I run my fingers through my hair, tension building in my chest. I need to talk to Ana before this blows up in my face.Standing abruptly, I grab my jacket. “I’ve got to head home. Tell Igor I had a good time.”Bianchi gives me a nod. “I’ll make sure he gets home safe. Have a good night, Dmitri.”I leave the club, ignoring the women who call out to me, their hands grazing my shoulders as I walk past. They mean nothing. My mind is elsewhere, back at home, with Anastasia.The drive is a blur. All I can think about is what Lucia might have said to Ana. The sex we had might have been a mistake, but Ana deserves to hear the truth from me. I have to tell her that Lucia and I have been over for a long time, and there’s no place for her in my life now.When I step into the house, it’s Yelena I find in the living room, casually eating bread with jam while watching TV. She turns to me with a teasing grin.“About time you came home. I was starting to think you had another family.”“Why are you st
ANA“Flowers for you,” Steve announces as he strides into my office, holding a massive bouquet of white and red roses like it’s the most normal thing in the world for me to receive. “Met the delivery guy on my way in. Figured I’d do him a solid and bring them up.”I stare at the bouquet suspiciously. “What about my signature?” I ask, wondering who would send me something like this. The only person who might send me roses is Yelena, and she’s more of a chocolates and cocktails kind of girl.Steve shrugs. “I signed for you.”Of course, he did. Because that’s totally normal. I should probably ask how, since delivery guys don’t just hand things over without verification, but I can already imagine him pulling some fast-talking nonsense. Not worth the effort.I get up and take the roses from him, their scent hitting me as I inhale deeply. It’s nice—unexpected, but nice. A small smile creeps onto my face, though I can’t shake the curiosity gnawing at me. Who’s responsible for this?“This cam
And before I can stop myself, I blurt out the question that’s been nagging at me. “Is it the sex? Are you trying to apologize for that night? Because if so, you don’t have to. It was mutual, and this,” I gesture to the table, the whole evening, “really isn’t necessary.”For a split second, I think I see a flicker of amusement on his face, but it’s gone just as quickly. He leans back slightly, his lips curling into a small smile. “I’m not doing this because of what happened that night, Ana. You’re my wife. It’s expected that I treat you right, regardless of our...situationship.”Situationship. Right. I’d almost forgotten that’s all this is—a weird situation. Not a real marriage, not a real relationship. Just a deal.I sigh softly, letting the disappointment creep in again. “I see.”Dmitri tilts his head slightly, watching me, and I wonder if he can sense the shift in my mood. “What’s wrong?” he asks.“Nothing,” I lie, forcing a smile. “Everything’s fine.”He hands me the menu. “What wo
DMITRI“Have I ever told you that I like this new you?” Yelena’s voice drips with amusement as she lounges on the sofa in the corner of my office. Her legs are crossed, a playful pout on her lips. “Everyone says it’s impossible to change a man set in his ways, but Ana’s a magician.”I stare at the bouquet sitting on my desk, my eyes narrowing. “How?”Yelena uncrosses her legs, strolling over to my desk with her usual air of confidence. She pulls out the chair across from me and sits down, her gaze fixed on the flowers. “Did you pick these out yourself?” she asks, her tone teasing.“I didn’t,” I reply bluntly. “I had Jakob take care of it.”Her eyes flicker with amusement, and I can sense she’s about to crack a joke. I scowl, my patience already running thin. “What’s your point, Yelena?”She gives me a shrug, but there’s a glint of mischief in her expression that makes my jaw tighten. Finally, she relents with a smirk. “It’s nothing, really. Just… I’ve never seen you buy flowers for an
I turn, my voice calm once more as I head back to my seat. “Now that we’ve settled that, let’s get on with the meeting.”At eight o’clock sharp,I toss my bag into the backseat of the car, the weight of the day pressing against my shoulders. It’s a typical New York evening—traffic clogging every inch of the FDR, slowing me down as I navigate through the endless sea of brake lights. I grip the steering wheel harder than usual, my mind circling back to Ana.I asked Yelena to give her the flowers. Red and white carnations.Love and admiration.My chest tightens as I pull into the driveway. I could have chosen roses, something simple, but no—I had to be difficult. I’d chosen carnations, flowers thatmeantsomething, and I don’t even know if Ana is the type to care about that kind of thing.What’s worse, I’d allowed Yelena to lie and say the flowers were from her.The door swings open, and I step into the quiet foyer, the scent of freshly popped popcorn drifting from the living room. My feet
ANADaria’s face says it all as I approach her desk.Great. Just great.“Let me guess, he’s pulled another disappearing act?” I ask, my heart sinking. I thought giving Papa some space would make him miss me, but apparently his ego’s gotten so big it’s pushed out any paternal feelings. At this rate, I’ll be collecting social security before he decides to grace me with his presence.Daria shakes her head, oozing sympathy. “Sorry, hon. I wouldn’t hold your breath waiting. You know how he gets.”My shoulders slump like they’re trying to touch the floor. “Right. Because heaven forbid Nikolai Petrov face his only daughter.” A spark of defiance flares up. “Maybe I should just camp out here. He can’t ignore me forever, can he?”I see the pity in Daria’s eyes as she offers me a chair. “If you think it’ll work. Or I could tell you where he is. If you’re feeling brave enough to make a scene?—”“No, no,” I cut her off, shaking my head so hard I’m surprised it doesn’t fall off. “Can’t embarrass th
