Page 96 of Disgraced (Russian Sinners 3)

“Come on in,” I told her. I wanted to pull her and wrap my arms around her, but didn’t want to smother her with my affections.

She walked in with a tentative smile, glancing between Michail and me. I hoped she’d walk into my arms, but didn’t expect it. Instead she sat on the chair that we got busy on last night and Michail promptly averted his eyes, clearing his throat.

“Maybe you should sit over here, Scarlett?” Michail suggested a wooden chair, next to the table.

I glared at him. I would shoot him if he made her uncomfortable.

“Why?” she asked, confusion in her eyes. She had a pair of sleeping shorts on, with a white tank top.

“It was just an idea,” he murmured, moving his eyes away from the chair. I could see already, I’d have to move it to another location.Maybe our bedroom, I thought smugly.

“Sergei, I was thinking,” her voice pulled me back from the naughty things I wanted to do to my woman. “I think I should see a doctor.”

I immediately straightened up, naughty things forgotten. I eyed her for any sign of illness. “Are you not feeling well?”

“No, no,” she quickly assured me. “But I think, maybe, I should see an OB/GYN. I need to get prenatal vitamins and have blood tests run, that kind of stuff.”

Fuck, I wanted to go over to her and hug her tight. Our baby. I smiled at her. She was right, of course.

“Yes, I’ll get us an appointment,” I told her. “Today. My friend knows the top OB/GYN in the city. Women from all over the world come and see him. We’ll go see him.”

She chuckled. “I think they are pretty much all the same but make sure he’s a real doctor.”

I swore when she smiled at me like that, I wanted to push Michail out the door and take her all over again.

“Congratulations, Scarlett,” Michail chimed in. “I feel stupid now for not noticing it, as tired as you were. My cousin had the same tiredness. I’m happy for you two.”

Scarlett’s eyes shone like diamonds. “Thank you, Michail. It’s too early to announce it so we should not tell people. Besides, it is probably best we see a doctor first.”

I was already typing a message, requesting the appointment.

“Oh, and don’t tell my parents,” she mumbled. “Definitely don’t tell my parents.”

I raised my eyes in surprise at that request. I would have thought she’d want to tell them right away.

“Why not?” I asked her curiously, although her parents never even crossed my mind.

“Let’s just wait a bit,” she pleaded. “Otherwise, they’ll jump on a plane and demand we get married tomorrow.”

I watched her, trying to understand what was going through her mind.

“Michail, can you give us a minute?” I asked him, never wavering from Scarlett.

“Sure thing. I’ll touch base with you later.”

As soon as he was gone, I walked over to Scarlett.

“Did you change your mind about us? About the wedding?” I asked her. Sometimes, old ghosts were harder to squash.

“No, I am committed to it,” she assured me, grabbing my hand with both of hers. “I just want to do it slowly and not be forced to do it immediately. And they will force it to happen tomorrow.”

“I wouldn’t be opposed to it,” I told her.

“But I am,” she sat up straight, agitation written all over her pretty face. “I don’t want to be forced. It will be on our terms.”

“Ours or yours?”

“Sergei, please, try to understand. I want it to be on our terms. There is so much we don’t know about each other. Just give us some time. I love you, but when we get married, I want Anja and Olivia at our wedding. And your brothers too.”

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