Chapter 204: Took care of everything

"She pushed me because she wanted you to herself," I admitted to him.

"You will never see her again, I promise you that right now. It's just me and you baby," Andrey Volkov might have read the relief on my face because he finally closed the distance and pressed the softest kiss on my lips. There was a lot unsaid between us in this moment and it proved that my feelings for Andrey weren't going anywhere.

They were bright and burning in my chest and they were shattering me apart at the same time.

But I wanted them, and I wanted him.

"I have got you baby," His forehead pressed against mine and our breaths mingled in the aftermath of the tender kisses.

His breath was hot, carrying that faint earthy spice that was uniquely him, something I could never quite name yet.

And now I had something else to worry about.

"I'm going to need to see the doctors to talk about my injuries. I can't miss my performances," Pulling back, I pressed my hand against the ache in my chest.

"Already taken care of, baby. Doctor said with your concussion and leg you can't go on for at least four weeks. My men reached out to Victor for me since I was here with you all night but that man didn't care about the ballet since I already paid for our contract," His thumb caressed the back of my hand.

"But Victor did give me the name of your contact at the studio. Some annoying fucker named Luke?"

"Yes," I was hesitant to think of the choreography.

"There are going to have your understudy dance your part until you fully recovered. I have got everything covered, baby," His smile was dazzling and I was impressed with how thorough Andrey Volkov had been overnight.

Even through my haze of worry, I couldn’t help but notice the strange power radiating from him. It was the kind that filled the room, heavy and magnetic. It wasn’t just confidence , something about him felt dangerous and wild, yet deeply protective.

I fell back against the pillows and glanced out of the window again. A plane flew by and I let everything settle in my mind.

"You really took care of everything for me?" Looking at Andrey from the corner of my eyes, a shiver immediately raced down towards my spine at the way he was looking at me.

His pupils had darkened just for a second and his jaw clenched like he was fighting an inner urge. Then it was gone, as if it had never happened.

"Of course, Elena. You mine and I'm going to take care of you. We going home as soon as the doctor releases you and I'm going to make sure that you have everything you want, I'm not going to leave your side,"

There was still so much going on. My heart and mind were going to war and my career with the ballet was going on hold.

But things with Andrey Volkov were still going forward and I think he felt it too. However at this moment, I couldn't stop myself thinking of Andrey as my sanctuary while I recovered. I wanted his comfort and needed his touch. That darkness in his eyes was going to swallow me whole.

"Okay Andrey," I weakly squeezed his fingers and beamed up at him.

"Take me home"

Just like Odette, I was suffering for love.

ANDREY’S POV...

There was still sunlight out when I stepped out of the car and looked over my front door. My stomach tightened up and my heart did a somersault as my feet carried me forward. She was in there waiting for me and I needed to see her.

"Goodnight Mr Volkov," My driver Antonio yelled from the open window. I didn't even turn back to look at him. Instead I waved passively and took another step closer to the front door. Looking up at the expanse of the six-story white home squished next to a long line of others on the street in New York, I wondered where she was in there. Where will I find her when I go inside?!!

The evening breeze carried with it the city’s scent, smog, smoke, iron but beneath that, I could smell her. Sweet, light, impossible to ignore. My wolf stirred restlessly beneath my skin, clawing at the surface at the faint trace of her scent drifting from inside the house.

It was strange to think that even after two weeks of coming home to the dancer waiting for me, I could still feel the way I did. Palms sweaty, heart racing and dry tongue.

Nothing and no one has ever made me feel like this... except her.

Some part of me realized it will always be her. However, it wasn't a conscious thought just yet. More like a feeling deep in my bones, I couldn't seem to shake.

I looked around the narrow front foyer, hoping for a glimpse of her. When I didn't see her or hear her, I finally turned to lock the front door and rushed to put my coat in the closet. Through the foyer, I walked straight into the kitchen after the smell of herbs and garlic hitting my nose.

Seeing a pot of potato soup simmering on the oven made a ridiculous smile curl my lips and I did realize it. My house was feeling like a home and that thought hadn't registered to me yet. It was starting to.

Leaving the kitchen, I walked through the dining room and noticed one of the bi-fold doors to the small fenced-in patio open frigid to the afternoon air outside. I froze, suddenly made of stone and unable to move at the sight of her.

Golden hair shimmering under the sunlight, strands being lifted up by the slight breeze to dance around her face like a halo. Strikingly blue eyes hit me like a dagger to the heart when she glanced up from the ground to see me standing there, watching me enrapt with the sight of her.

"Elena," I breathed her name. Her lips split as she looked up at me from where she crouched down on the ground.

"Andrey," She beamed up at me. Her eyes squinted when her smile grew. "Look what I found!"

"What did you find?" I asked, stepping out into the cool afternoon air to see what she was hiding in her cupped palms.

"Look," She opened her palms and revealed a grey and brown lizard. It turned its head to look at me and my heart stopped.

"Jesus!" Jumping up, I covered my face and groaned. The shock of seeing the small critter in her hands vanished when I heard the boisterous laughter coming from her lips.

"Did I scare you?" She giggled, looking at me. Even though she had scared me, I felt happy seeing her giggle.

Her laughter, it did something to me. Calmed the beast that constantly growled beneath my ribs, soothed the Alpha inside me that wanted to tear apart anything that threatened her. For a moment, the world was quiet.

And all I could think was how fragile she looked under the sunlight and how far I would go to protect her from everything that lurked in my world, especially