Page 44 of Nikolai

The grip Nikolai has on my hair tightens but not painfully, and his eyes flare. "Say again?"

"Dad made sure I didn't open my mouth again." I put my hand over my mouth to stifle a sob. It's the first time I had spoken about what happened when I was seven. But with Nikolai, I feel safe enough to give him my demons, the things that eat me up inside, and haunt my dreams. And when Nikolai hauls me into his lap, I do just that. I tell him everything. I tell him about the night when I was seven and what I saw outside my bedroom window. The following morning, I learned my dad was not the hero I thought he was, and he has everyone believing he is a good guy. I told him how my father preached the word of God and, to this day, sits in the front row at church every Sunday, and how he raised me to talk, dress, and act in the way that best reflected his image. I told him how my father controlled every aspect of my life right down to the food I put in my mouth when I began to gain too much weight. And although I could feel how rigid Nikolai's body got with every truth that spilled from my mouth, I kept going. I kept going because I could feel the monster inside me, breaking free with every confession. Not once did Nikolai interrupt me, and by the time I was done, I felt like new, I felt as if the weight of the past twenty years had been lifted off my shoulders.

A long stretch of silence passes between Nikolai and me. I know he's absorbing what I just laid out for him. I don't know how much time has gone by before he finally speaks.

"Never again, Malyshka. Never again."

No clarification is needed. Nikolai has made a vow, and I trust him.

An hour later,the heaviness of mine and Nikolai's previous conversation has faded, and now the two of us are sitting in the middle of his bed, eating our previously abandoned diner. I'm still in my t-shirt and panties; my hair probably looks like a rat's nest; my eyes feel like sandpaper from crying, and no doubt, my face is red and splotchy for the same reason. So, when I catch Nikolai staring at me, I pause mid-chew and ask, "What?"

"I'm just thinking about how beautiful you are and imagining what your pussy tastes like."

Not expecting that response, I begin to choke on my food. Nikolai smirks and passes me a bottle of water. After taking a hefty swallow and getting my bearings back, I glare. "You can't say stuff like that."

"You asked, babe."

My cheeks heat. "Well, If I had known you were going to say something like that, I wouldn't have asked."

Nikolai flashes me a smile. "You're gorgeous when you blush."

I groan and cover my face. "I hate my blush. Seriously, what do you see in me? I mean, look at us. I'm awkward, shy, nerdy, and all you have to do is look at me, and my face turns red."

"Malyshka." Nikolai grips my chin, keeping me from looking away "Those are all the things that make you, you. And I happened to like awkward, shy, and nerdy. I especially like your blush. You see those traits as flaws. I only see beauty."

17

Nikolai

Lying in bed, I lose myself in the warmth of my woman's curves. Waking up with Leah's body draped across mine, securely in my arms is the best fucking feeling in the world.

Last night was a significant tipping point in the start of a new beginning for both of us. I've never shared so much of myself with anyone. We talked for hours.

A knock on the door stirs Leah from sleep. "Sir," Maxim speaks from the hall. "Your father has landed, and requested you meet him at The Kings' compound." Shifting, I look at the alarm clock sitting on the nightstand, noticing we've slept past 9 am, which is late for me.

"You have to go?" Leah says sleepily.

I sigh and pull her close. "Yes," I say, knowing we need to resolve the threat hanging over our heads, and my father may have answers. I kiss the top of Leah's head. "Go back to sleep if you wish." Reluctantly, I pull my arm from beneath her and roll out of bed.

After throwing some clothes on, I stride across the room, as Leah climbs out of bed. Wrapping my arm around her waist, I pull her to me. "You have free reign of the house. My home is yours. You'll notice more men hanging around than usual."

"Is everything okay?" Leah asks.

I brush the curls from her face. "They are here to protect you."

"Can I have coffee on the deck out back?"

"As long as Maxim is close by,' I tell her.

Leah sighs. "Will it always be this way. Is this what your life is like all the time, never a moment to yourself?"

"No, Malyshka. But, for now, things stay as they are." Not able to resist the urge any longer, I press my lips to hers. "I'll be home as soon as I can."

"I'll be waiting." Those three words sink deep into my soul as I walk away.

Arriving at the clubhouse, I walk through the door and look around the room, finding most of Jake's brothers hanging out, including my father. "What's bothering you, son?"

"Nothing I can't take care of." I give a vague answer. He eyes me for a moment but says nothing more.

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