Page 51 of Plus-Sized Bratva Prisoner

“They’ve set up dinner on the upper deck, where we can have privacy.” Yefim says, gesturing to the wooden area above us. “Are you hungry now? The sun will be setting soon, and it will be an incredible view from up there.”

“I’m actually really hungry,” I smile, trying to force my heart to calm down, to stop beating so fast, to stop falling so hard for this man. Ican’tfall for him, dammit. I can’t be that girl who does stupid things. I have to focus on my career and getting out of debt. And once I’m out of debt and he has whatever it is he needs from this marriage, he’s going to walk away, and we’ll get divorce, and he’ll go date some gorgeous girl like Zoey.

I bite my lower lip.

“You know I love it when you bite your lip, but it also means something is bothering you. What’s going on?” Yefim asks, leading me towards the stairs.

“Nothing, just got lost in thought for a moment. I really am hungry,” I chuckle.

“Oh dear, I’ve never seen you hangry. Do you get grumpy?”

“Yes. I can be a bit scary for sure,” I giggle.

“I’d like to see you try and be scary, little girl.” His voice drops deeper and seems to be filled with suggestion. Between my legs a certain heated need grows more intense.

I shake my head, walking up the stairs ahead of him.

The deck is completely clear of everything except for our one table. It's set up near the edge and surrounded by fairy lights, which are already sparkling in the late afternoon sun. I can’t even imagine how beautiful they are going to look when the sun sinks beneath the horizon.

“Yefim, does it always look like this?” I walk towards our table.

On the table are gorgeous crystal wine glasses, white and red roses, porcelain dinnerware, and candles flickering in the soft breeze.

“No, usually this deck is filled with tables. I had them clear them away to create something special for us.”

I stand near the table and hear the sound of water.

“Is there a fountain or a pond?”

“Look over there, in the corner.”

I turn around and can’t believe I didn’t notice it before. I was so focused on how beautifully set up the table was. My eyes wander over a massive stone wall, richly green with hanging vines, creepers, and moss, looking like a natural rock wall. Ithas water flowing down it, over the edge of the balcony, into a stream below that disappears into the vineyards.

I stare at it in disbelief. “It’s—it’s perfect,” I say, with my jaw practically on the floor.

“I designed it myself. It reminded me of one of my favorite places back home. The Gedmish Waterfalls were close to where I lived, and I used to hike there some weekends. When the rain fell, it was the most spectacular thing to witness. The way the plants grew along the rock face, and the sun pierced through the spray of water. I wish you could have seen it. Perhaps one day I will take you there.”

I stare at him in wonder at how passionately he is speaking about this place. He makes me want to go there. He makes me want to see it.

Yefim pulls my chair out for me and I sit down at our dinner table.

The chef brings out our first course of salmon carpaccio, drizzled with lemongrass oil and chives. It is divine. It gets paired with a glass of white wine, perfectly complementing the dish.

When our main course is served, the sun has pierced the sky with bright orange and pink streaks.

We eat the wild game meat on a bed of baby potatoes in garlic butter and wild rosemary. Yefim shifts his chair around to my side of the table.

“There is no point in sitting with my back to such a beautiful sunset. I’d rather enjoy the moment and the memory with you,” he says as he settles down with his thigh resting against mine, and that intense heat builds between my legs again as I try desperately to keep myself under control.

All through the main course I can barely focus on the food.

All I can think about the heat of his body against mine.

When dessert is served, the chef asks if we need anything else.

“No, thank you, you can go home. I really appreciate you coming in just for this.” Yefim smiles warmly and the chef nods, grateful.

Coffee and chocolate cake for dessert. The perfect ending to a perfect dinner.

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