Page 21 of The Tsar's Obsession
My gasp echoed in the living room as my eyes climbed onto my forehead, but another text popped up immediately after.
Kirill: Oops, you know what I mean. English is my second language so, sometimes I make mistakes. [angel emoji]
Genuine laughter bubbled out of me at his typo, the warm feeling spreadingthrough all of me.
Mia: I…I’m still too drunk for this...
Kirill: In that case, let’s pick up where we left off last night. Are you going to let me corrupt your innocent little soul as Viv suggests?
I was in la-la land, flirting with a boy I liked, texting like a teenager.
Mia: Are you the devil?
A loud knock on my front door shattered the blissful moment. I dragged myself toward it, swinging it open for Viv and Carly.
Viv paused mid-step, looking over the hoodie with a knowing spark in her eyes, her lips curling in a smile. “Keeps you warm, huh?” She tilted her head. Before Carly could clue in, I ushered them both inside the apartment.
“I was cold, okay?” I muttered under my breath while Carly made her way to my kitchen with a bag of groceries.
“Sure,” Viv drawled, and then, “So? Did you?”
“Did I what?”
“Ride his big dick?”
I rolled my eyes. “First of all, we don’t even know if it’s big, okay?” I chuckled through my ridiculous words, happiness and joy filling me up from this conversation. “And second, who do you think I am? To sleep with a man I barely know?”
Viv sighed, as if she was about to give up, but instead she doubled down. “He’s a giant.” She nodded enthusiastically. “Do you really think he has a baby carrot down there?”
My laughter echoed through the apartment, the images flashing in my head both alarming and arousing.
Viv smirked, whispering her next words. “Don’t fucking tell me you haven’t been thinking about it.” She pointed herfinger at me, her long black hair swaying with every movement of her head. “Just get on birth control, that’s all I’m saying. God knows you’ve been abstinent for so long; you’re practically a nun.”
“Hey! Come help!” Carly called loudly from the kitchen, and still shaking with laughter, Viv and I joined her to help make brunch.
Carly gave us both jobs, and diligently, I cut and toasted the bagels and arranged the smoked salmon on a plate.
Carly and I had known each other since university, and as of late, our friendship had become complicated. Carly was never as close as Viv, but still, I had known her for almost a decade, and we’d stuck together through university, boyfriends, and hobbies.
But there was a thorn between us. Ari. Carly and Ari had known each other since they were kids, and she was the one who introduced us. And ever since that day, she struggled to hide how much she regretted it. She was madly in love with him while I ignored every single one of his advances.
Carly was smart, hardworking, loyal, and a bright and lovely girl. She longed to have a family, but only with Ari. It had become an uncomfortable scenario for everyone.
With a coffee cup in hand, Viv promptly returned to our conversation as we sat at my round dining table, the bagels and lox making me slightly nauseated.
“Carls?” Carly hated that nickname, but Viv gave zero fucks, as always. “First, please pack for the Bahamas trip. Don’t make us wait like last time.” She rolled her eyes, and Carly nodded apologetically while she chewed her bagel. “Andsecond,did you know that Mia has her eyes set on a man shejustmet?”
Carly’s head twisted to me like in a horror film. “Man, this job will kill me,” Carly lamented. “I’m always out of the loop!” She complained about her long hours, and I finally checked my phone, itching to see a text from the man himself.
Kirill:Are you an angel?
Mmm, fuck. For him I’d be an angel, a demon, fucking anything.
Viv began another rendition of ‘Mia needs to get laid’, and Carly listened without interrupting, her enthusiasm at the news practically making her giddy.
Something about this conversation pushed me to do a very stupid thing.
Mia: If you’re into that, I can be.
