Page 154 of Devotion

“Wasted perfectly good vodka. He is right. This is unforgivable,” Fyodor crosses his arms, scowling down at me. “What is giving?”

“It’s ‘what gives,’” Ciro corrects.

“Santa Clause,” Fyodor retorts, shoving Ciro aside. “Explain.”

“Ugh. All of the eligible women in Russia here in one place and you have to loom menacingly over me?” I square off with him, staring him down.

“Oh. Oh no.” Fyo’s eyes pop out of his head.

“Oh no, what?” Ciro returns, looking between us.

“Not another one!” Fyodor storms off, cursing in Russian.

Ciro raises one eyebrow at me, tapping his foot. “Vanya.”

“Yes, Papa?” I sing, rubbing my belly and giving him my sweetest smile.

Now I watch his eyes pop out of his head. A sight I will savor forever. And try to replicate later tonight.

“Y-you’re…uh…”

“Wearing crotchless panties…”

“Really?”

“Mm-hmm.”

“No, but the other thing, you’re?—”

“Soaking wet for you?”

“I, pffft. Shit. Nope. Stop it.You are?—”

“Ready for you to pull this butt plug out and?—”

Ciro grabs me, kissing me and sweeping me off my feet. Right across the dance floor and into the nearest closet he can find.

“Oh, you drive me fucking insane.”

“And you love every fucking second of it, Shakal.”

EPILOGUE 2

Fiero

“Honey, wake up.”

Her voice is honey. It reminds me of dating, flirting.

Remembering that her face is oval, smooth, supple. Like her curves. Her hair is wavy, dark brown, hints of highlights. When she smiles, it takes your breath away.

I wince as my eyes crack open. The room is strange.

Home, a simple two bedroom, two bath. You moved in after you got married. First place. Honeymoon years.

The white walls are foreign, yet I feel like I should recognize it.

Lovemaking, her curvaceous hips spread wide around me, her thighs splayed out. She’s flexible. It’s captivating. Enchanting. Like her laugh.

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