Page 89 of Daniil
I’m not ready for complete trust.
But I’m ready to try.
I owe it to my son, and to myself, to give us a chance to be a real family.
I can raise him on my own, there’s no doubt about that—but why should I have to when there’s a strong, caring, wonderful man who wants to do it with me?In the U.S.we live by the saying “innocent until proven guilty” and I’ve been doing the opposite with Daniil, finding him guilty of things he hasn’t even done.There have to be some ground rules, but not yet.Not while it’s all so new and exciting.
“I spoke to Chains today,” I whisper.“He said to take all the time I need.My job isn’t going anywhere.”
“Yeah?”His hand drifts up my side until it reaches my face, and then he gently takes my chin between his thumb and forefinger, forcing me to look at him.“You want to stay here?With me?”
I nod.“There will probably be some ground rules and?—”
He doesn’t let me finish because he captures my lips with his, sucking my tongue into his mouth and kissing me into oblivion.
“Set all the ground rules you want—I don’t care.Having you both here with me is all I care about.”
I’m a little too breathless—and aroused—to respond right away, but Micah starts fussing again, and Daniil shoos me toward the bathroom.
“Go freshen up or whatever.I’ll pack his bag and let Marcus know we’ll be ready to go in fifteen minutes… is that enough time?”
I nod again.“Uh, yes.”
I turn and practically run into the bathroom, trying to gather my thoughts and still my racing heart.
I’m going to stay.
I’m going to truly give this a chance.
It’s terrifying, but my heart is screaming that it’s the right thing to do.
He offered to pay all my bills in Vegas for as long as I stay here so I’m going to hold him to that.And there’s really very little for me to lose if the financial part is taken care of.I’ve never been the type of woman who couldn’t pay her own way, but this is different.We have a child together, and if he wants me to stay with him in a foreign country, I have to protect myself.
As I pull on a cute pair of shorts and matching top, it feels like a huge burden has been lifted.My heart—and mind—are lighter than they’ve been since before I was pregnant.For the first time in a long time, I don’t have to follow anyone’s rules but my own.Within reason, of course, but I’m talking about my personal life.If I want to start a relationship with a European prince, I can.
If I want to be a helicopter pilot in the Limaji military—I can do that too.
Having options is a wonderful thing.
“Do I even want to ask about these ground rules you mentioned?”Daniil asks as we take the elevator down to the parking garage.
I chuckle.“Well, monogamy is non-negotiable.”
“Easy.”
“And while I’m down for all the sex games we’ve talked about, my hard line is being intimate with anyone else.If I’m getting a spanking, they can watch, but only you do the spanking.That goes for everything.”
“Absolutely.You will always feel safe when we play that way and that’s a hard line for me as well.The thought of someone else touching you makes me a little crazy.”
“Good to know.”
“Anything else?”
“Oh, there are quite a few things, but those are the big ones.Everything else can wait.”
He playfully gives me the side eye.“How many is quite a few?”
I shrug.“Eh, four, five hundred.”
