Page 91 of Brooklyn Bratva

“Me?” I stared at him. I knew full well I didn’t have any such relative. “You’re giving it to me?” Of all the things I’d ever thought would happen, being given that kind of money was never even on my radar. I frowned, struggling to process it all, and I stepped back. “Wait. Is this some kind of pay off?”

Ivan barked a short laugh, and he shook his head, eyes glinting with his amusement.

“No, Becca. Please.”

“Then..?”

Before I could ask anything else, Ivan got out of the car. He crossed around in front of the hood and yanked my door open, tugging me to my feet.

“Come.”

He had the keys in his hand, and I got goosebumps all over when we walked up the front steps. It felt like coming home before Ivan even opened the door.

He let it swing on its hinges, opening in to a bright hall. I held my breath, taking in the pale hardwood floors that swept on through the house, giving it a clean modern feel. It wasn’t rustic like a beach house, but the chic muted blues and greys reminded me how close the ocean was.

Ivan took my hand, leading us through to an open living room with a fireplace on one wall and I curled in against his side, wrapping myself in his arm. I could picture us sitting here, wrapped up in a furry blanket, watching the coals burn from a deep, comfortable sofa. I could picture him laying me down on a sheepskin rug in front of the flames and taking me right there on the floor. Everything was exactly how I would have wanted it.

Large bifold doors opened out onto a deck, where there was a brick-based barbecue and enough space for a table and chairs. Beyond the deck was a lawn with enough space for a swing set, or for kids to ride tricycles and dig in the dirt.

When I looked up at Ivan, he was watching me with a soft smile on his face.

“You like?”

“I like very much.” I said.

“Good. Me too. You have excellent taste.”

I grinned at him, letting my eyes linger over his muscled chest and his neatly nipped in waist. “I kinda do, don’t I?”

The kitchen was through an archway. Large enough to have a table for us all to sit around. I could picture myself at the stove, perfecting my borscht recipe for Ivan. Maybe Mama would show me how to make more of his favorites too.

This was somewhere we could really have a home together, and I couldn’t wait for that life to start.

Along the hall, there was a cozy study and a downstairs bathroom with a shower that would be great for coming in from the beach all covered in sand.

The staircase curled around to the upstairs landing, the honey colored hardwood continued up the stairs and I trailed my hand along the bannister as I walked slowly up the steps. The tall window that ran the height of the staircase gave a changing view and as I got higher, the glimpse of the ocean at the end of the road became clearer.

It was so light and airy, and there was so much space compared to Mama’s cramped but cozy apartment. Ivan’s place was somewhere I’d always think fondly of, but only for the memories. It wasn’t even close to the home that this could be for us.

He wrapped his arms around my waist, cozying into me from behind, and I couldn’t stop the peak off satisfaction going through me at the press of his cock, at least half hard, against my back. I leaned back against him, reaching my hand up to smooth my fingers along his neck and I twisted around enough to reach his lips.

“Let’s go see the bedrooms.”

“Okay.”

“You reckon this is the master?”

I peered into the largest of the rooms, noting closet doors as well as an ensuite. The large window that stretched nearly from floor to ceiling was what took my attention the most, drawing me to that ocean glimpse again, but Ivan’s hand on my arm stopped me from stepping inside the room.

“Uh-unh.”

“Huh?”

In a split second, he ducked down, arms scooping me up, and I let out a shout of a laugh, clinging to him as he carried me over the threshold.

“I think that’s supposed to be after we’re married, Ivan. And isn’t it supposed to be at the front door?”

I dusted off Ivan’s shirt for the excuse to touch his chest once he set me back down on my feet. He still had that sparkle in his eyes and he leaned down to kiss me, his lips soft but purposeful against mine.

When he pulled back, I was breathless and ready for more. Just one touch from him was enough to get me panting and he knew it.

“I didn’t want to jinx it.”

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