Where the Snow Falls (Seasons of Betrayal #2)(45)

Violet might have been upset with Alberto, but that didn’t mean she hated him.

There was no guarantee Violet would condone what he was doing … It may even prove unforgivable in her eyes.

Only time would tell.

By the time he reached the airstrip, he could just see the blur of the jet in the distance. Feeling that familiar kick in his chest at the thought of seeing Violet, he was a little more anxious than he should have been considering it had only been a few days since he was last with her. They had spent months apart, contenting themselves with phone calls in the middle of the night, so mere days shouldn’t have meant anything.

But he couldn’t deny that he missed being with her, seeing her at his side.

It was about time he brought her home, but it wasn’t just because he missed her that he was finally bringing her back—there was more to it than that.

And this, just like the Alberto thing, was non-negotiable for him.

And just like with that, he had no idea how she would react.

Another ten minutes had passed before the jet was rolling to a stop, the door to it opening moments later.

Seconds, too many f*cking seconds, passed before he finally caught sight of her. Green eyes alight with happiness as she hurried down the short flight of stairs. He only had enough time to brace himself before she barreled into him, arms squeezing around his neck, her legs wrapping around his waist.

Kaz caught her with a chuckle, returning her embrace. “I missed you too, krasivaya.”

She didn’t respond, but he could feel it in the way she clung to him that she was glad to be back. Nothing felt quite as good as having her exactly where she was.

“Let’s go home.”

The journey back to his apartment was a short but comfortable one. It amazed him how quickly she affected his mood—how it only took seconds before he was feeling lighter somehow. She was exactly what he needed.

It spoke of her trust in him that she didn’t look nearly as bothered as they made it into the heart of Brighton Beach toward his old apartment building—not that it would be his for very much longer. But until he got the particulars worked out, it would do.

Upstairs in his apartment, he dropped his keys on the counter, shedding his jacket next. Now that he had taken control of the Bratva, he was busier than usual, constantly keeping in touch with more than a dozen men. It was tiring work, and he had barely been able to get away tonight to grab her from her flight.

But he made the time—one of the benefits of being the boss, he realized.

She had barely dropped her bags, turning to face him with words on the tip of her tongue before he was crossing the floor.

Cradling her face in his hands, he tilted her head up to meet his gaze. “Whatever it is, we can talk about it after,” he said a moment before he kissed her, thrilling in the way she gave in almost immediately.

A moment later, she drew back just far enough to ask, “After what?”

After he showed her just how much he missed her.





“Didn’t I promise you once a day?” Kaz asked.

Violet’s lips curved into a knowing smile. “I think it was twice, actually. And you’re behind a few days.”

Kaz watched her unflinchingly when he replied, “Oh, I think I can make up for that missed time. No worries.”

God, why did that sound so bad?

But good, too …

“Speaking of days,” she said quietly.

Kaz’s brow rose high. “What did I say, hmm? Whatever it is, we’ll talk about it after.”

His strong hands traveled down the column of her throat with the softest touch, but still just as sinful and promising as ever. Then the pads of his thumbs dragged a little firmer against her skin, silently assuring without even having to say a word that what she liked—what she always wanted from him—was close behind the softness.

Violet sighed against Kaz’s lips when he pressed another kiss to her mouth. “You always know just the right thing to do, Kaz.”

“Did you expect anything different?”

“No,” she admitted in a whisper.

How could she?

He was her one perfect person made just for her.

No … of course, she didn’t expect anything different from him.

Kaz leaned forward again, his lips grazing over hers, and then a buzzing started, freezing him solid.

“Ignore that,” he muttered, kissing her hard and pushing against her until her back hit the door. Violet gasped into the ferocity of the kiss, feeling his teeth scrape along the seam of her lips until she gave in and his tongue struck against hers. The buzzing of his phone eventually stopped, but only after his hands had found their way up the skirt of her dress and fisted into her panties.

Kaz was just attempting to pull the panties down her thighs—rough enough to sting—when the buzzing started again.

“Fuck,” he swore severely, pulling away and reaching for the device in his pocket.

Before Violet could even think to move, Kaz was back on her, gray eyes boring into hers, lips curved into a wicked smirk, and then his mouth was at her ear.

“I’m going to have to take this, but while I do …”

Violet’s hand grabbed his leather belt, wanting to keep him close. A shudder worked its way over her skin when he continued with, “While I do, you get your ass to my bed and be naked by the time I get in there, yes?”