Page 151 of The Last Hope

I squinted when the shutters of my room suddenly flew open. Groaning, I covered my face with my pillow—only for it to be snatched away.

“Rise and shine, girl !” my sister exclaimed, smacking me with the very pillow she had just stolen.

“Five more minutes,” I grumbled, burying my face into the mattress. But my little sister was worse than a pit bull.

“We’re supposed to meet Elif for lunch on the beach,” she said, launching herself onto me. I couldn’t help but smile.

“Mmm,” I hummed, finally opening my eyes, despite my sore muscles, I felt like I was in paradise. Nikolai, even at his age, was surprisingly… fit. He had left a few hours ago to meet his brothers.

“Nikolai really needs to stop torturing you every night,” my sister muttered with a dramatic sigh. I was about to laugh when we heard the front door creak open. We both turned, and I frowned at the sight of Rafael.

“Angelomio?” I called gently, but he quickly turned away, his eyes dark and unreadable.

What the…?

I jumped out of bed, grabbed my robe, and hurriedly slipped it on before rushing out of the cabin. I spotted him heading toward the main hut—the communal space.

“Rafael !” I called after him, but he didn’t stop. He pushed the door open, and I heard my husband’s voice asking if he needed anything.

“Stop torturing Mom at night !” my son suddenly shouted.

I froze in the doorway.

My husband and his brothers sat around a table, all staring in stunned silence as I felt heat rush to my face so fast it felt like I’d burst into flames.

A long silence followed—until my sister burst into laughter behind me, loud enough to be heard across the island.Unsurprisingly, Roman joined in, laughing like a donkey as he slammed his fist on the table, nearly choking. Sasha smirked, patting Roman’s back to help him recover.

I didn’t dare look at Grigori, but I caught him in my peripheral vision, smiling behind his hand.

“Oh my God,” I groaned, burying my face in my hands as the two idiots continued cackling. Suddenly, I heard my son squeal, and when I looked up, he was hoisted over Nikolai’s shoulder.

My husband strode toward me with a smug smile on his face. I glared, ready to scold him, but I barely had time to react before he tossed me over his other shoulder.

“Enough of your nonsense. Leave my family alone,” he declared, carrying us both back to our cabin.

And despite everything, I couldn’t help but laugh.

Later that day, I traced my fingers along Nikolai’s forearms as we sat on the beach under the moonlight. His nose brushed against my neck, his murmured words sending a shiver down my spine.

“Andrei promised to make me a necklace with the seashells we collected today,” I said, sighing as I melted into his chest.

“Yes, he asked me for paint to decorate some of them. I’ll buy some in the nearby village tomorrow,” he replied, and I felt him smile against my skin.

“Mikhail and Alexei want to go diving again tomorrow. I’ll go with them—and Sienna too.”

He hummed against my neck, making me smile again.

“I can’t wait to go home in two days,” I continued, ignoring his lips trailing lower toward my collarbone. “Do you think we could get a cat? I love cats.”

“Mmm,” he hummed again, clearly ignoring me.

I sighed and turned in his arms, straddling his lap. He groaned.

“Would you listen to me for a second?” I asked, raising an eyebrow.

“But I am listening,moy lyubov’. I’m listening with all my senses,” he murmured, playfully nipping at my jaw. Despite myself, I tightened my thighs around him.

“We’ve spent two whole weeks together, Niko. How can you not be satisfied yet?” I whispered against his lips. His arms tightened around my waist, nearly knocking the breath out of me.

---