A broad daylight confession. A sharp hook, reeling me in like a helpless fish.His thumb brushed my cheek, and his eyes held the most sincerity I hadn’t seen since the last time my father told me he loved me.“You…. I…um…. I have never wanted any other woman as badly as I want you.” He eyed my lips, the timbre of his voice dropping to an even more husky tone. “When you ran away, I….”He pulled back, his eyes suddenly snapping back to that cold, unfeeling glare, as if he’d been slapped back to reality with a wet cloth.The absence of his hands on my skin left an unwelcome chill, and my eyes followed him as he rose to his feet. He pushed up his sleeves, flexing those hard muscles before his hands slipped into the pocket of his pants. He looked at me like he was about to school me.“Here, with me, you’re free to do whatever the fuck you want: grocery shopping, go to the mall, go for a swim. If you want to play video games, virtual reality, or chess. If you want to have takeout or eat atL
NikolaiTwo Weeks LaterNo woman more beautiful.No woman more fucking perfect.Adorned in her simple white gown and a crystal princess tiara, she offered a small smile, blushing underneath her veil, and I swear I felt my heart shift. It was a sudden move, stopping my breath for a second at her glowing radiance.The world around us spun in blurs. A haze or, better yet, a fucking dream. I barely heard the voice of the priest but watched her lips move when she said her vows. Her eyes twinkled like tiny diamonds sparkling in a sea of green. She seemed happy, content.When we picked the gold rings out of the velvet cases for the exchange, they glimmered like sun rays. Gold was intentional, priceless,andcustomized.When she lifted her finger, I leaned forward, whispering into her ear, “Look.”I tilted the gold double band, and her gaze dropped to the tiny gold-brown lettering and symbol crested on it.Rosa∞The smile on her lips moved to her eyes, shining even brighter when the ring slid
I smirked, sticking my two hands into my pockets and looking past her head toward the exit, where the remaining guests hopped into their cars to leave.For the wedding after-party, she said she wanted something simple with a bit of magic, so I arranged for it to be held on the field, a distance away from the main house. It ended an hour ago. We’d waited for the guests to leave and were heading now to our cars lined up on the driveway.“I don’t dance. Not anymore.”“I bet that’s not what Katherine will say.”She thought she’d mumbled it under her breath before she turned her head away, her smile looking like a permanent fixture on her face, but the light in her eyes now dulled.I opened my mouth to respond when blonde hair appeared in front of us in a flash—a woman. With blue eyes glittering like shiny disco balls and a sleek silver dress, she spread her arms around Rosa for a hug.“Oh, my God, Rosalyn? It’s really you.”We stopped walking. Timur and Anatoly and the rest of the men beh
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
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
“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
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
“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
Epilogue NikolaiOne Year Later“No, I am not fucking singing.”“You made a deal.”“Over a year ago.”Timur picked up a piece of cake and shoved it into his mouth, and Anatoly glared at him. I stood by the grill, watching them bicker. They’d been at it all day, something about a bet they made a year ago that I hadn’t paid much attention to at the time. Timur caught my eye, grinning like a kid with a secret, and I knew I was about to hear something absurd.“Hey, Niko,” he called out, taking a sip of his beer. “Remember that bet Anatoly and I made at your son’s christening?”I raised an eyebrow, flipping the burgers. “Vaguely. What about it?”.“Well,” Timur continued, his grin growing wider, “I lost. And now I have to sing ‘Happy Birthday’ to your son in true Russian style.”Anatoly barked out a laugh, shaking his head. “He said he’d nail it with the accent and all if he lost. So, now he has to do it.”Timur shot him a playful glare, then shrugged, clearly not too upset about having to
“What’s wrong? You’re seriously asking me that?” I sat up, pulling the covers tighter around myself and struggling to keep my voice low for the sake of our baby. “You come home at thishour without so much as a text, and you want to know what’s wrong?” Niko didn’t answer. His face was calm, unbothered, which only made my frustration worse. “Do you even realize what it feels like? To be sitting here, waiting for you, wondering if you’ll bother to show up at all?” I could feel the heat rising in my chest, my hands gripping the blanket as if that would stop the trembling. “It’s like you don’t even care anymore. It’s been three months, Niko. Three months since I felt you: your touch, your kisses, your presence in this goddamn house. “What’s wrong?I should be askingyouthat! What’s wrong, Niko? Don’t you want me anymore? Don’t you love me anymore? I mean, it should be simple, right? If there’s someone else out there—” “Don’t.” His icy time cut me off like a sharp knife. “Don’t finish tha
RosalynThree Months LaterMidnight.The city outside our penthouse apartment slept, but I was wide awake, patting Cian on my chest while watching rain pelts mercilessly hit the glass and purple lightning streaks flash through the dark skies. The soft glow from the nightlight cast shadows on the walls, making the room feel larger than it was, and the cold only made me miss him more.For three months, Niko’s absence weighed heavily on me. It was past midnight now, and he still wasn’t home. He had been working late for weeks now, always caught in something. There was always an excuse. His world was full of barricades, things he didn’t want me to touch or be a part of, and it was frustrating.I sighed, gently rocking the baby as he slowly quieted in my arms. “Who’s Mommy’s champion?” I kissed his nose, and his tiny face scrunched up for a moment before his breathing steadied. I looked down at him, my heart swelling with love. He was so beautiful and perfect, but I couldn’t shake the exha
