I knew she could feel it too. My desire for her, my love, my promise to keep her safe from everything that would ever dare to hurt her. The kiss broke and her forehead touched mine, and I just stayed there, looking into her eyes, trying to memorize the exact shade of her eyes and how beautiful she
When Nikolai entered Kremlin Keg House, a high-end bar, it was a little after dinnertime and a little before nightfall. The place was crowded with people, which wasn’t surprising, since Kremlin was a very famous place among the town’s people and tourists as well. He took a deep breath and looked ar
Konstantin narrowed his eyes. He looked tired. The light on the wall was casting a shadow on his face, and he had bags under his eyes. “Neither have you, I see.” He poured two glasses of whiskey and slid one to Nikolai, keeping the other one for himself. “But that is not why you came, is it? Drink.”
[ANASTASIA] “Are you ready?” Ivan asks, holding me from behind while I am all dressed in front of the dressing table. I nod. But truth be told, I’m not ready at all. At least, I don’t think I am, or could ever be. Just the thought of parting with my son is enough to make me break down into tear
He looks up and meets my gaze, the intensity in his eyes is almost enough to burn my soul. “Did I tell you how gorgeous you look?” I bite my lip. “You did.” His eyes darken even more. “And did I mention that I love you?” “Yes, more than once.” He smirks, and gets back to his feet, offering me hi
“We’re waiting for you downstairs,” it’s Lena’s voice. “Is everything alright?” “Yes, just…” Ivan closes his eyes and sighs, shaking his head as if he can’t believe that we actually have to deal with this right now. “You go ahead,” he tells her. “We’ll be out in a bit.” “Are you sure everything’s
[IVAN] The dinner at the fine dining restaurant goes more smoothly than expected. The kids are behaving surprisingly well considering the situation they’re in, and Ana is trying her best not to cry and ruin her makeup again. She’s smiling and laughing with the kids, trying to enjoy the night despi
I give the bottle another spin and everyone follows its movement with their eyes. It spins for a moment before stopping on Ana. I smile and clap my hands. “Alright. So, truth or dare?” Ana rolls her eyes at me. “Truth.” “What was the last lie you told?” I ask her, narrowing my eyes a bit, already
After our fourth round of pure, wild sex, I have nothing left in me. Every ounce of energy drained, I barely manage to pull the sheets over myself before sleep claims me.When I wake hours later, the room is dim, the soft glow of my bedside lamp casting long shadows on the walls. My body feels heavy
[NADIA]“You’re here?” I say into the phone, clutching my books tightly to my chest as I glance around. “Where?”“Outside. Meet me when you’re done with your classes.”A wide grin spreads across my face, excitement bubbling inside me. “Oh, I’m done. And even if I wasn’t, I’d still run to you.”Dimit
The Ivan I know is strong. Unshakable. Even in the worst situations, he carries himself with a quiet, effortless confidence that makes you believe nothing could ever touch him.But the man lying in this hospital bed, surrounded by beeping machines and the sterile scent of antiseptic, looks nothing l
[ANASTASIA]Ever since I woke up after the incident, I have been dying to see Ivan.But now that I’m standing outside his room—where supposedly he had been admitted—, I can’t muster up the courage to push open the damn door.I’m nervous. Terrified. And most of all, unsure.I don’t know if I’m ready
Lena presses her lips together tightly, the color draining from her face until it looks almost lifeless.For a long moment, she doesn’t speak. The silence stretches between us, thick and suffocating. I can feel my heartbeat in my ears, pounding relentlessly, echoing my fear.Why the hell is she taki
[ANASTASIA]The next time I open my eyes, I’m not alone.Lena sits next to my bed, her hand in mine, her eyes closed, as if she fell asleep while watching over me.For the first time since waking up from my so-called long slumber, I look at her carefully. She looks more tired than I’ve ever seen her
[NIKOLAI]Once we finally get to his office, Konstantin takes his seat behind the desk and raises an eyebrow. He looks kind of pissed, but not enough to end me right here and now.He might have the power to do that and carry on with his day as if nothing happened, but I know in my gut he won’t. He m
[NIKOLAI]I hang up the phone and stare hard at the ground.“Fuck you, Dimitri!” I growl, clenching the phone tighter and huffing out a heavy breath.The bastard has the audacity to make me responsible for everything that happened to Ana and Ivan. But is it? Am I really the one to blame?I look away
[DIMITRI]I storm out of the building and light a cigarette, unable to think of anything else.I breathe in the smoke and then blow it out, hoping it will take away the stress pressing on my chest, making my lungs incapable of doing their job.I don’t know what to do anymore. Ana is finally awake, w