Page 13 of Corrupt: XXX Vadim 2
Chapter Five
Iwake up dazed, lying on a hard surface. The floor? Beside me rests a warm, tempting body that I greedily nestle against even as my eyes open and blink to adjust to the dim light.Oh.I vaguely recognize the budding sex room, complete with the partially-built swing looming above.
And beside me is Vadim, his cheek resting on the open manual and my heart practically melts. No man has ever looked sexier and I can’t resist stroking my fingers along his jaw until he opens his eyes.
“Your playground will take months to achieve at this rate,” he says tiredly. I arch into him as his arms encircle me, drawing me closer.
“Good,” I say with absolutely no regret. “In the meantime, we can build one for Magda—but I promise I won’t strip naked while you work onherswing set.”
He chuckles at that, sounding skeptical. “When do you want to begin your search, oh expert?”
I glance at the gray light coming in through the window and wiggle away from him, climbing to my feet. “Now.”
I help him up and lead him into the shower where I risk a small delay to reward him for indulging me. Together we dress quickly—him in a plain black suit and I settle on a dress in a matching color—and, after a quick breakfast, we take the sports car into the city.
I lean into him, stroking his arm while my brain plays some frantic warning about my own boundaries. My own deadline. My own red lines—I told him this would end soon. After Magda is settled, I need to leave. It will be best for everyone.
“Having second thoughts?” Vadim asks as I pull away from him and focus my attention on the window nearest me.
“H-Huh?” I look over, but he doesn’t appear anywhere near as distraught about us ending this as one might assume.
“I assure you that I am not a good shopping companion,” he confesses. “Are you sure you can’t manage alone?”
Oh.I brush my fingers along his forearm and squeeze the rock-hard muscle lurking beneath. “I need your strength,” I insist. “I plan to put your skills as a handyman to use.”
“Handy, you say…” His upper lip quirks as he scans the road. “There are people I can hire for that.”
“No.” I marvel at the authority my own voice packs. “I wantyouto do it. Some things we can make exceptions for, but you should have a hand in this.”
He doesn’t respond but his eyes take on that far-away darkness. Desperate to change the subject, I lean down and fish through his briefcase until I find a blue folder containing a stack of neatly printed documents. I can tell even as I spread them over my lap that they have been well-perused before me. The edges are dented from what I suspect were a pair of slim fingers flipping through them over and over. Still, I feign ignorance as I spot a small but detailed list.
“She likes blue,” I read, awed by that preference she unknowingly shares with the man beside me. “She enjoys reading. She likes to play chess. She enjoys—”
“Swimming,” Vadim finishes before I can. “Playing in the park. Boats. Her favorite food is buttered toast. She also likes horses.” He speaks with such a confidence that I don’t even have to glance at the paper to know he’s memorized them by heart.
And the fact that his home contains both a swimming pool and a stable, as well as a boathouse takes on a new meaning. One that leaves me stunned.
“That’swhy you picked that house,” I say, returning the papers to the briefcase. “I thought you wanted to be a dick to your brother, but it was for her.”
His lips contort into a small, beautiful smile that reveals just how exhausted he is. How many nights has he lost worrying about this? Far too many I suspect.
“I cannot be faulted if Maxim also has an interest in child friendly real-estate. Not to mention that I’ve owned…” He trails off, his jaw tight. “Contrary to Maxim’s egotistical view, my life does not entirely revolve around spiting him.”
I recall the phone conversation I overheard last night, more disturbed than before. What trouble might be building between the brothers now?
Today probably isn’t the best time to dig for answers on that subject, however.
“It’s a beautiful house,” I say, gently steering the topic to safer waters. “But together, we’ll make it perfect for her. I promise.” I interlink my fingers with his free hand, squeezing tight. He risks taking his eyes from the road just long enough to eye our clasped hands.
“Together…” He says the word as though it’s a novel concept. One he’s never applied to his life before and again I seethe in jealousy at whichever potential wife he may have picked. No one will help him like I will.
But then you’ll leave him,a part of me snipes.You plan on skipping out as soon as you can, you heartless bitch.
“Have you decided where to attack first, Ms. General?” Vadim wonders once we reach the city proper.
I latch onto the distraction and tap my chin, humming thoughtfully. “No. But I did find a custom boutique online. Everything they sell looks insanely expensive yet beautifully crafted. Let’s start there.”
He chuckles. “Let’s see if you can reach my expectations. With my accounts at your mercy, I should be nearing bankruptcy by the evening’s end. I hope you won’t disappoint.”