I shrug. “I went to see my father, then I went to see my mom, and I didn’t want to come back here because I hate this place. So, I went to a bar. And I drank.” My lips stretch into a lopsided grin. “It was so much fun.”Dmitri runs his fingers through his hair. “How did you get home, then?”How did I get home?I scratch my head, trying to remember the details, but all I feel is this warm, fuzzy feeling in my head. Like I’m floating on clouds but not quite.“Where’s your car?” he prompts.“Ah!” I smack my temple as I remember. “I drove. Slowly,” I drag out the last word, “because I didn’t want to get into an accident. Yeah. I drove here.”Panic rushes into Dmitri’s eyes for a split second, then he races past me. Seconds later, I hear the door open and slam shut.I pout.What’s his problem?He’s sure acting strange tonight.You’re my wife. No other reason.Who says something like that? I scoff as he rushes back into the living room, taking me by surprise when he grabs my shoulders.“Why
DMITRII guide Ana onto the yacht’s deck, my grip firm on her hand. “Watch your step,” I warn, my voice low and commanding. I’m not used to being gentle, but with her, I find myself adjusting.Her midnight blue dress ripples in the breeze, a stark contrast to the white of the yacht. She moves with a grace that reminds me she’s no stranger to luxury. Of course, she isn’t, she’s Nikolai Petrov’s daughter.“I’m not going to fall,” she laughs softly. “This isn’t my first time on a yacht.”“I know,” I respond curtly, reminding myself of who she is, who I am. This isn’t a fairytale romance, it’s a strategic move. At least, that was the idea.I survey the deck, noting the scattered carnation petals with satisfaction. Everything is precisely as I ordered. I’m a man who demands perfection, even in this.“Carnations?” Ana asks, her voice tinged with surprise.I nod, keeping my face impassive. “Red and white. I assumed you’d had your fill of roses.”A small smile plays on her lips. “You assumed
I managed a nod, knowing I was bare before this man, standing before him in a wet dress with no bra underneath and no panties. Just me, wearing my heart on my sleeve, giving him total undenied access, knowing fully well that he could squish me in the palm of his hands without blinking.His lips skimmed the inner part of my thighs, and his teeth grazed the skin on his path.“You should know, I do. I love it when we fuck, Rosa.” He looked up, locking me in with his eyes. “And I love you.”He slipped two fingers through my wetness and pushed them inside of me. I gasped, arched my back, dug my nailsinto his shoulders, and groaned in pleasure. My fingers found purchase in his hair, and overwhelming emotion made me rock my hips while the water hit my face.A fuse lit up inside me, assembling all the puzzle pieces and aligning my words. “I love you, too, Niko.”And I did love him, maybe even too much for my heart to contain.“Fuck,” he mumbled and kissed my thighs again.Euphoria unraveled i
“You were part of the best things that could have ever happened to me after Father died. There was almost nothing to laugh or smile about, but you managed to bring smiles to my face. When they pushed me around, you were always there to catch me. When I was freezing cold, you always had a blanket on standby. When I was sick, you made sure I was taken care of. Silent but observant. Cold yet warm, just enough to heat me up. I might never have believed in guardian angels if it weren’t foryou. Aiden, I’m forever grateful for those times. I am thankful that, even if you’ve never expressly admitted it, you loved me.”“I still do.”His outright, sudden confession dealt a sharp blow to my chest. I sucked in a deep breath, the weight of what I was about to do almost crushing me.“Aiden…I’m letting go.”“Rosalyn, wait—”“And it is a bit ironic that I am letting go when, really, neither of us were hanging on. But it is for the best. I will always cherish the friendship we had. But knowing that yo
“Let’s just not talk about the past anymore, okay?” She linked her arm through mine. “There’s a lot I’ve missed, I know. I heard Egor’s marriage announcement; it spread like wildfire, especially since he was getting married to that detective hottie.”“Freya,” I added for clarity. “They have two children now.”Her face grew red, and I knew she was going to cry again. Pulling her in for a side hug, I said, “You’re not going to fuckingcry, Nadia.” I looked at her, letting her see through the tough exterior guarding my heart. “Please.”She threw her head back, blinking the tears back amidst chuckles. “Okay. For that heartfelt plea, I won’t. I know it almost cost you your liver to say it. Wouldn’t want to ruin my makeup either.”“I’ll get you up to speed, but first, come, let me introduce you to Rosa, my wife. She’ll be waiting.”When we walked back to the table where my wife was meant to be waiting, she was nowhere to be found.****I found her by the lit garden, seated on the bench with
