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“You aren’t worth that much.” I kiss her forehead. “We cannot even put a price on your worth, my love.”
She sighs and doesn’t speak for long minutes.
“I…I need to let this go. I know I do. I thought…I felt so betrayed, I wanted to leave, Mikhail.”
“I know. Aleks told me you’d intercepted the texts, bypassed our security measures, then took yourself off our tracking system so he couldn’t get a heartbeat on you after the attacks.” I run my fingers through her hair. “You know what would happen if I had you alone right now, don’t you?” I lean in and kiss her cheek. "You’d be over my knee for being so reckless, Aria. For taking your life in your hands like that. For making a decision that put yourself at risk without coming to me, first.”
Even though she pouts, I know a part of her likes when I take her in hand.
“But don’t worry, love. We’ll have plenty of privacy in Russia.”
She squirms adorably before continuing. “Mikhail, I felt so betrayed. All this time you told me that I was your prisoner because of what I did, when I hacked into your computers.”
“You were.”
“But you’d orchestrated my coming to you!”
“I did.”
She pulls away and frowns at me. “Explain that to me, then.”
I easily frame her face in my hands, holding her gaze to mine. “I told Tatiana I needed a wife. Tatiana told me you needed protection. It fell into place as if you were sent to me.Kak s neba svalilsya,we say in Russia. As if fallen from the sky. Sent from above.”
I shake my head. “I kidnapped you, Aria. You were my little hacker. I took you, drugged, to my home and forced you to marry me. Are you offended or hurt that I didn’t go about this by conventional means? Your reasoning makes no sense to me.”
When she swallows and tries to look away, my grip tightens. “No, Aria. You look me in the eye and tell me why you’re upset.”
She blinks, fat tears rolling down her cheeks. “I thought I was just…a vessel to you. Someone to be used for gain. You needed a wife and child…then I came along. I could’ve been anyone.Anyone.” Now she cries freely. I release her long enough to pull her body completely on top of me. I sit up and arrange her so she straddles my lap.
“My love.Aria.Have I failed to demonstrate how much you mean to me?”
“You bought me,” she whispers. “You bought me like I’m a rare trinket you wanted for your collection to keep under lock and key.”
“I paid a price for Tatiana’s services, Aria,” I say gently. “Not foryou.” I lay my hands on either side of her, my fingers laced at the small of her back. “There is no price for perfection.”
She sniffs, and I pull her to my chest. I hold her to me while she cries freely.
“Aria, don’t you know? If I’d only known you, I would’ve chased your shadow from the very first time I ever saw you. I would have reinvented myself, become the man you needed me to be just for the merest glimpse of your smile or a moment of your attention. I would have fought full armies for your favor and destroyed anyone or anything that pulled us apart. I would have razed the earth to clear a path to you and make you mine.”
“Oh my God, Mikhail,” she sniffs. “Stop.”
“Stop what?” I ask, bemused.
“Being so damn perfect,” she sobs. “I was totally convinced I was only your trophy and someone you’d used to get your way. And then you go and say all these perfect things…”
“Oh I haveeveryintention of using you.”
EPILOGUE
Aria
The cracklingfire warms the interior of the living room where I sit – no,loungeon a chaise built for a king. It seems Ekaterina furnished the Russian home with furniture strong enough to withstand the weight and heft of the Neanderthals she raised. Not that I’m complaining. I quite like that Mikhail and I can snuggle here comfortably. Or, more accurately for the moment,Ican snuggle under blankets and enjoy the fire while he massages my feet, which he’s back to doing and I amnotcomplaining.
“I researched all the latest equipment,” he’s telling me, his eyes on me so earnest he looks almost boyish. “The safest bassinet, the safest car seat, the best baby monitors and strollers.” He pauses, his capable hands holding my foot. “Do you know the benefits of breastfeeding?”
I almost laugh out loud. It’s amusing as hell to see the way my monster of a husband has turned into a pile of mush.
“I have, Polina and I were researching the different feeding options.” I look down at my ample breasts. “I mean, mine are big enough…”
