Page 148 of Emerald Malice

I brush a stray tear from her cheek. “I don’t repeat my mistakes, lastochka. I’m not willing to risk your safety after what happened with Maria.”

Natalia props herself up against the headboard and pulls me towards her. She cradles me close, holding me the same way I held her through the worst of her catatonia. We don’t speak, but she presses a kiss to my cheek every few minutes, a small reminder that she’s still here.

And fuck, does it feel good.

After a long time, she strokes her fingers through my hair and kisses my lips. It’s soft and fleeting and full of promise.

“How about some breakfast?” she suggests.

The idea of leaving the pool house twists my stomach in uncomfortable knots. Leaving these four walls might break whatever spell has allowed the two of us to let down our guards and simply exist together.

“Or I can whip us up something right here,” Natalia suggests as if we’re on the same wavelength. “If you don’t mind enduring my subpar cooking.”

“How can I say no to an offer like that?”

She slips out of bed, giving me a full view of her perfect body before she pulls on her silk robe.

“I hope you have a strong stomach,” she warns before disappearing into the kitchen. “I might’ve oversold my cooking skills.”

It’s the smell of burning that draws me to the kitchen five minutes later.

“This is my kitchen, Andrey,” she warns with a spatula aimed at me like a sword. “My kitchen means my rules.”

I lift my hands in surrender. “I’m simply offering to be your sous chef. Do you need anything?”

I scan the kitchen for the source of the rancid smell. At the same time, Natalia spots it. “Oh, no! The eggs!”

The fire is on full blast, flames licking up the sides of the pan so the edge of the eggs are turning black, but the center is still a sloppy mess.

Natalia yanks the pan off the stove and is headed for the trash, but I slip it out of her hands.

“This is salvageable.”

I kick down the heat, scoop out the worst of the burnt bits, and give the eggs a good mix.

“Of course you’re good at this, too,” she grumbles behind me. “This is embarrassing.”

I can’t help but laugh. “No, it’s not.”

“I almost set eggs on fire.” She wrings her hands in front of her waist. “I was just nervous. I’ve never cooked for a man before. Or in this kitchen, and?—”

I grab her by the hips and reel her in towards me. She folds into my body with a gasp and I catch her lips with mine. When we pull apart, her cheeks are flushed.

“Luckily, I have a strong stomach.” I turn her towards the stove. “You finish cooking for me. I’ll eat them even if they catch on fire.”

In the end, the eggs are rubbery, but edible. Natalia and I eat them together. The windows and curtains remain closed. The pool house remains our own little world.

We don’t let ourselves talk about the people who are no doubt congregated in the main house, probably wondering what the hell is going on between us. We let it be just the two of us.

It’s not until mid-day that Natalia sighs into my chest. “I should go see how Misha and Remi are doing.”

I plant a kiss on the top of her head. “I suppose I should talk to my men.”

We hesitate, waiting to see if there’s any way we can put it off and stay here.

But duty calls. It always does. My obligations have never ended simply because I wanted them to.

“Everyone will want to know how you’re doing.”

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