Total pages in book: 16
Estimated words: 15192 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 76(@200wpm)___ 61(@250wpm)___ 51(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 15192 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 76(@200wpm)___ 61(@250wpm)___ 51(@300wpm)
Instead of feeling offended, the humor in her tone makes me chuckle.
Nina rests both palms on the table and leans forward, and I try to ignore the way her soft tits press against it. What a lucky, lucky table. “How do you like your foods, then, if you find ice cream disgusting? Cooked with blood from your enemies?”
I raise an eyebrow at her and wipe my mouth. “Do you think I’m a savage?” I fork another dumpling. “No. I sprinkle shaved liver on the side.”
Her mouth forms an ‘O’. “And what about the kidney? The heart? Surely, a non-savage man like yourself wouldn’t waste anything.”
“Dario, what can you do with the kidney and heart?”
Dario perks up, eyes flicking from me to Nina. He tries to keep a straight face, but the side of his mouth twitches. “We can saute them and add onions and mushrooms.”
“Oh my God. What is this household?” Nina buries her face in her hands, but her shoulders shake. “Please tell me this is actually beef stroganoff.”
Dario shrugs. “It’s for me to know and for you to find out.”
He leaves with a flourish, and Nina bursts out laughing. “Dario jokes! He always looks so serious with me.”
“Maybe you were serious with him too. He takes a feel with people, and he will only lighten up if you lighten up.”
Nina smiles and goes back to eating, and I don’t have an appetite anymore. All I want to do is watch her, trace her with my eyes, and be grateful for her presence. I don’t remember enjoying a meal like this.
She swallows her food and picks a grilled carrot. “You have an amazing household.”
“Really? Are you sure? Because you can tell the truth about Elsa and Wilma, and I’ll have them pack tonight.”
“We heard that, Nikolai. Did you know cyanide is colorless, and you won’t suspect anything if I pour some on your coffee?” Elsa calls out from the kitchen.
“Carbon monoxide is also a thing. Remember, you have a fireplace in your bedroom,” Wilma chimes in.
I shake my head while Nina grins and gives the two women behind her a thumbs-up. What is going on here? Did I step inside a different house? How the hell are they ganging up on me?
“Can you please pass me the dumpling?” Nina asks.
I hand her the small bowl, and as she takes it, her fingers brush my hand. It’s innocent, yet it’s not. It ignites the pulse of excitement in my veins, my skin burning hot through my shirt. But it’s not just me.
Nina’s pupils widen, flush crawling up her neck, eyes going a little hazy. It happens in a few seconds, but the front of my dress pants becomes uncomfortably tight, forcing me to adjust my position in my seat.
If I stand, Nina will know. The entire household will know. Even the fucking chandelier will know.
I can’t have that, so I steer our conversation in a different direction and chastise myself for acting like a hormonal teenager. “So, Biology, huh? What do you plan on doing with the degree?”
Nina relaxes and exhales a long, slow breath. “I want to be a doctor someday.” She starts to say something else, but she closes her mouth briefly and opens it again. “My father says men don’t like career-driven women.”
“I do.”
“Really?”
“I like my woman to follow whatever it is she wants.” Fucking slip of the tongue. I just referred to her as mine. Good thing it goes over her head.
“So let me get this straight. I’m allowed to have a career as a doctor?”
I put my fork down and lean back, intertwining my fingers over my stomach. “Allowed? Nina, you are my wife. I don’t know what kind of marriage you thought this was, but you and I are equals. I will not tell you what to do and not do, but you can do that to me.”
“I thought we’re equals?”
I smirk. “Maybe I like being ordered around. It’s boring being the boss 24/7.”
Nina cracks up, her eyes crinkling at the corners as she points the fork at me. “You are so going to regret that. I have never bossed anyone in my life, so yes, I will take you up on that offer.”
“Okay.”
“First order of business.” Nina folds her arms and rests them on the table. “You and I have dinner every night.”
“What time?”
“You have to be home at seven.”
“Done. What else?”
“I’ll think about them as I go. That’s it for now.”
“You hear that, Dario?” I don’t even have to raise my voice because I know those little shits are listening. “Dinner at seven every night with my wife. No ice cream.”
“Someday, I’m going to convince you to try them, and you’re going to love it.”
Little does she know she has the power to make me do whatever she wants.
7
NINA
Idon’t remember enjoying a meal this much. In fact, I don’t remember engaging with anyone at dinner.