Laney
Six Months Later
The kitchen smells like garlic and rosemary as I pull the roast chicken out of the oven. Cooking has become one of my favorite things to do in our new home. The kitchen is enormous, with every gadget and appliance I could ever want, and I've been working my way through a cookbook given to me by Dariy’s wife, Charlotte.
"That smells incredible," Yakov says, coming up behind me and wrapping his arms around my waist. He buries his face in my neck, inhaling deeply. "Almost as good as you."
"Flatterer." But I lean back into him, loving the solid warmth of his body against mine. "Dinner's almost ready. Did you finish your call?"
"Yeah. Just confirming security details for the fundraiser at the hotel next week." His hands slide down to rest on my hips. "You're still planning to come with me, right?"
"Wouldn't miss it. Laurie's coming too. She's bringing a date."
"The bartender from the Korolyov?"
"The one and only. Raife seems nice. Very respectful." I turn in his arms. "And obviously your security team has already vetted him."
Yakov grins. "Can't be too careful."
I roll my eyes, but I'm smiling. His overprotectiveness used to drive me crazy. Now it's just... endearing. Most of the time.
We settle at the dining table, the one overlooking the city that still takes my breath away even after six months. Yakov pours wine for himself and water for me, and we eat in comfortable silence for a few minutes.
"How was your day?" he asks finally.
"It’s been good. I had lunch with Charlotte and Jasmine. Jasmine's pregnant again, did you know?"
"Adrik mentioned it. He's beginning to feel outnumbered." Yakov chuckles.
"He seems happy about it though."
"He is." Yakov's expression softens. "They all are. Watching their families grow."
Something in his tone makes me set down my fork. "Do you ever think about it? Having kids?"
His eyes meet mine, intense and searching. "I think about it all the time. Especially lately. The thought of breeding you drives me crazy with need."
My heart skips. "Yeah?"
"Yeah." He reaches across the table, taking my hand. "I never thought I’d have kinds, but sometimes now when I look at you, I wonder what our kids would look like. If they'd have your stubbornness or my temper. Whether they'd get your eyes or mine." He pauses. "I think about you pregnant with my child every time we fuck. It's become... an obsession of sorts."
Heat floods through me. We've danced around this conversation before, but never quite said it out loud. He uses language when we have sex, likefillingme, and letting ittake root, but he has always kept within the realms of dirty talk.
"I've been thinking about it too," I admit quietly.
"And?" he probes, looking at me with that intensity I remember from the very first night we met.
"And I'm scared. We've only been together six months. That's not very long—"
"The first two minutes after I met you was long enough for me to know I want forever with you," Yakov interrupts. "Long enough to know you're it for me. The only woman I'll ever want."
I look at him across the table, reach my hand forward and let him take it in his.
"I know it's fast." He stands, pulling me up with him and cupping my face. "But nothing about us has been normal, Laney. From the moment I saw you, I knew. And every day since has only made me more certain."
I search his face, seeing nothing but absolute certainty. No doubt. No hesitation.
"What happened to Zajmi?" I ask suddenly. "You never told me the details."
