[DIMITRI]Handling kids is not an easy feat.I’ll shamelessly admit that I have failed miserably. But Nadia—this woman I can’t keep out of my mind—does such a fine job with Tatiana. It’s as if she has known that little girl her whole life. But that’s hardly the truth, is it? I would never have belie
Is this the time to confess? Do I even want to confess?The truth is: yes, I do. Because it’s too much to keep all this in. I want to be open, free, and able to say whatever I want. I don’t like these restrictions or this sense of fear that comes from lying or hiding stuff from her. I want her to kn
[NADIA]The rest of the flight is eerily quiet for me.After everything I said, heard and understood, I don’t know what more to say.I’m honestly, helplessly and hopelessly speechless.“Listen to me carefully,” he had said and I had no idea when the world around me stopped making sense. He continued
His gaze sweeps over me, a soft smile tugging at the corner of his lips. “I want to know what you think.”I focus on Tatiana again, who is busy admiring the luxurious interiors of our suite. “Why?” I ask quietly, knowing it might be too straightforward for his liking. But this isn’t the time for kin
[DIMITRI]The drive to the Blue Lake Forest passes by with a pool of anxiousness rolling deep in my stomach.Sometimes it feels like I can’t breathe. But I do anyway. Because that’s the only way to make sure I do this right.Ivan Volkov might not be the easiest man to work for, but he’s the kindest
[NADIA]There are guards at the door, near the elevator, and when I checked the balcony a few minutes ago, familiar faces were guarding the entire hotel from the main gates to the building across the road. If I’m not wrong, there’s even a sniper on the roof of the building across. How do I know? The
[DIMITRI]By the time I enter our hotel room, I’m greeted with absolute silence.The first thing I do is check the time.Half past midnight. Of course, everyone already slept.I sigh, heading for the small bar in one of the many rooms in the suite and making myself a large drink. After the kind of d
“You’re so beautiful,” I say.She’s still sleepy, but not as much as before. Her eyes are bright with confusion and her body is tense. I don’t blame her. I’m a bastard for waking her up like this.“D-Dimitri…”“Shh, kroshka.”“Wait, Dimitri…”“I can’t. Not now.”I unclasp her bra and free her breast
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