Page 37 of Chained Fate
Only, as I stare at it, it unlocks itself.
“It’s for you,” Alexei’s deep voice says, and I jump a foot into the air, nearly dropping the phone as my heartbeat leaps through the roof.
When the fuck did he come in?
I whirl around to see his tall, dark figure standing in the doorway, an inscrutable smile on his face.
Is this a trick?A test?“Um… thank you?”
“You’re welcome.”He comes deeper into the room.Unlike me, he’s already dressed in a pair of jeans and a dark T-shirt that exposes the tattoos on his powerful arms.“Your brothers have been on my case to get you a phone of your own so they can get a hold of you whenever, but I didn’t want them bothering you during treatment.”
Or, more likely, until he decided I wouldn’t coordinate an escape plan with them.
Is that what this is?A gesture of trust?Does he think I’ve accepted our marriage?
My heart picks up pace again.
Have I accepted it?Do I actually want to stay with him now?
“The laptop has the game you started on it,” he continues before I can answer myself.“I’ve loaded our latest AI model on it, in case you’d like to use it to help you with the coding process.”
I blink.Did I hear that right?“You’re developing a proprietary AI?”
Alexei nods.“One of our companies is, yes.”
Huh.Do my brothers know that?Probably.I bet Konstantin’s team is already working on something similar or even more advanced.
“Thank you,” I say sincerely.“Now that I’m feeling better, I’d love to resume working on the game.”And with the help of AI, I may get very far, very fast.
“That’s what I figured.”He stops in front of me, his smile taking on a soft, sensual edge.“How are you feeling this morning, my beauty?”
My face heats at the memories of yesterday.“I’m… fine.Great, really.”
He lifts his hand to run the edge of his callused thumb over my lips.“Your lips still look swollen.”He brushes his fingers over my neck, sending a pleasurable shiver streaking down my arm as he gently presses on the sensitive spot under my ear.“And you have a hickey right here.”
I flush hotter.My brothers will likely visit us today, and they’ll see that.Unless… “Did you bring my makeup from the boat here, by any chance?”
Alexei nods.“It’s in the bathroom, waiting for you.”Eyes glittering, he adds, “Though I prefer you without any.”
He does?That’s… unexpected.“I need it for the hickey,” I say breathlessly, taking a small step back.
The look on his face makes me think he’s recalling yesterday in graphic detail, and as much as I’d love a repeat, I need to shower and brush my teeth first.
Alexei drops his hand and also takes a step back, curling his fingers into a fist as if to stop himself from reaching for me.“Makes sense.”His voice is a touch hoarse.“Come to the kitchen when you’re ready.Breakfast is waiting.”
He walks out, and I exhale a breath I didn’t realize I was holding.
Just that brief touch from him, and my body is already thrumming with heady awareness, my pulse racing from being in his presence.
Or from the knowledge that I now have access to a phone.
Yes, that’s what it is.I seize on the explanation because I’m not ready to analyze the complex, contradictory mess that is my relationship with Alexei.Instead, I lift the phone I’m still clutching in my hand and eagerly swipe across the screen.
Since I gave Alexei access to my cloud’s login, I’m not surprised to find that this new device is filled with all my usual contacts and photos.
I’m not surprised, but I’m definitely excited.
I can call or message whomever I wish.Like my brothers.And Chloe.And my college friends.And Natasha back home.
