Page 43 of Sovereign

I lay her on the couch and drape a soft white blanket around her body. I love the way she sighs in contentment. I quickly pull on a pair of boxers and go to the kitchen then check my messages from my brothers.

Lev: Volkov’s men have retreated. He won’t say it but he knows he fucked up. Unlikely to be retaliation right now.

Right now, when she’s only minutes past being fucked in my living room.

When I’ve gotten her pregnant, that will be another story.

Kolya: Congrats, my son. Your father would be proud.

I wish he’d leave my father out of this. Still, I send him a message back. He means the well wishes.

The next message is from Aleks.

She did an excellent job. It’s honestly pretty impressive. Don’t fire me, will you?

I snort to myself. He’s actually admitting she has superior skills. As someone who prides himself on being the best, this takes some humility.

I won’t fire you but don’t count on your Christmas bonus

That’s fine, I wasn’t going to get you anything anyway. You inherited an entire clan of badasses, what more do you need?

Lucky me

I drop my phone on our food tray.

I actually wish I’d kept staff on so I wouldn’t have to leave her and could instruct them to bring us our food. I don’t like leaving her side. I make quick work of retrieving what they left, and when I come back, her eyes are half-lidded.

“Aria.”

She only mumbles to herself and shifts, pulling the blanket up to her chin.

“Food,” I try again, but I already know it won’t work when I hear a light snore.

I set the tray of food on a side table, snag my phone, then and bend and lift her. She doesn’t wake, but nestles against my chest and whispers something incoherent.

I walk into the master suite to the scent of jasmine and roses. My first time ever bringing a woman into my bedroom. I instructed staff to make my bedroom less…austere. I wasn’t really sure what they’d do, but the flowers are a nice touch.

I lay her on the bed and brush the hair out of her face. Traces of makeup from earlier linger on her skin. Does she have a…nighttime routine or something? Not so sure what to do about that.

I text Polina.

Aria is asleep but she hasn’t gotten ready for bed yet. What do I do about…the makeup? Hair?

I am SO screenshotting this for future blackmail. This might be the sweetest text you’ve ever sent.

I control your phone access. I can delete your screenshots. And what’s sweet about it? Maybe I don’t want makeup smeared on my pillowcase.

You are SO overbearing, ugh. I take it back. There’s a small blue rectangular package in the bathroom with the things I bought her. It should say micellar water. Use those. They’re cold so they’ll probably wake her up

Thanks

You’re welcome. And Mikhail? She’s a good one. Don’t be mean to her. I LIKE HER

I roll my eyes and toss my phone on the dresser. Whatever.

I find the little package and take out a wipe. Smell it. Shrug. It doesn’t smell like much, but it’s cold. I press it between my palms until it’s warm. I sit on the edge of the bed and brace Aria’s face with my hand. “Sorry to wake you,” I mumble, then lean over and wipe her face.

She opens one eye. “What is that?”

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