Page 72 of Scarlet Sins

“What’s not to love?” Kara says as she scoops up Sasha. “Say hi to Mama.”

“Mama! Dino Daddy!” He wiggles free and then screams, “Look at me!” And he runs and dances in a crazy circle.

I laugh and clap, and my eyes blur with tears.

Demyan sits next to me and puts his phone down. “She told me she’d give an update. I turned it on for that and tocheck with Ilya, who said to go away, he’s got things handled.”

I swallow. “Did…?”

“About twenty missed calls and texts, but…” He picks up the phone and turns it off again. “We’ll check in tonight for the next Alina update. The rest of the time is just us. No phones, no business, no worries.” He stands again. “Now get up and get dressed. I want to take you somewhere.”

Get up and go out or stay in bed and be lazy with the guarantee of more sex? It’s a no-brainer. I pull back the covers and motion to the bed next to me. Even though it’s huge, I pat the spot right next to me, where he’d have to be skin on skin.

“Are you bribing me?”

“Yes.”

“Damn.”

“I’d rather stay in bed, Demyan,” I say. “Wouldn’t you?”

“Normally, the answer would be yes, but I have something planned. Now get that sweet ass out of bed and dressed. Now.”

Grumbling, I get up to get ready.

He’s waitingby the door when I emerge from the bathroom. He’s in jeans again, a sight I find hot and sexy but one that takes getting used to, especially as Demyan and suits are melded in my head.

He has a heavy backpack slung over his shoulder.

“What’s in there?”

“None of your business,” he says, kissing my nose.

I follow him outside and around the side of the cabin, then he heads out from the well-kept area around the homestead and up into the woods. There’s a path he’s following butit’s rocky, like someone put in their own stone steps that are uneven.

“Where are we going?”

I shriek as I step on a loose stone and almost tumble face-first into the rock and dirt, but Demyan’s strong arms catch me. I clutch at him. “Where we’re going is none of your business and I’ll always catch you,Lyubimaya. I’ll never let anything happen to you.”

He takes my hand and we go together, through the thick and heavy bushes. But the farther we go, the more level the ground becomes and the shrubs start to thin out.

Then I gasp.

We’re in a stunning area that’s cool and green, an open little grassy area where there’s a smaller hidden lake down below us and a pretty waterfall that gives the area a sense of peace.

“It’s our own private world. It’s gorgeous, Demyan. How did you know?”

“I’ve been here before.”

My breath catches.

“Years ago with Ilya and Alina. We were working, and she wanted to relax somewhere. The sofa pulls out and Ilya set up a hammock outside. He likes that kind of stuff.” He smiles as he unpacks, spreading out a blanket and setting up a small picnic for us.

“And no,” he adds, “I haven’t ever brought a woman here. Just you. Sit.”

I take a seat, glad I wore the dress and the sandals. I kick the shoes off. He sets out some sparkling apple juice, water, berries, and a baguette that must have arrived this morning as it wasn’t in the kitchen last night.

It’s all perfect.

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