Page 24 of Tyrant

Moments later we lay in each other’s arms, breathing short with sheens of sweat glistening off our skin. I was too preoccupied with thoughts of getting pregnant to fall asleep, but Zakhar was breathing evenly in no time. I wondered what he was dreaming about.

* * *

A car fetched us at the private airstrip. The driver wore a uniform with a hat and white gloves. You would have thought that he was escorting a prince. The route he took was void of traffic and seemed to be a private road based on my observations.

My suspicions became evident when that same road led directly into a circular driveway, just a few minutes later. The place was more opulent than the photos I saw, with the statue of a cherub in the center of the circular drive.

The lawn was vast and spread like a golf course for what seemed like miles. The house was indeed like a castle, painted all white, but it was breathtaking and a little intimidating.

A butler and several maids greeted us at the double front doors while someone else retrieved the bags from the car. Greeting the staff was nerve wracking as they all looked like they walked out of some regency drama.

Zakhar took my hand. “Come with me.”

He led me up the winding staircase and down a passage until we reached a bedroom. I thought he was taking me to meet his father, but he kicked the door shut and locked it. I was in his arms in a second where he proceeded to feel up my breasts.

“What are you doing? We just did it on the plane,” I protested.

He stopped and looked into my eyes. “Don’t you want to?”

This man knew how to get what he wanted. I was his wife, and the only reason was to bear him a heir. But by damn, he was making me weak, wanting him at every turn.

“Yes, I want you.”

There was no foreplay. This was a quickie, a very sexy tryst up against the door. I couldn’t believe the tension and passion in that one encounter. Could it be getting better every time? I must have been deluding myself, there was no way I was wanting him more each time. We finished, showered together and dressed together like normal married people. The truth was, I felt like a regular married woman as Zakhar never once made me feel any different. He never mentioned our contract or the urgency to get pregnant. Yet, I did not delude myself into thinking this was real. I knew as soon as I had his child, we would be done. I wondered how I would feel about that.

Chapter 12

Zakhar

“What have you done with her?”

The phone was on the bed in speaker mode while I dressed. Nikolai was not dealing well with the fact that his sweetheart was missing.

It was the following morning, and I was taking Tabitha to meet my dad. We had arrived late last evening and hadn’t had time to meet anyone. Right now, Nikolai was busting my chops about his little girlfriend.

“The baby wasn’t yours,” I informed him. “I had to do what was best for the family.”

He lowered his voice. “What do you mean it wasn’t mine?”

“I had a paternity test done it’s 99.9% accurate.”

“Are you sure?”

Picking up my earpiece from the dressing table, I slipped it into my ear. I then walked over to the bed and turned off the speaker from the phone.

“Nikky, you know I’d never do anything to hurt you. I just want what’s best for you.”

“Then let me come home for a while. I need to see father.”

“The jet is already on its way to pick you up. I think father’s time has arrived.”

“Okay Zakhar, see you in a bit.”

That was different, he wasn’t throwing a tantrum like I thought he would. I was just about ready to leave the room when Tabitha walked out of the bathroom looking like a million bucks. I couldn’t believe my good fortune meeting her when I did. I perhaps would have ended up marrying some chick like the first date I had.

I knew she was stressed about getting pregnant, but frankly, it didn’t matter now. I knew that she was my person the moment I walked into that hospital room. I wanted to let her know that I’d never let her go, but that promise – how could I break it if she wanted out? Nevertheless, we had two years to figure it out. Two years to spoil her, to get her to love me.

“I’m ready.” She announced with a shy smile. “I hope your father likes me.”

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