Total pages in book: 83
Estimated words: 79312 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 397(@200wpm)___ 317(@250wpm)___ 264(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 79312 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 397(@200wpm)___ 317(@250wpm)___ 264(@300wpm)
“But they need you here—”
He smiles. “And you're needed too, but most of the time, what you'll be doing for us can be done remotely.” He bends over and kisses a little curlicue on the corner of my temple. I love it when he does that. I think over what Vera has said, what she's revealed.
He's known me and wanted me for a very long time. And maybe that should freak me out. Maybe it's just a part of who he is, who we are as two unconventional people.
“You’d do that for me? Travel so I can be with my sister?”
“Of course,” he says warmly.
“I would love that, thank you.”
His lips meet mine, and I'm instantly aroused, instantly malleable and molded to him. I lick his tongue, savoring the thrill of his moan. It feels like lighting a match when I kiss him back. I run my hand down the length of his front, relishing the feel of his muscles, his hard abs, his bridled, unfathomable strength.
He kisses me again. “I have one more dose of medicine I'm going to give Nikita, then I'll join you. Why don't you get some rest. It's been a long day.”
He's not wrong. Part of me wants the assurance of him next to me in bed more than anything now. I follow him back to the room beside Nikita. I bend over the top of her head. “You're such a good girl, and I am so proud of you,” I whisper to her. “Get some rest now.”
His eyes meet mine when I rise. I love her.
I try to puzzle out how I feel about being a member of this family. It isn't just my husband's family anymore, but my sister's, too. Joining with the Romanovs is an excellent decision for all of us. Even my mother will be better off.
Not that you have a choice, a little voice in the back of my head says, but that voice is getting quieter.
I walk softly over to the dresser, my hands roaming over the folded clothing. It's all so beautiful, and it fits me so well. The smallest of luxuries, but I cannot take it for granted.
I open his drawer beneath mine and bury my head in the clean, folded white tees. I inhale deeply. They smell like him, invigorating and manly.
It's a little chilly tonight with the thunderstorm rolling in, but I’ll be warm in his tee. I steal one from the drawer.
A little golden key beneath his tees catches my attention. Huh. I eye it thoughtfully before I put it back. It looks like a small key you might use to open a desk drawer.
I strip off my clothes, feeling the cool air on my skin, and toss them toward the laundry basket. They fall to the floor.
“Good one, Lydia.” I shake my head and walk over to pick them up. I'm about to put them in the hamper when I look at the door again. I step over to it, curious. I feel like Alice in Wonderland. Something tells me I'm going to turn this handle and find myself upside down.
I take a deep breath and slowly turn the handle, curiosity and a touch of dread swirling within me.
The door is locked. Huh.
Strange.
I try the handle again, but it doesn't open. Not sure why I do because if it didn't open the first time, it definitely won't the second time.
The key… there was a key among his T-shirts. What if I… I walk over to his drawer and remove the key; my movements are hurried because I know I shouldn't be doing this. It's what he calls snooping.
He's against it, but dammit, I'm going to be his wife. He shouldn't have locked doors from me.
I walk back to the door and slide the key into the lock.
My heart races when it fits. I push the door open and stare for a moment before I realize what I’m seeing.
My hand covers my mouth in disbelief.
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
Five years ago
Viktor
Kolya and I sat at a local diner we frequented. It was hard to blend in for a guy my size, so I had to find a place where people might notice but not care. This diner was one of them.
“They say there's a virus at Liberty Ridge Academy,” Kolya said with a smile. “You wouldn't know anything about that, would you?”
I shrugged my shoulders and didn’t meet his eyes.
“A virus? That's bullshit. There were a few incidents, yeah, but maybe they’re exaggerated.”
I stared at the wall and took a long drink from my bottle. I thought about what I had done to reward her for being kind to Lydia. Another teacher had received similar treatment for showing her kindness.
The boy who called her fat got a merciless beating. Retribution can be both sweet and painful.
The girl who mocked her? I made sure her name was smeared on social media, branded as a blackmailing bitch.