Page 56 of Love to Defy You
On Christmas morning, Alek, Mikhail, Anastasia, and I gather around the tree after breakfast. I hold a cup of coffee in my hands to keep warm. But there aren’t any presents under the tree, except for the ones I wrapped.
“We typically do a Russian-style holiday here at the chalet,” Alek explains. “We exchange gifts on New Year’s Eve.”
Mikhail laughs. “That’s whenDed Morozbrings the toys for the children.”
“Dead Morose?” I wrinkle my nose. “That sounds so... morbid.”
“Yes, well, we Russians are a rather broody people, aren’t we?” Mikhail leans back against the sofa and strokes his clean-shaven chin.
Alek leans closer to me and whispers, “But I do expect one Christmas present from you tonight.”
Apparently, Alek isn’t quiet enough, because Ana shrieks, “Ew! Get a room.”
He throws his arm over my shoulder and grins at his sister. “You’re almost seventeen and you’re still grossed out by sex? DidMat’not tell you about the pistils and stamens?”
I arch an eyebrow at him. “Is that what the cool kids are calling it these days?”
Mikhail’s face turns red. “It’s a Russian expression, like the birds and the bees.”
I’ve never seen Mikhail get shy or embarrassed about sex. As much as I’d like to tease him about it, Ana is even redder than him, and she looks ready to flee the room.
I turn to Alek. “But all the guests are arriving for the New Year’s Eve party. When will we have time to open gifts?”
“I have the perfect moment in mind.” He glances down at me, but his eyes hold a mischievous gleam I’ve seen many times before.
“What are you planning?” I ask in a low voice. “You still haven’t told me why you invited Enzo.”
“I did tell you. I’m keeping my enemies close.”
I scoff. “I don’t buy it. What are you really planning?”
He leans in and kisses the tip of my nose. “You’ll find out.”
I shake my head and turn away from him. “Ana, how about we ditch the guys and go skiing today? I’m ready for my first lesson.”
Her sapphire eyes light up. “Oh, yes! I’ll go change.”
Alek catches my hand when I stand up. “Are you mad at me,malishka?”
His patronizing tone irks me. “If you want to keep secrets from me, then our conversation is over.”
I don’t know what he’s planning, but this dangerous game he’s playing doesn’t just involve Enzo. It involves me too, and I don’t like being kept in the dark. I need to be ready for what’s next, and to do that, Alek needs to treat me as his equal. Right now, we don’t feel like a team.
I stare down at him, waiting for his response.
“In that case, don’t fall on the slopes.” He releases my hand. “The only thing that will make you sore tonight is me.”
“Alek, shut up!” Ana screeches. “You’re so gross!”
I snort. “We’ll see about that.”
If he wants to play games, then I’ll play ball. Two blue balls, to be exact.
Six days. Six whole fucking days.
This is the longest Alek and I have gone without sex since we left Andarusia, although it’s not for a lack of him trying. It’s hard to resist when we share a bed at night and he sleeps naked.
He could force himself on me if he wanted. Consent isn’t exactly in his vocabulary. But as soon as I rebuke him, he just laughs and rubs one out in front of me.
