Blushing, I turned away to stare out of the window at the familiar neighborhood.
“Amy, look at me.”
My body obeyed his order straight away. And his hands were on my face instantly.
“I love you,” he said again. "I love that when you look at me you smile. I love that you want to look at me. So don’t ever be embarrassed. Look at me whenever you want.” He moved our bodies closer. “Touch me whenever you want.”
I wanted to touch him and climb into his lap and kiss him until neither one of us could breathe, but we were taking things slowly, and the driver was right there.
My eyes darted forward, and Alexei chuckled. “We are almost home now anyway, so maybe later. I know everyone wants to see you.”
My eyebrows shot up. “Who exactly is everyone?”
In answer, he just grinned more, the car pulled up the gates and slid through, and home came into view.
“Just wait and see.”
“I hate surprises,” I retorted.
“I promise you, you will love this one. Trust me.”
I shouldn’t trust him. Alexei had let me down constantly in the months we had been married, but strangely, I did. Violet was gone, and unless he had another crazy ex-girlfriend somewhere, we should be OK.
“Mrs. Petrovov.” I jumped. I’d been so lost in my own thoughts that I hadn’t even realized that the car had stopped, and Alexeihad stepped out. “Amy?” he said again, softly, and offered me his hand.
Stiffly, because my body was aching from being tied to the chair, I straightened. “Home” is hugged happily. Lifting my face to the sky for a second, I let the warm afternoon sun flood down on me, and for the first time in so long, it felt like everything was going to be OK.
“Welcome home, Mrs. Petrovov.”
My eyes flew open. “Micah?”
My old bodyguard and driver stood to the side, a wide smile on his face, and just behind him, there was another familiar figure. “Mrs. Cole.” I looked from them to my husband and broke down into sobs.
Alexei wrapped me in his arms. “I knew it wouldn’t be home without your friends, Amy. So, I asked them back. Who better to look after you and Nikolai than them?”
Flinging my arms up, I smashed my mouth against his. Our lips parted, and his tongue snaked into my mouth until Micah cleared his throat.
Guiltily, I stepped back. So much for taking it slowly.
“There are a few more people inside who want to see you.” Sliding his hand down my arm, Alexei entwined our fingers and led me forward. My heart slammed into my chest, and I almost tore my hand away as we ran up the stairs.
“Nikolai.”
Laughing, Alexei let me take the lead. The front door was already open, so I didn’t have to pause, and I almost skidded into the foyer.
The first thing I noticed was the room was full of flowers, not bright tropical blooms like my bouquet had been on my wedding day. These were all soft yellows and pinks, my favorites. Alexei had filled the room with them.
The second was the painting hung proudly on the wall. My painting, the one Violet had ruined with her red-paint-fuelled tantrum.
“You—” Not knowing what to say, I turned back to my husband’s beaming face.
“I had someone restore it,” Alexei said quietly. “I am so sorry, Amy.”
I didn’t let him say anything else. I flew into his arms and kissed him, and this time I didn’t care that everyone was watching. I just wanted to be close to him. It was only when I heard a small cry that I pulled myself away.
“Now, docha,” a male voice chuckled. “Put my grandson down. There’s plenty of time for that later.”
“Nikolai!” Spinning around, I faced Alexei’s grandfather, my son cradled in his arms, and his nurse behind his wheelchair. “Both of my Nikolais.” It felt like my heart was going to burst.
“Welcome home, docha,” the older mobster said softly.
Emotions flooded me, and I broke down into tears, hiding my face in my hands as I sobbed.
Everyone was here. I really was home.
THE END
