I laugh—a raw, small sound—and slide the phone into my hand.
Nikolai’s fingers close around my waist, and I look up at him, into his dark, daring eyes, and the world tilts right again.
Turning toward his Rolls Royce, I press the phone tight against my stomach, ready for whatever this choice will mean.
Epilogue 1
Aurelia
Two months later
“Brake, Aurelia.”
“Iambraking!”
Nikolai’s hand shoots out to grab the dash anyway. The car jerks and lurches, stopping two feet short of a fence. I throw it into park and flop back against the seat.
He exhales slowly. “You’re trying to kill us.”
I glance over at him. “If I were trying, you’d already be dead.”
His jaw ticks, that vein in his temple doing its thing. “Remind me again why I thought this was a good idea.”
“Because you love me and have terrible judgment.”
He gives me that flat, unimpressedI could kill you but I won’t because you’re cutekind of look.
I grin, putting my hands back on the wheel. “Let me practice for twenty more minutes and then you can take over. Oh—and don’t forget we have to get more treats for Hank.”
“Okay, but I still think you’ve been overfeeding him since you got him back.”
“Yeah, well.” I shrug. “He’s a good dog.”
We roll forward again, the car stuttering. He reaches over and steadies the wheel with one hand. I can feel him watching me, probably waiting for me to hit something else.
“You’re supposed to ease off the clutch,” he says.
“I am easing.”
“That’s not easing. That’s assaulting the clutch.”
I glare at him. “It’s not my fault my teacher hardly ever drives himself.”
He smirks. “You were the one who wanted to learn, malyshka.”
“Adrian said he could’ve taught me.”
The car jolts again, and he finally reaches over, placing his hand over mine to guide it.
“Please,” he says. “Who do you think taught him?”
His skin is warm, rough, and steady. I don’t look at him because I know he’s smirking.
“You’re enjoying this way too much,” I mutter.
“Watching you lose your mind? Absolutely.”
“Glad I could provide entertainment, Mr. Control Issues.”
