Page 29 of Kings of Cruelty

“You can be surprised,” Sierra says. “Besides, you already know what one is, so you should know what it looks like, right?” She bats her eyelashes at me.

“You’re going to mess it up,” I mutter, but I guess “shave it all” is still an option if I really hate it. It wouldn’t takethatlong to grow out again.

I let Nikolai get close and snip the first bits of hair off. Sierra has her phone out and says, “This guide says you should cut this first, and…”

They confer on how to properly give the haircut. I probably should have gone to a real stylist instead of letting these two amateurs handle it. I’d honestly thought I was going to chop off a bit and call it a day.

I admit that it feels nice, though. Nikolai and Sierra both get their hands on my scalp, directing my head to tilt in this and that direction. They argue softly about whether the hair is even, and Sierra helps get my hair wet again for easier cutting.

I could get used to this. I start zoning out, and I don’t bother keeping track of what they’re doing. Even the gentle buzz of the razor is soothing when they shave off one of the sides.

It isn’t until Sierra says brightly, “Okay. Now I’m going to style it,” that I start to pay attention again. Even then, I continue to drift as she works with a brush and a hair dryer, muttering about not having the proper product to really make it work.

Nikolai nudges my shoulder. “Hey? Earth to Yuri. Turn around and look in the mirror. You can see what a good job I did,” he says smugly.

Sierra elbows him again. “What a good jobwedid,” she huffs. “We’ll need some stuff to really style it properly, but this is a preview. What do you think?”

I glance at myself in the mirror, my mouth parting.

“Uh. You did this?” I ask, reaching up to touch the longer ends of the hair on one side. The other is shaved down to fuzz. It’s good, and neat, but still very much my style.

“Yep,” Sierra says, shooting a look at Nikolai. “Between the two of us. I think it’s a pretty good look. It’s especially good with the fresh blond color.” She nods, satisfied, then leans in to briefly brush her lips against mine. “I like it.”

“I told you I could do it,” Nikolai says, brushing at some of the stray hairs on my shoulder. “Now get dressed, asshole. No one wants to see you naked.”

“I want to see him naked,” Sierra mutters.

I roll my shoulders. The worst of the pain from the whipping is gone, and I’m left with a small ache when the tender healing skin stretches.

“I want to see you naked too, Sierra,” I say, smiling. Then I glance at Nikolai. “You can stay if you want. I guess.”

“Thanks, I think,” Nikolai says.

Sierra nudges him out of the way, then wraps her arms around me. “Something about the hair is extra sexy,” she says, kissing me again. “I’m glad you trusted us.” Her hands go to the towel around my waist, and she tugs it so it falls down around my feet.

I tilt her head up so I can kiss her. I can practically feel Nikolai’s eyes boring into me, but that gives me an extra thrill, too.

I don’t know what’s wrong with him lately. He never minded sharing a woman before.

My thumb rubs circles into Sierra’s soft belly—herpregnantbelly. Maybe Nikolai’s got a problem with Sierra being pregnant, but all it does for me is get me even more excited.

She’s ours, ours, ours.

No matter what happens now, she can never forget us.

Nikolai edges in closer, and he rests one hand at the small of her back as the other goes to move my hand away from her chin. “Hey. Share,” he demands.

Sierra rolls her eyes, but she turns her head. “Don’t be such a demanding prick,” she tells him, but she brushes her lips against his anyway. “Or I’ll make the two of you kiss, too.”

I snort in amusement. Apparently she really likes it when men kiss. “If it gets you wet, I’ll even add tongue,” I say, mostly to rile up Nikolai.

Nikolai shakes his head. “It’s one thing to kiss Kotya. It’s another to kiss Yura,” he complains.

“Why?” Sierra asks, tilting her head as she brushes her fingers against Nikolai’s cheek.

“I don’t know.” Nikolai shifts uncomfortably. “It just is.”

“Nikolai is scared,” I goad, pulling Sierra against my chest. “It’s fine. He isn’tadventurouslike we are.”

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