Page 30 of The Bratva King's Twins

“About keeping busy,” I said, deciding it was worth pursuing after all. “I’ll see what I can do about it.”

With complete sincerity, Vivian gave me a smile bordering on sad gratitude as she blinked back the beginning of tears. “It would mean a lot to me.”

Throughout my childhood, I had been completely prepared to give everything for my siblings, and with my wife, it would be no different.

Decided, I leaned in and pressed an affectionate kiss to her forehead before forcing myself out of bed.

“Come down for breakfast and coffee when you’re ready. I’ll have it waiting for you,” I said, grabbing my phone from the nightstand as I headed for the door.

On my way, I caught the small smile on her lips before she rolled over to face away from me with a small murmur in response.

Thinking it was endearing, I chuckled to myself and left the room.

As the coffee brewed, I leaned against the countertop and scrolled through my phone, browsing through listings with a keen eye before finding something that struck my interest.

It was perfect, and exactly what Vivian needed.

With Benedikt’s contact open, I tapped the screen and initiated the call.

He answered after the first ring groggily. “What’s going on? Did something happen?”

“Nothing to worry about,” I replied with a faint grin on my face. “I just wanted to let you know I have an important purchase to make for my wife, and I need you to sort out the details.”

There was a moment of silence before Benedikt sighed. “Alright. What do you need?”

At the end of it, I knew Vivian would be completely over the moon.

Chapter 14 - Vivian

I never considered how much things between me and Ari would improve by simply giving in, by dropping those defensive walls and admitting what we were both thinking.

To my surprise, I was still riding that high of knowing we had sex, and how it changed my perception of almost everything. Not only was he a god physically, but he had changed his tune, too, and everything between us shifted.

As satisfied and relieved as I felt to get that tension behind us, I was still battling the confusion clouding my mind. I couldn’t understand why I enjoyed it so much, or how I let it happen in the first place. While he made my heart feel lighter and full of unfamiliar hope, I still didn’t know what to think.

My control and willingness to resist him were slipping, and I had no idea how to get it back again.

Worst of all, I didn’t know if I even wanted to fight him anymore. It was hard to want to after he had been kinder and more understanding of my feelings.

On top of everything, I had no idea where Ari was taking us as I sat in the passenger seat while he drove. The radio played quietly, and he seemingly knew where he was going without letting me in on that information.

I assumed we were going to see his family until we were somewhere more remote, leaving the city for the countryside. While it wasn’t too far, it was a change from what we were used to, and soon enough, long stretches of farmland appeared all around us.

I was somewhat unsettled the farther we went, at a complete loss for where we were until he turned into a long lane.

Ogling out the window, I took in the stretch of pastures, where horses grazed in the gentle winds. Up ahead, there was a huge stable with red siding, along with both an indoor and outdoor riding ring. The property looked immaculate and like any horse lover’s dream.

I looked at Ari in complete disbelief as the realization set in.

He took what I said to heart, and surely this was how we were going to spend the day together. That swell of emotions was almost impossible to hold back as he gave me a knowing smile and killed the engine before popping the door open.

“Come on,” he said simply, gesturing with his head for me to do the same. “Let’s have a look.”

As my heart kickstarted again, I undid my seatbelt and followed.

The moment the fresh country air hit me, I felt like I was back at the old stables. Like I was in my favorite comfort place, and I never had to worry about anything while I was there.

“Is this what we’re doing?” I asked, falling into step with him as he guided me toward the nearest field. “Going riding?”

---