He lifts me again and carries me to the bed. I sink into the sheets, my pulse still racing. He doesn’t hesitate, just strips down to his boxers and climbs in beside me.
“Alexei…” I start, unsure what to do with the sudden closeness. “What are you doing?”
He pulls me into his chest, one arm heavy across my waist, his breath warm against my neck.
“It’s been 1,474 days,” he says quietly. “I’m not spending another night without you in my arms.”
My protest dies somewhere between my throat and my heart. Because the truth is…I don’t want him to let go either.
Chapter Four
Alexei
The first thing I register is the warmth of her soft body snuggled up against mine. Then the steady rhythm of her breathing, and the faint scent of her shampoo on the pillow.
For a long moment, I just lie there, letting the moment stretch. I’ve imagined this…too many nights to count, but imagination doesn’t compare to the real thing.
Anya shifts, a quiet sound leaving her throat as she nestles closer. Her hair spills across my arm, and I have the ridiculous thought that I could stay like this forever. But I know better than to trust peace. It never lasts.
I slip out of bed, careful not to wake her, and dress quickly before padding barefoot into the kitchen. The flat is small, with sunlight filtering through thin curtains, glinting off the polished counter. There’s a simple charm to it, like her.
I find eggs, bread, and coffee and start cooking. It’s mechanical, something to keep my hands busy while my head spins with what comes next.
By the time she walks into the kitchen, the smell of toast has filled the air. She stands in the doorway wearing my T-shirt, thehem riding high on her thighs, eyes still heavy with sleep. For a second, I forget how to breathe.
“Good morning,” she says, her voice husky with sleep. It's so damn sexy.
I hand her a mug of coffee. “Sit. Eat.”
She studies me across the table, quiet for a moment before she finally speaks. “You just made yourself at home, didn’t you?”
I shrug. “Seemed easier than waiting for an invitation.”
Her lips twitch, but she doesn’t smile. We eat in companionable silence for a while. For the first time in a long time, I feel at peace.
“Pack a bag,” I say quietly, watching her expression. “We leave for New York tomorrow.”
Her fork stills. “You’re serious?”
“Completely.”
“Alexei…” She exhales, shaking her head. “You can’t just show up here after four years and expect me to follow you like nothing happened.”
I push my chair back and stand. “That’s not what I’m asking.”
She arches her brow. “No? Because that’s exactly what it sounds like.”
I cross over to her side and rest my hands on the back of her chair. “I’m asking you to give me a chance to prove that everything I said last night was real.”
She tilts her chin up defiantly, but I see hesitation flicker in her eyes. “And how long do you think that’ll take?”
“How long do you need?”
She bites her bottom lip, thinking. “Ten days. That’s how long I have before I have to accept one of the job offers.”
Ten days. I can work with that.
“Then I have ten days to change your mind.”
