Page 9 of A Nanny For The Bratva Boss
He doesn’t answer. Just plants himself in the doorway, his huge arms crossed over his enormous chest, watching me.
Sofia skips past him. “Your house is so cute! Do you live alone?”
“Yeah. It’s my friend Ana’s place. She’s letting me stay here while she’s traveling.”
“That’s nice. Uncle Misha lives alone too. His house is really big.”
I grab my small travel bag from the closet and start throwing clothes in. Jeans. T-shirts. A hoodie. My brain’s not really working right now because Mikhail Maksimov is standing in my space, taking up all the oxygen, and I can feel his eyes on me. Oh, and he talked to me. Wants me to come stay at his house… what is even my life?!
“How long do you need me to stay?” I ask, not looking at him.
“Few days.”
I snort. “That’s specific.”
He grunts.
Sofia giggles. “He does that a lot.”
I grab my toiletries from the bathroom, shove them into the bag, and zip it. “Okay. I’m ready.”
Mikhail’s gaze drops to the bag, then back to my face. “That’s it?”
“Well, yeah. You said a few days.”
His jaw tightens again, and I swear I could come just staring at that muscle flex in his cheek. But he doesn’t argue. Just turns and walks out.
Sofia hops off the couch and grabs my hand. “Come on! You’re going to love Uncle Misha’s house. It’s so big and fancy. And he has the best kitchen!”
“Really? Does he cook?”
“Yep! He makes the best pancakes. And he lets me put as much syrup as I want.”
“Really?”
I glance at Mikhail’s broad back as we follow him out. Muscles rolling under the thin cotton fabric of his shirt. Who would have thought that big, scary Russian mobster is a sweetie with his little niece?
Sofia nods enthusiastically. “Uh-huh. He’s really good at cooking. And he gives the best hugs. And he lets me watch TV for as long as I want. He’s the best,” she concludes with a warm smile, showing off a couple of missing teeth.
Warmth spreads through my chest. Sofia clearly adores her uncle. And watching her hold his hand, chatting away while he listens in silence… is doing something to me. Something I wasn’t prepared for. It’s no longer just my panties that are in danger of self-combusting around this man…
We take the short walk next door, and Mikhail unlocks the gate to his property.
Oh, when I say property, I mean freaking mansion! Just like Mitya and Ana’s place, his house is fucking massive too. Modern, all clean lines and floor-to-ceiling windows. It’s the kind of luxury houses you see in magazines. Another home I definitely don’t belong in.
Sofia tugs me forward. “Come on! I’ll show you my room!”
Mikhail’s hand lands on the small of my back. It’s just a brief touch, but it sends electricity running through my body. The heat of his palm, how large it is… Deep breaths, Maya.
Four
MIKHAIL
I shouldn’t have touched her. But my hand moved before I could stop it and landed on the small of her back. Just above the curve of her perfect fucking ass.
And fuck. She’s warm. Soft. And the second my palm makes contact, something in me cracks wide open.Mine.The thought slams into me so hard I almost pull back. Almost. But I don’t. Because feeling her under my hand, even through the thin fabric of her dress, is the closest I’ve ever been to her. And now that I’ve touched her, I don’t want to stop.
Maya sucks in a breath. It’s barely audible, but I hear it. Fuck.
