Page 167 of Sinful Games

"It’s nothing. You know I’d do anything for you, Caia," he said, his eyes painfully sincere. "Now eat."

With a faint blush creeping onto my cheeks, I picked up a piece of rye bread and generously spread it with butter, savoring the richness as it melted into the dense texture. The smoked salmon was delicate and flavorful, each bite a perfect blend of smoky and salty.

As I reached for a hard-boiled egg, Alexsei poured himself some tea, the steam rising and momentarily obscuring his weary face.

"You look like you haven't slept," I said gently, peeling the egg.

He shrugged, taking a sip of his tea. "Too much on my mind," he admitted. "But this breakfast should help. How’s the salmon?"

"It’s excellent," I replied, relishing another bite. "And these blinis are wonderful."

"Good," he nodded, reaching for a piece of cheese. "I'm glad you’re enjoying it."

As I chewed, I couldn’t shake the feeling that our conversation was painfully awkward, like we were tiptoeing around a minefield.

"Do you remember the time I tried to make chocolate bilinis?" I asked, trying to bridge the gap that had formed between us.

He looked up, a small smile tugging at the corners of his lips. "Of course. They turned out... interesting."

I laughed, the memory warming my heart. "They were a disaster, and you couldn’t stop laughing."

I was eight months pregnant at the time, trying to surprise him with a chocolate cake—nailed it—and some chocolate blinis. He came home from work with a shocked expression when he saw the white and blue balloons, I’d spent the whole afternoon blowing up. Sparkly ribbons adorned the walls, and a small mirror ball hung from the ceiling, just like those at eighties parties.

All that decoration had exhausted me more than I’d anticipated.

He wore the biggest smile on his face, so wide that my heart tightened, realizing birthdays must not have been a common thing for him in his youth. The cake turned out amazing, and after he blew out his candles, I pressed him to reveal his wish. He simply replied that he had exactly what he’d always dreamed of, placing a hand on my tummy and following it with a kiss on my lips.

"But that cake was perfect, though," Alexsei said, breaking my reverie.

"But the blinis were a disaster," I interrupted, laughing. "Iwas so determined to get them right. I wanted everything to be perfect for you."

"And it was," he said softly. "It really was. You made me feel like the luckiest man alive."

My heart fluttered.

"Even with the blini batter everywhere?" I teased.

"Especially with the blini batter everywhere," he chuckled. "It was one of the best birthdays I’ve ever had."

The memory hung between us, a bittersweet reminder of better times, and I could see the same longing in his eyes.

Alexsei cleared his throat. "Anyway, I’d like to know more about why you think someone is after you?"

And just like that, the barrier between us resurfaced.

I set my utensils down and took a sip of my tea. "It’s... this strange feeling I’ve been having lately. Like someone’s watching me."

"Watching you?" His brow furrowed.

"It’s hard to explain," I replied, feeling the weight of unease settle in my chest. "When I walk to work, I feel like there’s another presence with me, just lingering. And when I’m out running errands, I can’t shake the feeling of being followed."

A flicker of concern passed over Alexsei’s face. "Have you noticed anything else out of the ordinary?"

I nodded, my gaze dropping to the table. "Yes," I said, my voice barely a whisper. "Weird things have been happening at home too. Like items moving around when I’m not there and strange noises in the middle of the night. And two weeks ago, I found a dead kitten in my bedroom. The next day, a dead cat was lying on my doorstep."

His jaw clenched. "Have you talked to anyone else about this?"

"I mentioned it to Steven and his boyfriend," I replied, myvoice steady. "Obviously, I live with Steven, so I’m concerned because?—"

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