Unlikely Protector by Lisa Cullen

Author:Lisa Cullen [Cullen, Lisa]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2024-03-18T00:00:00+00:00

21

ALINA

Watching Mishka walk away with my father raises conflicting emotions in my chest. I’m glad for Mishka if he’s rising in the ranks. He deserves a good job for all he’s done for me and my brother. Since he’s come into our lives, he’s put his health and safety on the line multiple times to protect us. And he’s done it without a second thought.

It makes me like him all the more.

But his gaining my father’s approval and earning a higher position will also make it harder for us to have a secret relationship.

I wish we could just tell my family. Mishka saved my life, and that should be more than enough reason for them to accept our feelings for each other. That should be enough to make him worthy of me. But the sad truth of it is that I know my father would never permit it.

Because not even his highest-ranking captains would be deemed fit to marry me. They don’t bring enough power or prestige to the family.

I was born into a family of wealth and fortune, and already, my parents have been dropping hints that I should pick a man of high station, someone who would help our family’s climb to power—a wealthy socialite, a prominent businessman, a politician, someone who can increase our strength.

And as much as I care for Mishka, after hearing about his humble upbringing, I know he couldn’t offer the kind of value as a husband that my father would consider acceptable. So instead, we’ll have to keep our relationship secret—at least until I can come up with a plan that won’t get Mishka killed.

Sighing, I stoop to scratch Boris behind the ears, lavishing him with attention to soothe us both. He’s been glued to my side ever since I got home. Poor pup. He was nearly frantic when he first saw me.

“You like Mishka, don’t you, boy?” I murmur as I bury my face in the soft fur between his ears. “Shall we go listen in and see if we can learn what the boys are talking about?”

Boris licks enthusiastically at my face, drawing laughter from me.

“Come on,” I encourage, racing him out of the room and down the hallway toward my father’s office.

The cool wood floor is soothing to my blistered feet, and I’m determined to go barefoot for at least the rest of the day. But I don’t mind the pain. It brings back my time alone with Mishka, and I keep reliving our secret moments in my mind.

Addictive is too weak a word to express what his touch is to me. I felt it from the first moment he stopped me from falling on my butt after I slammed into him. It’s magnetic. Electric. I’m drawn to him on a cellular level, and kissing him only confirmed that.

But the sex is something beyond. It’s as close as I’ve ever gotten to spiritual.

“Get it, Boris,” I encourage, snatching one of his toys up off the ground and launching it down the hallway.

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