Page 70 of Ivory Oath

My face flames and I turn to Mikhail. “You think this is a good idea?”

“I do.” He runs a hand over his chin. “I probably should have taken you both back to the mansion yesterday. Now that the new security system is up, it’s the safest place for both of you. I just wasn’t ready to leave.”

“Neither was I.” The last thing I want is for him to think Dante’s accident this morning was his fault. I would have agreed to live out here if he’d suggested it.

Mikhail fists the fabric at my waist and I don’t think there’s anywhere in the world I wouldn’t follow him.

“Now, neither of you have to leave,” Anatoly says suddenly. “But I do. Because the sexual tension in this room is unbearable.”

Mikhail takes a swing at Anatoly and he laughs. I dodge both of them to kneel down in front of Dante. He’s only been awake for a couple hours, but his eyes are already starting to droop closed.

“Your dad and Uncle Nat were talking and they think you should go back to the mansion tonight, but?—”

“You’re staying here.” He rubs at one of his eyes sleepily. “I know. Uncle Nat told me.”

“Is that okay?” I ask. “Because if it isn’t, I’ll come with you. We can all go back to the mansion tonight. It would be nice to be back in my own room.”

Although, when I blink, I see my father sitting on the end of my bed, waiting for me.

I shove the thought away and focus on Dante’s face. “You don’t have to go alone if you aren’t ready. I’ll come with you.”

“Uncle Nat said we were going to have a boys’ night. It can’t be a boys’ night if you’re there,” he points out.

“Then it doesn't have to be a boys’ night. It can be a family night instead.”

He wrinkles his nose at that idea. “I want to go with Uncle Nat and Uncle Raoul. It will be fun.”

He feels safe with them.

He’s happy.

He has a family.

These are all good things. Knowing that doesn’t stop me from planting wet kisses all over his face. “I’ll miss you. I love you. I’ll miss you. I love you.”

“Ew!” he squeals, giggling and trying to fight me off. “Gross, Mama!”

“Tell me you love me and I’ll quit,” I threaten between a kiss to each of his cheeks.

“I love you!” he gasps. “I love you.”

I hold his precious face in my hands and rub our noses together. “I really do love you, bud.”

He rolls his eyes, but smiles.

Anatoly and Raoul make quick work of loading all of Dante’s things into the Jeep. Dr. Price follows after them, glancing once towards the trees like maybe he’ll make a run for it before thinking better of it and getting into the car.

Then they’re gone.

And we’re alone.

Anatoly wasn’t wrong about the sexual tension. The air sizzles with it. It’s frigid outside, but I barely feel the cold.

I fold my hands in front of me. “Well, what now?”

Before I can even turn to look at Mikhail, he scoops me off my feet, cradles me against his chest, and carries me across the threshold of the cabin.

31

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