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“Yes,” I manage to croak out, trying to keep my shit together.
“We need to talk.”
“Yes,” I say again, almost mesmerized by my own realization. We definitely need to talk. About so much. I barely know where to start because everything I have to say holds so much weight that I feel crushed by it all.
“I must tell you something,” he begins. I put my finger over his lips, feeling the light rasp of stubble there. He hasn’t shaved. His eyes are shadowed. I know it’s my fault; I did that to him when I left him. I won’t do that again.
“No, I need to finish what I was going to say,” I interrupt him. I have to say it all. About the baby. About the FBI and their outrageous demands and their plans to arrest him and collapse his empire.
About how much I love him.
“Tiana, it has to wait.” He brushes a kiss against my finger before moving it away.
“No! It can’t wait.” I’m breathless with the enormity of what I’m about to say. I glance over at where Dima is staring in bemusement. “I…” I swallow hard and lick my lips. My mouth feels like a desert. “Kirill, I…”
He frowns at me. “Ptichka, there is something I must tell you, but if you are going to-”
“I’m getting there!” I put my hand up.
Oh God.
I can’t do this.
Dima is right here.
He’s going to freak out about the FBI thing. So will Kirill. And while I’m pretty sure that Kirill will never hurt me, there’s no telling what the stocky Russian who’s glowering at me might do.
But then again, Kirill won’t let him touch me. Of course he won’t. But the trouble it will cause…
Shit!
Just get it over with, Tee!
“I’m so sorry I left,” I forge on. I cup his cheek with my hand. “It was wrong, and I know that now because while I was out there, I…” I lick my lips yet again. “I realized how much I care about you, Kirill. Deeply. So much so…” I take in a deep breath because I know there’s no way I can tell him about the baby or the FBI while Dima is staring at me with his mouth hanging open. Even if we were alone, it would be hard to tell him the most important things.
That I love him.
That I’m carrying his baby.
“You care about me.” He tilts his head.
“Yes.” I nod like a fool. “More than… more than anyone. And I want you to know that I’m never going to scare you like that again, Kirill. I belong here with you.”
There is a slight tightening at the edges of his full lips as he takes in my words. And then his eyes soften. It’s not something that anyone else might easily see, but I know that look. He’s pleased. More than pleased.
When he pulls me up against his lean, hard body and presses his lips to my forehead, I know that I’m right.
“That’s good, Ptichka,” he murmurs into my hair. “That’s good, because it would kill me if my little bird flew away.”
“It won’t happen,” I say hoarsely, burrowing closer and feeling his warmth seeping into me. Why did I ever want to be anywhere else? This is home. Here, where I’m wanted. This is the place where Tiana Avants needs to be. And soon, it will be Tiana Vyronov. Because if he wants me as his wife, and the mother of his child, I’m going to dive in headfirst and love every minute of it.
Dima clears his throat. “Boss, this is very…uh…”
I’m pretty sure the word he’s looking for is “awkward.” I step away from Kirill slightly, suddenly feeling self-conscious.
Kirill doesn’t seem to care at all. “Dima, we can deal with that situation later. I am busy now.” He threads his fingers through mine; they’re warm and strong, just like the rest of him. It gives me a happy little shiver that ripples down to my core, and I press my thighs together. Maybe this conversation needs to continue in the bedroom.
I stifle a smile.
