Page 124 of Gilded in Blood

I wake up beside Kirill, who is still sound asleep. I lie there for a while, just watching him, the steady rise and fall of his chest, the way his face looks peaceful in sleep.

My mind drifts back to yesterday in the basement, the fear that gripped me when I realized Ivan was working against us, when Kirill was knocked out, when Michael was torturing them.

I relive the terror of seeing that bullet hit him, the moment I thought I might lose him forever.

I’m so thankful he’s alive. He’s right here with me.

I can’t even begin to imagine what I would have done if he had died. That’s how much I’ve come to love him. It’s scary, but I do. Deeply.

I slip out of bed quietly, use the bathroom, and then head to make us breakfast. I’m in the middle of cracking eggs into a pan when I feel strong arms wrap around me from behind.

Kirill kisses my neck, his voice still rough with sleep. “I woke up and the bed was empty.”

I smile, leaning back into him. “I decided to come make us breakfast.” I tilt my head toward the counter. “I made coffee.”

He kisses my neck again, then reaches for a mug and pours himself some. I turn to look at him. “How’s your arm doing?”

He shrugs. “It’s better.”

After breakfast is ready, we take everything to the living room and sit together on the couch, eating.

I should be enjoying this. The peace, the fact that we’re both alive. Instead, one question keeps circling my mind. It has been there since yesterday.

Kirill glances at me over the rim of his coffee mug.

“You have that look.”

I blink. “What look?”

“Like you have something on your mind.”A small smile touches his lips. “You’ve had that look on your face for the last five minutes.” He sets his mug down. “A penny for your thoughts?”

I look down at my plate. Should I ask him? Will I come off as needy if I do? Maybe I’ve completely misunderstood what this is between us. Maybe, now that everything is over, he’ll simply walk away.

The thought twists painfully in my chest. I have to know. Taking a deep breath, I look back at him.

“So… what now?”

His brows pull together. “What now?” He glances toward the kitchen. “You mean after breakfast? Is there somewhere you want us to go?”

I shake my head. “No. That’s not what I mean.”

I set my fork down. “I mean… us. Everything that brought us together…” I continue quietly. “It started because my brothers hired you to protect me from Michael.” I swallow. “But now Michael is dead.” I hold his gaze. “So… what does that mean for us?”

The room falls silent.

“Are you going to leave? Go back to taking other jobs?”

For a moment, he simply looks at me. Then he leans back against the couch.

“I could.” He shrugs. “But, I could also decide never to work another day in my life.”

I blink. “What?”

He smiles faintly. “I’ve made enough money over the years. Enough to last me a lifetime.”

I stare at him. “Seriously?”

He nods. “I invested most of what I earned instead of spending it.”