Page 80 of The Pakhan

I shifted slightly, feeling nothing but a warm glow throughout my body. As I swam up from the depth of an abyss and an amazing vision, I sensed I was yawning but it was far too comfortable to move just yet. Somewhere in the back of my mind I knew that I’d been deep asleep, the refreshing feeling only hindered by the slight cramp I felt in my neck.

A thudding heartbeat pounded into my ears, which finally forced me to open my eyes. Blinking, the light in the room I was in was just bright enough I winced. Where was I?

I scanned the area, finally starting to wake enough the memories flooded into my mind. Had I fallen asleep in the man’s office? A yawn stifled my thinking as I lifted my head, realizing my body was tilted. And still oh-so warm.

As I looked over, the sight of Vadim still asleep on the couch, his feet propped up on the coffee table, was the most delightful thing I’d seen in a long time. I didn’t want to disturb him, but his scent was driving me crazy, the feeling of being curled up underneath his arm as unexpected as the man.

It was tough to believe he’d slept so long that the late morning light was already streaming into the room. I would never have imagined he’d relax as much as he had. Shifting slightly, I brushed my hand down his chest, even daring to slide my index finger between the folds in his somehow still crisp white shirt.

His dry cleaner had used way too much starch when pressing. I resisted a giggle, daring to continue teasing him while he took a deep breath.

The few moments of quiet, of simply being around him were special. But it wasn’t real. None of this was. He was fooling himself if he believed what we’d shared could continue. He was smarter than that and I had to accept he was right. The thought sent a wave of sadness through me. But I was a realist. This wasn’t the kind of life I’d ever wanted, nor one I could accept. My father’s world had been oppressive, but this was… too dangerous.

I didn’t have a death wish.

When I blew into his ear, he finally stirred, shifting his head away from the tickling sensations. I did it again, stifling a giggle. I hadn’t known I was allowed to feel so lighthearted after the shit that had occurred.

Suddenly, voices caught my attention. His men sometimes came and went, which would make being caught this way embarrassing as hell. Possibly for both of us. He did everything in his power to act as if he cared about nothing but his daughters.

I was about to fully awaken him when a stark realization hit me.

They were female voices, both of which I recognized.

Shit. Shit. Shit.

Sofiya and Daniella had entered his house.

“Vadim,” I whispered, pushing him gently.

“Hmmm?”

“We have company.”

The man hadn’t achieved such tremendous power without sleeping with one eye open, prepared for anything including an attack at all times.

He jerked up, obviously trying to focus just as I’d done. The moment he narrowed his eyes, he hissed, likely realizing we were no longer alone.

The two girls were suddenly in the room before either one of us could react quickly enough. And from the position of our bodies, there was no possibility of denying what had occurred between us.

“What. The. Fuck?” Daniella glared at her father first then shifted her hate-filled gaze toward me. We’d certainly never been as close as I had been with Sofiya, but to see the venom in her eyes was horrible.

Damaging.

No matter what happened, or if any explanations were provided, the fact remained I was in a slinky silk robe with nothing underneath and their father was disheveled beside me, our bodies still intertwined.

I jerked away, feeling a horrible, heated flush on my face.

He was cool as a cucumber, slowly dropping his legs from the table and rising to his feet. “You should have called,” he told them, the tone clearly admonishing the fact they’d come in without an invitation.

“I thought this was still our home, Dad,” Daniella said completely sarcastically.

Vadim had more than just a soft spot for his daughters, but I could tell the morning hadn’t brought him any additional patience.

“That doesn’t mean you aren’t required to have a sense of decorum,” he told them.

I did what I could to make myself small as possible, shifting off the couch and heading around the coffee table in the opposite direction.

“You mean like you?” Daniella continued.

---