“Oh, so you wouldn’t like it if I said you have a very big erection?”
The disgust deepens, and I keep adding random words using the anatomically correct names for our parts.
“What about, you have a nice penis?”
With each word, he shakes his head, but he doesn’t move away, and I lean back, losing steam on the final one.
“What if I said I want you to fill my womb?”
The disgust is chased away with fire as he moves closer, erasing the space that didn’t exist between our bodies. He flattens his hand on my stomach and kisses my crown.
“That’s what I’ve been trying to do, meely moy.”
My good mood disappears with the topic of our deadline.That’s what it is, a line to mark the death of the life I’ve become accustomed to. I like being here, around this family that has slowly become my own, rather than hiding in my room at Grandfather’s house.
Focusing on his biceps to make myself feel better, my question is low, not really wanting to hear the answer.
“What happens when you do?”
He shutters his emotions, and he speaks against my hair.
“You’ll have the option to live whatever life you want.” He kisses my shoulder and his voice lowers. “Wherever you want.”
I stoke across his forearms, forcing him to hug me tighter, knowing his next answer can break me.
“What if I want to stay here?”
His smile is slow over the top of my head, and I don’t need to force the hold as he crosses his arms around me and allows me to breathe.
“Then that’s where you’ll stay.”
I don’t trust the reflection and look over my shoulder, but he plants the softest kiss on my lips, preventing me from searching for deceit. I’m smiling like I’ve been given the moon; he can feel it and he flattens his palm over my stomach. The Vartanovs are harder to obtain than that piece of rock, so it’s justified. I enjoy living with them and it feels natural for me to be around his brothers, but the person I need to be around is Vlad. His presence is bigger than the rest and he cups my throat to position my head exactly how he wants it.
I want to feel him and turn in his arms. His fingers toy with the thin waistband of my panties, and the snap doesn’t touch my skin. Neither does his hand as they fall away, and something silky moves across my cheek. Reluctantly moving back to see what it is, Vlad is a freak and keeps stroking my cheek with a pair of red, silk panties I do not fucking own. The little label showing they’re brand new has me relaxing slightly, but then he opens his mouth.
“Wear these while you get ready, and think of me, meelaya.”
His stupid, idiotic smirk touches my skin, distracting me from the way he hooks the material under my bra strap before he whispers, “They’re yours,” then he stalks away, and I’m sure there’s a spring in his step.
SEVEN
Vlad
I’m not focusing on anything that leaves Anastasia or Ana’s mouths. All I can see is Inessa in my mind’s eye. She’s otherworldly and, right now, there’s very little covering her body while she gets ready two floors above me. It’s not reality because Anastasia dropped her dress off when she first arrived, but in my mind, she’s still bare with my new pocket square dangling from her bra strap.
There’s enough information for me to pretend I was paying attention as I re-enter the conversation to hear Anastasia speak.
“I haven’t heard anything about Yulia either, I’ve heard of Marlo, but no one gives his full name.”
Ana hardens and she clenches her jaw from the force of her rage. She’s going to end up killing someone when she plays guard tonight. I’ve never met anyone so filled with rage other than this kid, and she has my wife as her biggest defender. If I have to hear Inessa tell me one time to go easy on the little shit when she shows up bruised from training, I’ll end up killing Ana to prevent it from happening again. She’s even managed to get the usually bitchy Anastasia on her side. It can’t be due to Ana only being two years younger than them. They actually care about her when she looks like she’s dead behind the eyes.
Giving the pipsqueak a reprieve, I don’t point out that she should spit it out instead of wasting my time.
“Have you met him?” I ask.
She nods at my assumption, and Anastasia protectively leans closer to her. The chair is knocked back as she abruptly stands and begins to pace like a little psychopath with her fists clenched. Her jaw is the same and she doesn’t look at anyone as she speaks to herself.
“He’s her business partner.”