Page 24 of Scarred (Russian Sinners 2)

“Well, not forever,” I corrected her gently. “But for a while and we’ll have fun.”

She’d smile back and retorted right back to stating I was staying forever. I caught her uncle chuckling and shaking his head. I went to correct her yet again, when he just shook his head.

“It will just make her do it more,” he whispered inconspicuously.

I smiled, rolling my eyes. “I know one of those too,” I replied softly in a hushed tone, thinking of Scarlett. That girl was more stubborn than a mule, I was pretty sure. And when she made up her mind about something, no matter what evidence you presented to her showing she was wrong, she’d dig in her heels and rush even faster in the wrong direction.

True to his word, Nikolai walked me into his beautiful stone mansion, introducing me to all the staff. He excused himself, leaving his niece and me to acquaint. The little girl was vibrant and happy, exactly like children should be. She chatted, her words rushed as if she was worried she'd run out of time to say it all.

We sat ourselves in the sunroom, a little table between us, as one of the staff brought in coffee for me and juice for her.

“Thank you very much,” I told the woman that brought us drinks.

“Would you like anything to eat?” she asked both of us with a smile. Just as she said that, I realized I haven’t really eaten anything since before I left Malcome’s party. How long ago was that? A whole day?

“If you have anything light, maybe toast,” I asked her. She nodded and left to grab us some food.

“Are you and Uncle Nikolai dating?” Tasha just dropped the bomb.

“Um, no.” How did a six-year-old even know about dating? And in English too? “Just a friend.”

Actually, your uncle is saving me from my psychopath fiancé. I just met him yesterday.But I figured it wasn’t the right thing to divulge to a six-year-old. Definitely not.

“I think he likes you.” She had a wide smile on her face and watched me, knowingly, while I felt completely out of sorts. It has been at least five, six years since I last hung out with children. Maybe they had become more advanced?

No sooner did she say that, Nikolai came through the door.

“Here are my two favorite ladies,” he announced with a smile and Tasha threw me a knowing look. Yeah, someone needed to limit this little girl’s time around romantic movies or something.

I raised my eyes to meet his gaze and the moment our gazes met, I sucked in a big gulp of air. There wasn’t enough oxygen in the room.

Dangerous,I thought to myself.

But also safe. From what he had told me, he had a rough upbringing and was even a member of the mafia but I also knew that he went way out of his way to help my mother and me. And he saved Anastasia with his brother. My self-preservation might have been warning me he was dangerous but my sixth sense was also telling me he was my savior.

His eyes glittered like sapphires. I never thought any man was swoon-worthy, while Anastasia and Scarlett called plenty of men such. But this man in front of me, he was swoon-worthy in my book.

He must have just had a shower because his sinfully dark hair was damp and swept away from his brow. My fingers gripped my coffee mug unnecessarily hard, when all I really wanted to do is run my fingers through his hair. The top two buttons of his crispy white dress shirt were unbuttoned. The exposed tattoos on his bronzed, toned skin made my heart race.

Don’t look at his chest, that mouthwatering skin.

I forced my gaze back to his face and those intense eyes. How could they invoke such strong desire and feelings within me? But even as I wondered I knew it wasn’t his magnificent body or good looks that attracted me. It was the feeling of safety he offered. No man had ever made me feel as safe as Nikolai or offered the security.

I should have looked away from him but I couldn’t divert my gaze. I was drinking him in, the sexual attraction sizzling in the air between us. Then his gaze drifted to my lips, and he smiled. I had a feeling this man noticed every breath I took. Scratch that, I knew he noticed everything.

I felt my cheeks burn, ashamed that my body responded so intensely to him.

Thankfully, the woman came back with toast for me and some kind of pastry for Tasha, breaking the moment. She also had another cup of coffee for the master of the house.

“Thank you so much,” I told her, and my voice sounded raspy.

What was wrong with me? I was here to watch his niece, not get turned on by her uncle that saved me from a horrible future.

He sat down between Tasha and me, and I made sure to keep my legs away from his, avoiding any sort of contact. If only his barely exposed chest had this kind of impact on me, his touch would be worse… much worse.

Or much better… hotter, my mind whispered.

He thanked the woman for his coffee, and his eyes returned to his niece and me.

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