Page 50 of Owned By the Russian

“I think you’re in love with him,” Rhiannon said casually as she adjusted her sunglasses, letting the sun warm her skin.

Valentina choked on her iced mocktail, nearly spilling it as she ripped off her sunglasses to glare at her best friend. It had taken weeks of assuring and convincing her family that she was fine before paying her best friend a visit to finally escape her family, who especially babied her because of what had happened. The last thing she expected from Rhi as they sunbathed in her backyard was this random bombshell of an accusation.

“Excuse me?”

Rhiannon merely shrugged, shifting for a better angle. “Think about it. It’s been three weeks since you came home, and he’sallyou talk about. Before, it was ‘I want to strangle him in his sleep,’ and now it’s more like ‘I want to strangle himandfuck him at the same time.’”

Valentina scoffed, adjusting her bikini strap. “That doesn’t mean I’minlove with him. It means I’m still annoyed.”

Rhi turned her head and gave her a look. “Uh-huh. Right. Annoyed. That’s why you miss him, right?”

Val scowled, taking a long sip of her mocktail to avoid answering. “For the record, no, I don’t miss him, and you’re insane.”

Rhi smirked, unfazed. “Am I? Because every time his name comes up, you get this little look?like you’re remembering something you shouldn’t be.” She shifted her sunglasses to peer at her friend. “And conserving how you used to talk about him like he was the bane of your existence, the shift isverytelling.”

“I still want to strangle him. That hasn’t changed.”

“But now you also want to ride him.”

Valentina’s mouth fell open, looking round as if someone would hear their conversation. “Rhiannon!”

Rhi burst into laughter, reaching for her drink. “Oh, please. You’re not as subtle as you think. Your whole face heats up whenever you talk about him, and trust me, Babe, Iknowthat look.” She turned onto her side, propping herself up on an elbow. “So, are you going to admit it, or am I going to have to drag it out of you?”

Val glared at her for a long moment before exhaling and slumping back into her lounge chair. She couldn’t help but miss him, his absence a hole in her life for the last three weeks. She missed their banter, how he picked her mind apart, and how he wasn’t afraid to call her on her bullshit. She hadn’t told Rhi about their sex because it was like a secret treasure she wanted to keep to herself alone.

“Fine.” She succumbed.

Rhiannon grinned in triumph, her eyes twinkling with mischief. “Why, you dirty little girl. YoufuckedIlya Nikolai.”

Valentina groaned, covering her face with her hands. “Stop saying it like that.”

“Why? It’s the truth, isn’t it?” Rhi nudged her. “Come on, spill. Was it good?”

Valentina hesitated for a second too long.

Rhi’s jaw dropped. “Oh my God. Itwas.”

“Shut up,” Val muttered, grabbing her drink again, suddenly feeling thirsty.

Rhi wiggled her brows. “How good are we talking? Like, fucked-so-good-I-can-have-his-babies good? Or just slightly better than average?”

Valentina shot her a flat look.

Rhi gasped, dramatically placing a hand over her heart. “Oh, you’re so doomed.”

“This conversation is over.” Valentina groaned.

Rhiannon laughed, leaning back against her chair. “Alright, alright. I’ll leave you alone for now. But there’s an event this weekend. You should come.”

Valentina raised a brow. “I thought you wanted me to stay in bed for one month. Now, you want me to attend a party?”

“Because I miss partying with my best friend.” Then Rhiannon smirked. “And because Ilya will be there.”

Valentina rolled her eyes, even though her heart was already reacting at the thought of seeing him again. “Not a selling point.”

Rhiannon simply laughed. “Oh, we’ll see.”

***

---