His eyes also reveal the reason for his earlier silence. Although his crew has seen a different side of him the prior twelve months, they’ve never seen him like this. His heart is open and exposed for the world to see. He’s the most vulnerable he’s ever been.
“????????? ???.”
I dip my chin, wordlessly advising him his thanks is not required. I’m the one truly blessed here.
Before I can assure Nikolai of that, he cups my cheeks as tenderly as he did my stomach then presses his lips to mine. I want to say the warm and fuzzy sensation fueling our exchange keeps our kiss at a PG rating, but there isn’t a single thing about Nikolai that could be called innocent. His kisses are like a thunderous summer storm—deadly and awe-inspiring. He doesn’t kiss gently or tease me to highlight what I’m missing out on; he just takes as much as I’m willing to give, then gives back even more.
His kiss steals the air from my lungs as quickly as his attention rebuilds my confidence. By the time he pulls back, I’m utterly breathless, and my panties don’t have a chance in hell of hiding how aroused he makes me.
I’d never hide, though.
Not from him.
Not even when I should.
He saw the butterfly too scared to escape the cocoon she sheltered herself in long before anyone else, so shouldn’t he reap the benefits of her metamorphosis?
My lips arch high when Nikolai roughly yanks my lower lip with his teeth before growling, “Now I wish I had sent thirty men instead of ten.” His warm breaths flutter my kiss-swollen mouth. “Your news also explains your insatiable appetite of late.”
He’s not referring to food. There is only one thing I’ve craved the past week. It’s the same thing I’ve desired relentlessly the prior twelve months: him—my prince of darkness.
When I tell him my greedy urges have nothing to do with my pregnancy and everything to do with him, some of the pride in his eyes shifts for lust.
“How far along are you?” he asks while guiding me to the bed squashed against the side wall.
I shouldn’t really say “squashed,” but compared to the monstrous four-poster bed that sits in the middle of our chamber-like bedroom, it’s a little underwhelming.
The rest of the features though. . . I only have one word: wow.
My jaw falls open as my eyes absorb the luxurious fittings I was too twisted up in knots to appreciate earlier. If money talks, the Popovs won’t be silenced for centuries to come. White and gold-print bedding contrasts against the dark wood lining the walls. A partially cracked-open door on our right displays a bathroom fitted with the same pricy features, but the stark white towels are missing the gold emblem the bedding has. Although, I don’t see that being an issue. I can forgive plain towels when I have access to a walk-in shower.
The opulence of the jets leaves no doubt of Nikolai’s wealth. This ride is truly worthy of a king.
When Nikolai growls my name, reminding me I failed to answer his question, I shrug. “I have no clue. I had an inkling yesterday morning, so I took a test just before we left for the restaurant. . .”
I stop talking when Nikolai’s shocked gaze collides with mine. His Adam’s apple bobs as he struggles to maintain his composure. I stare at him in silence, utterly lost on what has caused the quick shift in his composure. Five seconds ago, he appeared as if he had the world at his feet. Now. . . now he has the same expression his face held when he discovered me with a noose wrapped around my neck. He’s genuinely mortified.
He works his jaw side to side before easing out his next words, “You mean you knew when I. . . when we. . .”
“Fucked?” I fill in.
I try to hide my smile at his uncomfortable swallow; my efforts are less than stellar. I’m not a goodie two shoes who despises swear words. I just never get a chance to use them. Between Nikolai and his crew, a lifetime of profanities are depleted in a week.
Nikolai tries to act annoyed at my rare use of a curse word. His acting skills are as poor as mine. He can’t help but smirk while warning, “Watch your tongue,Ahren.Now that my cock has achieved its goal, I won’t hesitate using it to wash out your filthy mouth.”
“Please,” I murmur before I can stop myself, more turned on by his threat than concerned about it. “I’ll take you any way I can get you.”
His groan is the equivalent of foreplay to my body. We’ve been sexually active four times in under twenty-four hours, but my hunger for him is still rampant. If I wanted to excuse my nympho tendencies, I could blame new hormones for my syrupy veins, but anyone who knows me knows that is a lie. Nothing we’ve done the past year has been against my will. Not even the wickedly naughty events of last night.
Although painful, last night was beyond enjoyable. Not only did I see a new side of Nikolai, I fell in love with him even more deeply than I thought possible. He was tender and loving while rocking my world as he always does. If last night was a true indication of what anal sex will be like with him, I have no doubt his cocky remark about me begging him to take me that way more regularly will occur. I should have trusted him sooner. Done right, everything with Nikolai is pleasurable.
I’m pulled from my wicked thoughts when an even more desirable view enters my peripheral vision. Nikolai is undressing. His pace is as reckless as it was when he shredded my clothing as if it was tissue paper. He throws his shirt over his head, exposing his rippling abs and tattooed torso to my view. His jeans are next to go, their swift removal unearthing the dragon tattoo that began my downfall a little over a year ago.
I can’t believe I stupidly fought my feelings for him. It was a battle I was never going to win, so I don’t know why I bothered. Some would say I never truly tried, but they couldn’t feel the confliction that stirred in my gut every time I thought about him. I was genuinely torn between what I thought I knew and what was right.
Nikolai soon showed me the way.
The speed at which our relationship progressed is unnatural, but it is the most worthwhile thing I’ve ever done. Without sacrifice, we’ll never have anything, and with Nikolai having more than his share of unfairness, it’s only fair that he discovers what it feels like to be the center of someone’s world. I’ll give him that—our baby and I will give him the world.
