Page 31 of Unbreakable Vow

I jump off the couch like it just bit my ass and spin around to face him.

A dark shadow crosses his features, and his jaw is set.

How much of what I said did he hear?

“Hi.” I wave. “I thought you were out.”

“I had to get something.” He moves his eyes to Krista who wiggles her fingers at him.

He crooks a finger at me.

“Come here,” he says firmly.

“What is it?” I ask, taking a few steps around the couch and in his direction.

He keeps beckoning me with his finger until I’m standing right in front of him. Using the same finger, he lifts my chin and lowers his mouth to my ear. “I thought we discussed the idea of other men.”

My face flushes.

“I wasn’t talking about now. I was talking about later. I was just… not now, Sergei.” I swallow. His nose brushes across my cheek.

“I never want to hear you talk about it again. Not now or later or ever. Understand?” His mouth hovers over mine and all I can think about is how hot his kiss makes me.

I blink then move my eyes to his. “Yes. I understand.”

“Good.” He kisses my cheek. “And if I ever hear you speak of yourself in a negative light like that again, company or not, I will drag you over my knee and light your ass on fire. Yes?” His stare darkens, and I’m nailed to the floor by it.

I clear my throat. “Yeah. I mean, yes, Sergei.” I keep my voice low with his. He’s not speaking loud enough for Krista to overhear us. I’m fully aware that she’s going to want all the details when he leaves.

“Good girl.” His lips curl at the edges and he presses a quick kiss to mine. Just enough to whet my appetite before he pulls away and straights up to his full height. “I’ll be home late. Don’t stay up too late; the attorney will be here at eight o’clock.”

He straightens his shirtsleeves, tugging them out from the suit jacket and glances at Krista over my shoulder.

“You are Stephan’s girl.”

“Not anymore,” she answers. “He’s kind of a prick.”

My eyes go wide. She did not just say that about one of his men. I slowly drag my gaze from her to him, expecting to find fury burning in his eyes.

“Hmm.” And then he just turns and walks out of the room. The front door opens and shuts a few moments later.

When I turn back to Krista her jaw is slack and her eyes are wide.

“I can’t believe you just said that!”

“I can’t believe you think that guy is gonna just let you go in a few months,” she accuses with a jerk of her hand in the direction he walked.

I touch my lips with my fingertips and nod. “We made a deal,” I say.

“With that guy?” she continues to rant. At least she’s keeping her voice down. “He didn’t even say hi to me. Just ‘You’re Stephan’s girl.’” She mocks his voice and does a decent job with his slight Russian accent.

“He’s abrupt, I know.” I nod.

“Abrupt?” She laughs. “I think you’re just trying to convince yourself that you haven’t made a deal with the devil.”

I make my way back to the couch and plop down on the most luxurious furniture I’ve ever sat my ass on.

“It will be fine,” I say, but I’m not sure who I’m trying to convince. “Everything is going to be fine. Mom is going to be able to stay at the facility and I’ll be able to get a job that pays more so maybe I can get her into a better one later down the road.”

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