on my hips, I pulled my shoulders back and stood bare as the day I was born…and shook. I was frozen to the core.

"If it bothers you s-s-so much, then get out. Because what I need, you ca-can’t give me."

Kova's nostrils flared, his eyes burned bright green. "And Hayden can," he stated.

I lifted one shoulder and gave him a blasé expression. "None of your business."

He stepped closer to me, then squatted down slowly and grabbed the towel in his hands without taking his eyes off mine. He raised it along the back of my thighs, my ass, my back. All the while I felt his heated breath dance across my skin. I almost sighed.

"Why must you make this so complicated?" he questioned with a shake of his head and wrapped the towel around my shoulders.

"Everyone knows th-th-the one way to get warm is through b-b-body heat." I shuddered. "Common sense, Kova. Hay-Hayden did it the first time and it helped."

"And that is what you want. My body with yours."

"I don't w-want it," I said, dragging my teeth along my bottom lip. "I need it. There's a d-d-difference. Right now, I don't f-f-feel right. This is a million times worse than before."

Kova rubbed the ebony stubble on his jaw and glanced away. "What you make me do…" he said hoarsely, then reached behind his head and pulled his shirt off. He dropped it in a soft heap to the floor. My eyes immediately found the Olympic rings tattoo on his ribs I loved so much. His body flexed and contracted, sizzling with energy. I swallowed hard. I didn't think he had the balls—

Never mind. This was Kova I was talking about. Of course he did. He had balls of steel that hung from a body made of stone. A delectable body that had to be derived from cocaine because all it took was one hit and I was addicted.

Kova snatched me up in one swift scoop and carried me back to my room, huffing under his breath in Russian. That's how I knew when he was truly mad—he spoke in his natural tongue. Anger in his steps, he marched as he bound me close to his chest. I wrapped my arms around his shoulders and sank into his heat, sighing. His body was as warm as an inferno and I loved it.

Once in my room, he stopped in front of my dresser and pulled open drawers until he found an oversized T-shirt and sleep pants.

He took two long strides and stood in front of my bed. Carefully releasing my legs down his body, I stood less than an arm length away. I peered up at Kova, breath tight in my throat as my eyes took in his muscular chest.

I loved this man's brutal strength.

With his eyes locked on mine, he reached out and loosened my towel, gently tugging it off. The cloth slid down my breasts and fell to the floor, his darkened gaze following. I stood naked before him without a worry in the world, innocent and young doe eyes looking up at him. His nostrils flared, his blazing eyes sashayed across my nude body. Tentatively, he reached out and glided the back of his fingers over the side of my plump breast. His thumb ran over my hard nipple, and then down the soft curve of my waist. I swallowed hard, trying with effort not to shiver.

"So beautiful it hurts," he whispered. I raised my arms for him to dress me. He put the shirt over my head then slowly pulled it down, the back of his knuckles purposely grazed my raised breasts and pointed nipples. I leaned into his touch and drew in a silent breath.

Dropping to his knees, he nodded to my foot and ordered me to lift. Both feet in, he pulled the elastic waistband up my slender legs. As he slid the material higher up my thighs, his fingers lingered to a standstill when he reached the center of my body. I held my breath as the sinewy muscle coiled around his shoulders flexed. He was a heartbeat away. The beautiful golden honey color of his skin blushed with raw, unabated emotion. My hands formed into fists. I dug my nails into my palms so I wouldn't reach out and touch him.

Carefully, and ever so slowly, I steadied my breathing as his palms slid around the thickest parts of my thighs. Kova grasped my small waist once the pants were securely in place. His head hung sluggishly bowed between us. It tugged at my heart. Yet, I remained still and didn't touch him, even though my fingers itched to.

Kova struggled to stay in control. He trembled, his fingers dug into me. Not hurtful, but more like a man who was on the brink of losing it. I felt his veiled emotion, his vulnerability through his touch. It was how I knew what he was feeling without speaking a word. It was why I hadn’t wanted him here, why I had wanted him to leave. Why I knew this was a terrible idea from the beginning, because I knew without a shadow of a doubt what it would lead to. Us being alone had always been a bad idea because no matter what, we always, always, surrendered to our darkest, most forbidden desires.

I relaxed my fist and reached for him with timid fingers.

"Please," he whispered in a strangled voice. "Do not touch me. I am trying to give you what you need and nothing else."

My icy heart splintered. Placing my hand on the nape of his neck, I caressed him. My fingers threaded in his inky black hair in a passionate swoop. Kova trembled below me, his head falling against my hand.

"Ria, please, take your hands off me." His jaw rubbed into my palm.

Ria. I loved when he called me Ria, a nickname only he used. A fire stirred within me as I ignored his plea. The jagged sound of his voice woke the devil on my shoulder. The temperature between us escalated as I continued to play with his hair while he kneeled before me.

"I said, take your hands off me."

I wanted him to make a move. To snap.

I wound my other hand into his hair and began tugging near his scalp. My hips rolled in a gentle wave. I wanted to kneel onto him.

"Ria… You are doing this on purpose and testing my self-control. Stop."

I blinked. I was…and I hadn't even meant to.

My heart pounded viciously against my ribs. I secretly loved pushing his buttons for the sole purpose of his reaction and how passionate he became. A predator with one motive—to attack and devour.

God. What the hell was wrong with me to provoke a man of Kova's stature? And even worse, to want this.

I was disgusting. I was literally the reason why he acted the way he did.

Kova lifted his head and blew out a hot, tortured breath. His hands trembled.

"Why is it so hard for me to be faithful when it comes to you?" His lips were ridiculously close to my naval. "It is like my resistance breaks and you are all that I see, everything I want."

"I don't know. I don't do it on purpose," I confessed. "It's wrong, and I hate myself for wanting you, for putting you in this situation."

"The feeling is entirely mutual."

I should've been hurt by his response, but I wasn't. I understood where he was coming from. An energy between two people so powerful it couldn't be contained, no matter how much they tried. No matter how wrong, how illicit, how morally sinful.

Some things were meant to be without reason.

Kova scooped me up and carried me to the bed in two long strides. He climbed under the covers and aligned his body to mine. He was so damn hot, and I snuggled closer, relishing his body heat. Tipping his head forward, he pressed his sensual lips to my forehead, then sandwiched one thick leg between mine and locked together. I drew in a slow and deep lungful of air, and tried to steady my breathing. Kova held his lips to my skin, as if he was afraid to move. We were that in tune. Wrapping his arms around my slim waist, he inhaled through his nose and applied another gentle kiss.

He glanced down.

I held my breath.

He held his.

I stared into his troubled eyes. He was in agony, on the cusp of doing wrong. My mind was tangled with warnings, while my heart was entwined with his.

I couldn't explain why, but I liked that I could tempt him, seduce him. It was a powerful feeling. There was too much we could do in my condo without being caught.

With my hands cupping his sharp jaw, I leaned in to close the distance, and hesitated. My mouth itched for his, the electricity thick as fog. I hovered in front of him, wanting this and terrified of the domino effect it could cause, just like the other day in his office. We breathed each other in, our eyes frantically shifting back and forth. I contemplated for a moment—

"Do not do it," he whispered.

But I did. I pressed my mouth to his. Kova's hands slid up my back and rested on my shoulders where he pulled me to him. His greedy touch contradicted his words, just like they always did, and I melted into him.