Page 47 of Bound by Blood

He cleared his throat and forced himself to step away from the door. “I know you will not want to wear a dress and I respect your wishes.”

Laney snorted and rolled her eyes. “Since when? The last time you kidnapped me?”

He grunted. “Perhaps we can let that go?”

“Perhaps not,” she replied snappily, standing with her hands on her hips.

He sighed and rubbed a hand over his bearded chin. “I am not trying to fight with you woman. Just the opposite. I intend to take you out for a formal meal. I will have an outfit delivered to your room in a half an hour. Let the maid know if it is not to your taste and I will have it exchanged.”

Her mouth parted in surprise and she tilted her head. He was giving her a choice? He wouldn’t force her to wear something she didn’t like. It was such a simple thing, but for the first time in her life she was experiencing the freedom of choices. He studied the emotions flickering across her face for a moment before he turned and strode away down the hall. His tread was light for such a massive man.

She twirled excitedly on the spot and grinned. She couldn’t wait to tell Jin all about her plans for the evening. She knew Jin would be happy for her and Boris to go out alone together. Jin loved Rosa and would be pleased to have the older woman to herself for the entire evening. It was a toss-up whether Rosa or Laney spoiled Jin more at the moment. The little girl’s life thus far had not been an easy one, so a little spoiling would not hurt her. They would eventually settle into a more balanced routine.

Laney’s eyes widened at that thought. She realized it was true though. Despite Boris’ threats to keep them there forever, she knew she wanted to stay. She wanted to keep the happiness she was currently experiencing and hold on to it forever. She would kill anyone that tried to fuck with her new life or her small family.

***

It took every ounce of self-control for him to walk away from her. He had wanted to throw her down on the bed that she was standing right next to and fuck her more than he’d wanted anything in his life. These past weeks of abstaining from her had been some of the worst he had ever experienced. He didn’t understand how, after having her body so many times in so many different ways, he could now crave her even more. She was like a drug.

But that look on her face when he gave her the choice to reject the clothes he would send her, it had gutted him. It was like he had given her the greatest gift she had ever received. Better than jewels or money. Better than giving her a mansion filled with servants. His throwaway statement had given her something she had never before experienced in her entire existence. Choice.

It nearly brought him to his knees. He knew he wasn’t giving her a real choice. He wouldn’t let her go. He couldn’t. If he let her go, she would rip out his heart. Worse, she would take Jin with her. And the little demon child had become as much a part of his soul as her mother. He couldn’t survive the loss. Yet, after seeing the look on her face when he allowed her to choose her own clothes, how could he not allow her to leave if that was her choice?

Boris walked into his office, slammed the door shut and put his fist through the wall next to the bookshelf. He roared in anger, pulling his fist out. Two of his soldiers came through the door, weapons drawn. Seeing him alone with a look of such bleak rage on his face convinced them it was in their best interest to leave immediately and not come back without an invitation.

CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

“Krasivaya, moy kotenok,” Boris lifted her hand and brought it to his lips. “Takoye iskusheniye.”

Laney’s heart picked up and her cheeks heated. His words were romantic, but the look in his eyes spoke volumes on his actual thoughts. Shefeltbeautiful. She was wearing black wide legged dress pants with splits up each side from ankle to thigh, making each leg look deceptively like a skirt. They also hid the sheathed daggers, wrapped around her upper thighs, that Boris had given her for their evening out. The black dress shirt was high necked in the front with a chain cuff that wrapped around her neck and plunged in a backless drop to end just above her waist where her gun holster was hidden in the small of her back.

She had decided to wear her hair piled on top of her head to show off the neckline of her new blouse. If he wasn’t careful, he was going to turn her into one of those snooty, high maintenance, society type girlfriends that enjoyed clothes and such. Laney wondered if they also liked weapons as much as she did.

“What did he say?” Jin asked excitedly, weaving in between Laney and Boris until he bent over and scooped the little girl up in his brawny arms.

He was wearing a dark, expensive suit and tie over his muscular frame. It fit him to perfection and, if possible, made him look even more powerful than his usual casual attire of jeans and T-shirts. Laney was reminded sharply of the night of Claudia’s wedding. The night he had first started to crack the ice around her heart. The sight of him holding her fragile daughter high up in his arms made her heart flutter and her knees go a little weak. She was turning into a stereotypical woman with all this attention!

“What do you think I said?” Boris asked Jin, gazing down at her. Both he and Rosa had been teaching her Russian.

“I know what kitten means and you call me and mamakotenokall the time,” Jin announced seriously.

“I do,” he agreed, showing her the tattoo on his wrist with Laney’s name on it. Jin loved that particular tattoo. “Your mama has been mykotenoksince the moment I saw her because I wanted to take care of her. Same with you, small one.”

Jin traced the tattoo and snuggled against him. “I think you also called her beautiful, because she is.”

He grinned down at the child in his arms. “Indeed, she is as beautiful as her daughter. I also told her that she is such a temptation.”

Laney gasped and blushed. She glared at him as his heated gaze met hers over the black head of her daughter. He was always honest in his words, no matter who was in the room. She suspected it would always be that way with him. She was far more conservative than him. Yet she wouldn’t change him.

He led her out to the car and opened the back door for her to slide in. She giggled a little when he slid his large frame in beside her and his knees hit the seat in front of him. He growled and lifted her hand to nip at her wrist. “I am too large for most vehicles.”

She nodded and bit back a grin. “And doorways, apartments, container ships…”

“Ninja brat!” he reached out, captured her neck in one large hand and pulled her against his chest. He kissed her hard on the mouth before allowing her to slide back into her seat. He pulled the seatbelt over her breasts and buckled her in while the driver slid into the BMW, greeted his passengers and pulled out of the driveway.

It was early enough in the evening that they had sunlight to clearly see the onion domes of the old churches as they drove into the city from Boris’ country estate. Laney was a perfect tourist, excitedly pointing at appropriate landmarks and asking questions. Boris patiently answered and, when he couldn’t, because he had been away from his birth country for nearly thirteen years, their driver was happy to fill in.

They drove to the Kremlin where they parked and Boris escorted Laney from the vehicle. They walked along the Moskva river and took in the sights. She pointed excitedly at St. Basil’s Cathedral and asked if they could go see it. Boris shook his head, but promised to bring her back when they had more time to explore. She realized quickly that they had an additional escort when four other men arranged themselves nearby the couple without actually intruding on their date.

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