Page 56 of Paved in Fire

I know I can’t stay in the penthouse with her forever. The auction is in a few days, and I can’t let my brothers handle that without me, but for now, there’s no reason for me to leave and every reason for me to stay.

Standing up, I walk into the closet. The box of presents is still waiting for Alina, so I dig around until I find the two I want. Before I leave, I also grab the full-length mirror that’s hanging on the wall. Alina watches me lean the mirror against the bed so it’s angled to face exactly where I’d just been sitting. Satisfied, I sit back down, making sure I’m completely in view before motioning her closer.

“What are you doing?”

“Remember I told you I wanted to try something?”

“Of course. I’ve been bugging you about it for the past three days, but you’ve been too stubborn to tell me what this idea of yours is.”

Laughing, I pull her down into my lap and hand her the two small presents. “First, open these.”

Her fingers run over the wrapping paper, the same way she always used to do whenever someone gave her a present. Alina is the funnest person to buy gifts for. Her surprise is always genuine, and she truly loves every damn thing she’s ever been given, no matter how much money was spent. She’ll never be the kind of woman who demands expensive jewelry or insists on only wearing designer brands. That’s just not who she is. She grew up with nothing and has continued toexpect nothing, so anything beyond that is met with deep appreciation and surprise.

Dragging a finger along her cheek, I pull her hair back so I can see her better. “You’re impossible to spoil, but that’s not going to stop me from trying. You deserve everything, Alina, and I’m going to give it to you.”

“You don’t ever need to buy me anything, Matvey. I hope you know that.”

“I do know that, but Iwantto buy you things,malishka.” I nudge the boxes towards her again. “Buying you things while you were gone helped me, and as soon as I saw these, I knew they were meant for you. No other woman could ever do them justice.”

The corner of her mouth lifts in a smile before she carefully starts to open the first box. After several seconds, I laugh. “It’s okay to rip the paper, baby.”

“But it’s so pretty.”

She takes her time, and I don’t stop her. It’s her gift, and she can open it however the hell she likes. When the paper is off, she eyes the velvet box, mouth parting in a soft gasp.

“It’s not an engagement ring.” When I see a flicker of sadness in her eyes, I add, “It’s not an engagement ring yet,malishka.”

Cupping her face, I pull her closer. “I’m going to marry you, Alina. You’re the only woman I’ve ever wanted, and you’re the only woman I will ever want.” I smile and give a soft laugh. “I’m going on the assumption you’ll say yes when I ask you.”

She laughs and gives me a wide-eyed,you’re crazylook. “I think we both know I’ve been waiting for you to ask that question since I was eight.”

“You won’t have to wait much longer,” I promise her. “Now open your gift.”

Smiling, she opens the box, her mouth dropping open as her eyes grow wider. “Matvey,” she whispers, running a finger over the diamonds and rubies. “They’re the most beautiful earrings I’ve ever seen.”

I hand her the other box. “You have one more to open.”

She reluctantly sets the earrings aside so she can start on the second box, taking just as much time with this one as she did the last. When she opens it and sees the matching necklace, she shakes her head at me.

“It’s too much.”

I laugh and kiss her. “It will never be enough.” Lifting the necklace up, I undo the clasp. “I want to see it on you.”

She lifts her hair and as soon as it’s resting on her neck, her hands reach up to touch it. Being careful to not hurt her, I slide one of the earrings into her earlobe before doing the same to the other.

“Jesus, you’re beautiful,” I whisper, running a finger down her neck, admiring the way the rubies look against her skin and the way the diamonds catch the light.

“Thank you, Matvey. They’re gorgeous.”

“No, you’re gorgeous,malishka.” I run a finger over her necklace. “This is just decoration, but it’s nothing without you.”

She smiles and rests her hand on my cheek, and when she leans in even closer, I cup the back of her head and bring my lips to hers. As soon as I taste her, I let out a groan. I’m already hard, straining against my jeans, but there’s not a goddamn thing I can do about it. She feels me under her ass, and when she rocks her hips, I deepen the kiss. I know what I’m about to do is going to test me like nothing else ever has, but no way in hell am I stopping.

Grabbing her hips, I give her bottom lip another suck before lifting her up so she’s standing in front of me. Her fingers run through my hair as I pull her closer so she’s right between my thighs. Sliding my thumbs under her shirt, I stroke her bare skin while I look up at her.

“I want to try something with you.” My thumbs dip below the waistband of her pants, making her breath hitch and her fingers tighten in my hair. “Do you trust me?”

“Always,” she whispers.

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