He then whirled around and headed in the direction Isla had disappeared in. Rian glanced curiously into my face. “Hi there. I’m Sarah.”
His little lip started trembling. “Oh no. Don’t cry. Do you want to walk around?”
Walking away from the table, I started towards one of the lighted ice sculptures. As Maksim joined my side, he asked, “Is everything okay?”
“I’m just trying to diffuse a ticking time bomb,” I said over Rian’s fussing.
After eyeing Maksim, Rian held tiny hands out to him, which caused Maksim to frown. “You can take him.”
His face paled slightly. “I haven’t held a b-baby since Kira.”
“You’ll be fine.”
With fear flashing in his dark eyes, he took Rian from me. Immediately, Rian calmed. After a few moments, he was cooing and patting the tattoos on Maksim’s neck. “I think you remind him of his dad,” I mused.
Maksim didn’t speak. He merely stared down into Rian’s face while swaying back and forth. At the expression on his face, my chest tightened. It was one of a man looking into his future and accepting that he wanted what Quinn had.
He wanted to be a father.
And fuck me if it wasn’t sexy as hell. I’d read about people with a breeding kink, but I’d never in a million years found it appealing, least of all sexy. But the thought of Maksim putting a baby in me had me ready to call my Gyno’s office for a consultation to remove my IUD.
“Get a grip, Sarah,” I muttered under my breath.You’ve known the man for all of six weeks. Not to mention the fact he’s an underworld boss.
Maksim tore his gaze from Rian to mine. “D-Did you say something?”
Shit. “Just that you look good with him. Very natural.”
He smiled. “He seems to like me.”
“What’s not to like?”
Maksim’s brows furrowed. “Nothing. It’s just sometimes kids are scared of me.”
“Because you remind them of a pale Hulk?” I teased remembering what Kyle had said.
He barked out a laugh, which caused Rian to jump. “It’s okay. I’m sorry,” Maksim apologized, as he gently patted Rian’s back.
Rian grinned before going back to studying Maksim’s tattoos. Our beautiful quasi-domestic moment was interrupted by Dima. Having been shot less than a month ago, he appeared to be doing amazingly well even if he did still lean heavily on his cane.
“What’s up,brat?”
I couldn’t help noting Maksim’s somewhat suspicious tone, so I forced a smile to my face.
“I came to see if Sarah would like to dance.”
Maksim regarded Dima coolly. “Do you think you should be on your feet that long?”
“I think I can manage.”
With the tension radiating between them, I said, “I would love to dance. Thank you, Dima.”
As Maksim cradled Rian in his arms, Dima led me onto the dance floor. When his stiff arms came around me, I instantly regretted agreeing to dance with him.
After swaying in silence for a few moments, I knew I would have to break the ice. “I have to say I’m a little surprised you asked me to dance.”
His blue eyes narrowed. “Because of my limp?”
From his tone, I knew his injury was a definite sore spot. “No, it’s more the fact you don’t seem to like me, do you?”