RosalynI finally met Nadia.I’d walked in to see her seated at our table with the most elegance. She was decent, at least toward me. Nice, friendly, and warm. Basically everything her brothers weren’t. I hadn’t gotten a chance to meet the oldest Yezhov sibling yet, Egor, but judging from Nikolai’s mannerisms and disciplined work ethic, I suspected there might have been a rub-off from thePahkanof the Bratva. Talking to Nadia had been like conversing with an older version of myself, a more resilient, focused, and successful version. In the short time we spent dining with her, she inspired me, and I was happy when Niko said we’d be seeing her more often.Now, we were back in the hotel room.Quietly, he went into the closet to do whatever he wanted to do there, and I walked over to the glass windows, brushing my fingers through the light curtains. I wanted to stop caring, but my heart refused to comply. Fuming, I let my hand drop from the curtains and folded my fingers into fists, diggin
“Let’s just not talk about the past anymore, okay?” She linked her arm through mine. “There’s a lot I’ve missed, I know. I heard Egor’s marriage announcement; it spread like wildfire, especially since he was getting married to that detective hottie.”“Freya,” I added for clarity. “They have two children now.”Her face grew red, and I knew she was going to cry again. Pulling her in for a side hug, I said, “You’re not going to fuckingcry, Nadia.” I looked at her, letting her see through the tough exterior guarding my heart. “Please.”She threw her head back, blinking the tears back amidst chuckles. “Okay. For that heartfelt plea, I won’t. I know it almost cost you your liver to say it. Wouldn’t want to ruin my makeup either.”“I’ll get you up to speed, but first, come, let me introduce you to Rosa, my wife. She’ll be waiting.”When we walked back to the table where my wife was meant to be waiting, she was nowhere to be found.****I found her by the lit garden, seated on the bench with
NikolaiI never thought I’d enjoy an evening dinner at a fancy restaurant so much thatIdidn’t want it to end. This moment with Rosa was beyond the physical attraction, that magnetic pull that just made me want to drag her back to the hotel room to fuck her as hard and as greedily as I wanted to.Something else was there. Something tangible that sparked a deeper interest as she revealed more sides of herself. The simmer started from the moment I saw her walk down that aisle. And after last night, I deluded myself into thinking I’d gotten that insane drive out of my system. Then, during our flight, it hit again, more forceful than before.Those darn leggings. The skin-tight fabric clung to her, every dip, curve, and soft angle pronounced. Watching her without being able to touch on that fucking jet was torture. So, I chose work over admiring.And again, the more we talked, the more I realized that a pantyhose and smart mind combination made it even more difficult to keep my shit togethe
“That dress was made for you,” he said, his voice dangerously low and husky.A flush rose to my cheeks as he approached me, his eyes never leaving mine. He reached out and gently adjusted the strap of my dress, and his cool fingers brushed my shoulders, his touch sending shivers down my spine.He smelled like soap and aftershave, and I wanted to bury my face in his neck.After a brief count of fifteen minutes, he was dressed in a plain black dress shirt, matching pants, and chestnut brown Italian leather soles. Then, he walked up to me. Undeniably handsome and drool-worthy.He offered his arm.“Shall we?”****We were both laughing until a teardrop slipped from my eyes.An hour since we’d arrived at the famousLa Coeur de la Vie, and we were already having a most splendid time. I couldn’t remember the reason for our laughter. The memory was vague, but I recalled pieces.It started from the menu. I didn’t know what to order, couldn’t even pronounce the words, butof course,Nikolai was fl
Paris?Now, reeling back to the present, we sat in an uncomfortable, awkward silence, facing each other in one of his private jets.“You’re staring.”I blinked, playing with my fingers and bouncing my sneakers on the beige cabin rug. “No, I’m not.”“Yes, you are.”“No, I’m not.”He turned off the iPad, slid it to the messenger bag, and folded his arms across his waist, looking up at me. Mirth lingered in his gaze, and he shrugged a shoulder.“Yes, you are.”I shifted my foot, crossing one leg over the other, and faced him squarely. The jet jerked under a wave of mild turbulence, and I glanced at the roof, calming my racing heart before responding. That quick scare somehow made me even more nervous.“How would you know?”“Easy. I could feel your eyes on me.”“I was looking out the window.”“Then, I guess, I’m the window.”A small smile tugged on my mouth. He was just so full of himself, wasn’t he? “You’re just proud. You think you’re the center of attention.”Mimicking me, he crossed h
Rosalyn“The name of the song is ‘Carry You Home’ by Alex Warren.” I put the phone down and looked up at him. “And Hannah was right; it isn’t a country song. The singer dedicated it to his wife. How romantic.”The corner of his lips made the smallest curve in a smirk, but he didn’t glance away from his phone. He kept tap, tap, tapping away. “You get a new phone, andthatis the first thing you decide to check.”I shrugged, folding my arms. “I guess.”Dismissively, he scoffed, returning his full attention to whatever business he had to attend to, and pulled out his iPad from the messenger bag on the passenger seat beside him.Shyly, I ogled him, sweeping my eyes from the snug fit of his bold Matcha green cashmere sweater to the black skinny jeans framing his lean, muscled thighs and then the suede glow of his black Timberlands. He looked delectable, and it almost hurt to look at how beautifully perfect this man was, so I looked out the window instead. Regardless, his image was permanentl