Nikolai“I’ve got you.”“We’re going to do this together.”Everything echoed in a torturing slow motion: the heartbeat on the monitor, the footsteps and voices of the medical team swarming around us, their efficient movements a blur, her agonizing screams when the contractions hit, the sound of her tears, her nails digging into my skin as she held on tight, fighting for our baby.Fighting for us.The seconds seemed excruciatingly longer and more painful. Until....Until we heard him cry.Then, my heart stopped.I’d heard babies cry. Heck, I helped Freya change Alina and Alexei’s diapers one time. But this was different, more personal. The wails hit my chest, snatching my breath away at the first sound, and when the nurse picked him up, his stretched-out tiny arms and legs pinched me in the gut.Rosalyn was already fast asleep on the bed. The doctor said the pain knocked her out. So, I held the little fighter—our son.Mine.The last time I experienced a feeling as pumped as this was the
Our conversation paused midway, and we dragged our eyes back to the contenders, only to see Egor pull back his chair to the table and sit down grouchily.“The earlier we start feasting, the better.”Freya took the hint, rising to her feet to bring out extra plates from the kitchen while Niko withdrew with what looked like a triumphant smirk as he ushered Nadia to the chair beside their older brothers. He stiffened once she sat down, and she fidgeted with her fingers.“Egor?”He didn’t look at her. “What?”A tear dropped on her cheek. “I missed you.”His jaw flexed, but his fingers stopped drumming on the table. “You look skinny. Eat first, and we’ll talk later.”****More family members joined the long table; some of them I recognized, and others were unfamiliar. Smiling, I rose from the table to accompany Freya in serving the dishes. The aroma of vegetables, chicken, and Russian food filled the air, and for a moment, everything felt normal.Until a subtle ache stirred in my abdomen.
She waved a shiny silver spoon at Nikolai. “Niko? When are we finally going to dig in? I might just abandon this chicken and heat up some fries, you know?”“He wants us to die of hunger.” Egor pitched in, addressing everyone, but his eyes were fixed on me.I gulped.The aura surrounding this man was enough to make anyone fall on their knees in fear, but the children and his wife paraded around him like he was an ordinary man selling flowers on the street.“Maybe if you asked him, he’d comply in a heartbeat.”Reacting was easier with a forward and blunt Freya, but how was I supposed to respond to a teasing Egor? Even if we’d gotten acquainted pretty fast, and he formally acknowledged me as his sister-in-law, I wasn’t sure how to act around him.Be nice?Tease back?Be formal?Thankfully, Nikolai swooped in to save my tied tongue. Flashing a smile at Freya, he put Alina down and stationed himself behind my chair. “We’ll eat soon. I’m expecting someone.”Egor’s brows dipped, and he sat u
RosalynBy the time the chicken was cooked, the kids were already halfway through stuffing their faces with burgers and fries. Swaying her hips with purposeful strides and feminine grace, Freya emerged from the kitchen with thick muffins in one tray and brownies in another, and behind her, her husband, Egor, had the decorated tray of grilled chicken.The house buzzed with Yezhovs everywhere: distant cousins, cousins, uncles, and aunties. Children played around the house, a few of them running around with water guns and being yelled at by their mothers to take the gun fight outside.It was fun to watch everyone mingling, like small worlds in a much larger one. The older girls, perfect Generation-Z representations, went upstairs for privacy while the boys played sports outside.I stuck closer to Freya and Yezhov, embracing the warmth that came with their side talks and laughter. A few men were gathered on the table, bantering in their language, but we paid them no heed.Alina was the fi
My voice echoed around the house, met with a cold, silent response. I’d never panicked before, not even when the worst things happened. So, this sinking feeling, like icicles creeping around the corners of my chest, and the sudden sweep of worry that enveloped me couldn’t be signs of panic.“Rosa? Where the hell are you?”I plucked my phone out to place a call. Avian had been on ground patrol duty. He said no one saw her leave the house. The cars were untouched under the shade. He wasn’t lying. I’d have been alerted the second she left the house, but I received nothing. Bare-chested, I marched out of the room, searching from every room in the house to the kitchen, to the foyer, and then outside.I went round the house and….My heart stopped thrashing crazily against my chest.Under one of the trees in the backyard, with lit lamp posts lined across the pathway, she sat on the iron bench, her head thrown back, gazing at the stars. A gentle breeze ruffled the tips of her hair, and the he
Four Months LaterEvery day for the past months had not been what I expected. A fucking rollercoaster ride with my wife was not what I’d looked forward to after Paris. Mustering the most strength I could, I threw the moss-green stress ball across the room, watching it fly above Anatoly’s head.Goddamnit. Goddamnit all to hell.Anatoly didn’t so much as flinch or bat an eyelash. Picking his fingers, and without lifting his head, he murmured, “It’s that bad?”Bad?I wished it was fucking bad. Then, I’d have at least had breakfast this morning. I wouldn’t have had six breadsticks thrown at me or gotten a smack on my chest after advising her to skip carbs and wine for the health of the baby. If it werebad, she’d have allowed me to kiss her good night last night. I would not have had the pillow flung at my head instead.What I was experiencing wasworse.If it wasn’t the strangest of cravings, then she was crying for no reason. And if she wasn’t crying, she was definitely getting mad at me