Vladimir (Russian Dragon Heat #1) - Carole Mortimer Page 0,46

kill Pyotr himself for the things he’d said about Tanya. No doubt her own hurt was a hundred times his anger. With time, Vladimir hoped the closeness they would have together after their mating, both emotionally and mentally, would help to heal the hurtful things her brother had said about and to her. That she would come to realize Pyotr hadn’t meant all of them either, but had merely been showing off in front of his friends. For all the good that had done him.

The closeness they would have after their mating…

If there was a mating, Vladimir corrected after glanced again at that small pile of Tanya’s clothes on the bed. “Are you going somewhere?”

“Yes.”

He winced at her unhelpful answer. “Where exactly?”

Her blue gaze met his unblinkingly. “I accept that two days ago, I was shot, but I’m fully recovered now.” Her eyes narrowed. “I have a feeling I owe the rapidity of that recovery to you?”

He shrugged. “We rarely need a healer, but my brother Viktor is ours when necessary. He was able to infuse a little of my blood inside you to help you heal quickly.”

“Infuse?”

“Don’t worry.” He smiled bleakly. “It was an injected into your bloodstream and has not begun the mating process.”

“I’m not worried.”

Vladimir felt a jolt—of hope?—in his chest. “No?”

“No,” she confirmed. “I’m now ready to move on to what comes next in my life.”

Vladimir’s gaze became guarded. “Which is?”

Tanya stepped forward until she was standing only inches away from him. “Us. You and me. Vladimir and Tanya. Fated and forever mates. Which is why I’m packed and ready to move into your bedroom.”

Happiness swelled in Vladimir’s chest even as his lips twitched to smile. Tanya was determined there would be no misunderstanding as to exactly what she wanted from him and where she wanted to be.

It would have been presumptuous of him to have taken Tanya to his own bedroom when he brought her back here, but that didn’t mean he hadn’t wanted to do so. Being apart from her for any length of time was becoming more and more difficult for him to withstand. Even more so when he knew some of his blood was now mixed with hers, healing her inside as it coursed hotly through her body.

He arched one dark brow. “Now?”

Color bloomed in her cheeks, but her gaze remained steady and undaunted as it met his. “Right now.”

Our warrior queen, his dragon purred its approval.

Vladimir’s dragon had been just as worried at the dacha and clawing for his freedom, as they had watched Tanya collapse after being shot. Having ensured she was still alive and in no immediate danger, Vladimir had allowed his dragon free to wreak vengeance on the two men who dared to hurt the woman who was their mate.

A woman who was now demanding, not asking, that he consummate that mating.

Even so… “Pyotr—”

“Was both selfish and ignorant,” Tanya acknowledged evenly. “I’ve had time these past two days to accept I helped nurture those two unattractive character traits in him. But I also know from my own experiences that Pyotr had every opportunity, and the education, to make of himself what he would. He chose to become selfish, egotistical, and totally uncaring of…of the people who had loved and cared for him.” She drew in a shaky breath. “I’m sorry he’s dead, and I will mourn him all my life, as I will my parents, but if past events have shown me nothing else, it’s that we have to live for today and not dwell on what’s been or might have been.” Her gaze softened as she smiled at him. “Today, I would very much like to fully become your mate.”

Vladimir appreciated her impassioned words for exactly what they were: Tanya’s acceptance of the past, even the events at the dacha, and lastly, her heartfelt wish to become his mate.

“I’ll have Katrine bring your things to my bedroom later.” He swung Tanya up into his arms before striding toward the door, Tanya’s arms looped about his neck. “No protest this time about me carrying you?” he teased. He took long strides down the hallway and stairs before ascending the stairs opposite, going up into the west wing where his suite of rooms was situated.

“None at all,” she dismissed airily. “It’s something I might have to get used to if it’s the only way I can accompany you when you’re a dragon. Oh wow, a four-poster bed!” she cried out in excitement as Vladimir carried her into his spacious