Page 88 of Cruel Russian Pakhan
“Ninel, what the hell did you buy?” Jaroslav asked, walking in with more bags in hand.
“Just the essentials for a soon-to-be mother,” she said, smiling. “We all know that when this baby is born, everyone will be gushing over him or her. I’ll be gushing over my amazing sister-in-law.”
Lev rolled his eyes. “If you keep this up, I’ll have to renovate just to find space to put those things away.”
Marten, Avit, and Pyotr entered the room behind Jaroslav, arms full of bags, and dropped them off at the table, too.
“Lev,” Avit said, straight-faced, “I think it’s time Ninel gets a cut-off allowance each month.”
Lev raised a brow. “She does, but somehow she manages to swindle her older siblings for thousands extra.”
I watched as Kira gave Ninel a high five. “Last born power,” she said proudly.
The women laughed, and the men groaned.
“I personally can’t wait for the baby to be born,” Kira added. “I found this cute place on Walnut Street that sells the most adorable things.”
“Why are you waiting?” Mariya asked. “Just do what I did, get stuff that isn’t blue or pink. Go unisex.”
As the others chimed in about what they’d buy for the baby and the guys debated which toy cars the baby would be ableto drive, I leaned into Lev and whispered, “Will the baby be ours when it gets here?”
He kissed me lightly. “With so many babysitters, think of all the alone time Mommy and Daddy can get,” Lev growled softly.
I swatted his shoulder gently. “Alone time is what got me in this predicament in the first pl…”
My eyes widened and I gasped. “The baby just moved!”
The chatter around us died down as I took Lev’s hand and placed it on my belly, just in time for the baby to roll into his palm before going still again.
Lev’s eyes misted over, and so did mine. He cupped my face and kissed me.
“Hey, hey, hey! You guys should get a room!” Pyotr teased loudly.
Lev gently shifted me to stand, then stood himself. “I think that’s a great idea. Feeling the baby move for the first time calls for a celebration.”
Avit chimed in, “I’ll get the drinks for the rest of us. Mom and Dad, you two can have a different kind of fun.”
I groaned. “Kill me now.”
Jaroslav chuckled. “I’ll make sure Vera and Kira meet their driver safely.”
“Thanks.” That was the last thing Lev said before whisking me away to our bedroom.
He handed me a white satin nightgown with thin straps that stopped mid-thigh. I used the bathroom first before climbing into bed, and then he disappeared into the bathroom after me.
I lay on my side, one hand tucked beneath my belly, the other under the pillow. The bedroom was dark, the only light entering it coming from the bathroom door that Lev left open. The baby gave a soft roll, and I smiled and exhaled, letting my body sink into the mattress.
Lev stepped out of the bathroom and flicked the bedroom light on.
In that brief moment, I let myself admire him, really admire him. He wore nothing but boxers, and every inch of him was breathtaking. Broad shoulders, strong arms, powerful thighs. The dragon tattoos coiled around his body like they were alive, drawing my eyes to the deep V that led to his already thickening length.
Lev was absolutely gorgeous.
He climbed into bed behind me, and moved until his chest was pressed gently against my back. His hand slid over my hip, around the curve of my stomach, and came to rest there.
“You're so beautiful like this," he murmured as he kissed my shoulder, the thin straps of my nightgown sliding down my arms. "I wish you could see what I see."
I laughed quietly, readjusting the straps onto my shoulders. “What, a beached whale?”
