Page 189 of Bratva's Vow
His grin spread, slow and sinful. “Dainty, isn’t it?”
God. He knew what he was doing to me. I swallowed around the lump in my throat, lifted my leg, and rested my bare foot in his lap. “Put it on for me?”
Maxim took the anklet from the box and fastened it around my ankle with surprising gentleness. “It doesn’t have a tracker in it. Does it?” I asked.
Maxim fell silent. He skimmed his fingers along my skin like I might vanish if he touched me too hard. Once it wason, he thumbed the tiny charm, then leaned down and kissed the inside of my ankle.
“Maxim.”
“Don’t ask if you won’t like the answer, kroshka.”
Was I surprised? No. We had a camera mounted in our bedroom even though I’d promised him months ago that I would never leave him again. But I didn’t mind because it was hot watching Maxim fuck me on video. I watched those videos a little more than I probably should.
“I’m still mad you let me think you didn’t get me anything,” I murmured, unable to look at him without turning into goo.
He looked up, smug as ever. “Thought I’d call your bluff this time.”
“Well, congrats. I panicked.”
He laughed and pressed a kiss to my cheek, then the corner of my mouth. “You’re too easy.”
I looped my arms around his neck and pulled him closer until our foreheads touched. “You love how easy I am. It takes nothing but you walking into a room for me to drop my thong for you.”
“Yes, I love how my slutty husband doesn’t hesitate to get fucked.” He kissed me again, this time slow. Soft. Full of that quiet, terrifying kind of love I was still learning how to hold.
Then he pulled back, eyes glinting. “You still want to know what we’re doing today?”
I narrowed my eyes. “You mean there’s more?”
His smile widened. “Finish your coffee. Then let’s hit the shower so I can stick my tongue inside your sweet ass. After, we’ll go for a drive.”
We drove for a while out of the city. My hand rested on Maxim’s thigh, thumb tracing little circles over his jeans as I tried to figure out where we were going and why we had to leave Jellybean behind.
I started to get a feeling.
That soft, aching one in the pit of your chest when something meaningful is coming, and your body knows before your mind catches up.
This road…
My throat closed up as I realized where we were headed. The quiet gates of the cemetery soon came into view, weathered but sturdy, flanked by tall hedges and draped in early-spring sunlight. My chest tightened instantly.
I turned to Maxim, who was watching me. Waiting.
“This is…” My voice cracked.
Sergei parked the car, but neither Maxim nor I moved. This was the last place I’d expected him to bring me for my birthday. Too many memories.
“We don’t have to stay long.” Maxim reached over and gently laced our fingers. “I just thought after waiting for years, it’d be nice to spend some time on your birthday with your father.”
I swallowed hard, the tightness in my throat almost unbearable. Tears welled up in my eyes, and I had to blink them away rapidly.
“Shit, maybe this was a bad idea. We can leave. I didn’t mean to?—”
I threw my arms around Maxim’s neck. He caught me, pulling me closer and burying his face in my hair. His hands curled tight around my spine like he’d needed the hug too.
“Thank you,” I whispered. “You didn’t have to bring me, but I’m so glad you did. This is the best birthday gift.”
“Let’s go.”
