Page 121 of Merciless Desires

“Yeah,” Sophie sounds tired. “Olivia made me macaroni and cheese. She cooked you something and left it in the oven after we made the cupcakes.”

Ana’s stomach growls again, and I realize I have to feed her, too.

“Thank you, honey.” I hug Sophie. “Did you have your bath?”

“Uh huh.” She eyes Ana again.

“Let’s get you into bed. We have your party tomorrow.” My brain scrambles, and I consider if I should leave Ana alone in the house, where she can escape. Or do I bring her out in public where she can make a scene and take off? Take advantage of me having Sophie, knowing I can’t chase her. Or that I won’t do anything irrational in front of my daughter.

“Right through there.” I point to the kitchen. “Take the dinner that’s in the oven for me. I’m going to get Sophie settled. Then you and are having a talk.”

“What about you? Aren’t you hungry?”

“I had a big lunch.” My stomach is in utter knots.

Ana glances around. “Your house is beautiful.”

“Thank you. And it’s safe.” When I get close to her, my skin tingles from the memory of seeing her naked and how primal it felt to touch her. “This is the best place for you.”

She closes her eyes and nods.

I bring Sophie upstairs and help her into bed, since she’s already in her pajamas. “Can I skip a book tonight and do two stories tomorrow?” I kiss her on the forehead. “I have to get Ana settled in her room.”

“She’s going to live here?”

“For now.” I pull at the necktie strangling me at this point. “Is that okay?”

“Will she play games on my iPad with me like Olivia?”

A vision flashes in my mind of the kind of games I’d like to play with Anastasia Koslov. I can’t believe I’m having these thoughts about my brother’s baby mama. I don’t want her near Sophie, but now, I don’t have a nanny.

“I’ll ask her when I get downstairs.” I switch on the wave machine that helps my daughter sleep. “Good night.”

I breathe in the smell of soap and powder, feeling the first sense of relief in hours. Sophie’s always been a good sleeper. I stroke her back since she likes to sleep on her stomach. She’s my whole world.

And I’ve invited the missing Bratva princess into our house and risk being slaughtered by her father. What the fuck am I doing?

I close Sophie’s door and freeze, seeing the light on in one of my guestrooms.

Ana…What the hell? She came upstairs on her own?

She was in a car accident caused by my drunk and drug-dealing brother. She got knocked up by him and held a prisoner. I’ll cut her some slack.

I cross the hall and step into the guestroom. The sound of water running in the adjoining bathroom stills me. She’s taking a shower. And left the door open.

My eyes trail toward the mirror and snag on the vision of her behind the clear glass enclosure.

I see fucking everything.

Water sluices down her body as she leans on the far shower wall. My eyes trace the line of her back to her ass. Fucking gorgeous. Plump and perfect, leading down to long, toned legs. She turns, giving me a view of her golden wet skin, large breasts, and a beautiful swollen belly. It is my baby in there, even if I didn’t put my seed into her. It would be the same if she were a surrogate.

I’m so damn lonely that a gorgeous naked woman in my shower sets me on fire. A pregnant woman with my brother’s baby ignites a kink I didn’t even know I had.

I back away, not wanting to freak her out and give her a reason to take off.

I go to my bedroom and open Ginny’s closet. The scent knocks me sideways. I haven’t been in here in years. Her smell weakens me. But I don’t miss my wife. I miss having a woman of my own. I miss breathing in a fresh feminine scent, and then turning to find her waiting for me. Preferably naked in my bed, legs spread with a wet pussy, hungry for me.

That’s what I miss.

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