Page 88 of Her Sweet Surrender
Seeing Rytsar and Sir dressed in such fine suits was like an aphrodisiac for Brie—she couldn’t take her eyes off of them. It was almost as if the suits held some kind of power over her.
“What made you decide to hold such a formal dinner?” she asked, adding quickly, “Not that I’m complaining. I’m actually in awe at how handsome you both look tonight.”
Rytsar gazed at her with those intense blue eyes and she felt a shiver run through her. “This is my gift to you.”
Brie’s heart melted as she first glanced at the chef, busy making a multi-course meal, then to the elaborately set table. Her eyes drifted to Maxim dressed in finery beside her little girl, and finally to the glass of coconut water she held in her hand—a substance Rytsar abhorred.
All of this is for me?
She met his gaze, overwhelmed by the gift. A simple thank you was not enough. “I don’t know what to say, Rytsar.”
“Don’t say anything,” he smiled. “Just enjoy the evening,radost moya.”
“Dinner is served,” Maxim announced.
Overwhelmed with gratitude, Brie walked to the dining table with Sir. Rytsar directed her to sit at the head of the table.
She sat down with both men on either side. Rytsar insisted that Hope sit beside him.
The first course was caviar with blinis.
“This was a staple for holiday meals when I was young.”
Brie picked up the small blini. It had a dollop of sour cream and a generous amount of caviar spread on top.
Rytsar waited as she took a bite.
The tiny eggs popped delightfully in her mouth as she chewed, the saltiness of it mixing well with the sour cream and light pancake texture.
She daintily wiped her mouth with her napkin afterward, trying to keep with the formalness of the dinner. She smiled and told him, “I could eat these all day.”
He chuckled, giving Hope a small spoonful of the caviar to try. She bit down on the spoon, took the bite, and then stuck out her tongue as if she didn’t like it. It was adorable because her tongue was black from the caviar. When Rytsar tried to wipe it away with a napkin, Hope closed her mouth and started chewing with a quizzical expression.
“It’s an acquired taste,moye solntse,” Rytsar explained, chuckling with amusement.
The second course was a light, cold soup with a lemony tang to it. It was something both Brie and Hope enjoyed immensely.
“I remember this soup,” Sir stated when he tasted it.
“Would you like me to throw my spoon at you,moy droog?”
Brie looked up to see Rytsar ready to sling it at Sir’s face.
“I’ll pass this time,” Sir replied, chuckling.
Brie looked at them both, wondering what they were referencing.
Rytsar answered her unspoken question by telling her, “Your Master saved my life with this soup.”
Sir smirked. “So, he threw the spoon as thanks.”
Rytsar shrugged. “What can I say? I did not appreciate his efforts at the time.”
Brie listened with interest, sipping the soup as Rytsar and Sir reminisced, learning more about their fascinating past with each other. She was surprised to find out that shortly after Rytsar’s mother died, Sir traveled to Russia to find him, missing his last semester of college.
Rytsar admitted that he hated Sir for it at the time. “Your Master is a stubborn ass,radost moya.”
Brie struggled not to smile.
