"Your 1973 Porsche 911." Dasha blinks up at me adoringly.
"That cost me $95,000. No."
"For the love of god, please let it end," Andrey groans, downing his drink.
"The use of the Porsche for one year," Dasha isn't giving up.
"Three months." I rub my eyes.
"Six months."
"Deal," I snarl. "Pick up the keys tomorrow."
Aunt Tania bursts into laughter, kissing my cheek. "This is getting painful to watch. I'm good, the diamond teardrop earrings were gorgeous. Good luck, honey."
Mother is standing next to Ava, her arm over her shoulder. I would be insane to offer her less than Priya. "Mother, may I offer you fifty thousand dollars to release my bride to me?"
"Thank you, son," she says, pocketing the money. "I've been looking forward to getting a new scanner for the clinic." She leans over and gives me a kiss. "Well done, my darling."
Ava is the only one left and she spreads her arms out with a grin. "Save me, my handsome husband!" she calls out theatrically, and we hear laughter from the living room. Scooping her up in my arms. I stride down the hall.
"Where are you going?" Mother's laughing.
"No, really. Where are you going?" Priya says. "We have to get her ready."
"Not just yet." I carry Ava out the door.
She's giggling, her face buried in my neck. "Is it rude to be late to our own wedding celebration?"
"We're already married," I say. "Let them wait."
Taking her downstairs, I carry her into the guest suite. Ava cocks her head. "Do I hear water running? How long were we up there negotiating my freedom? I hope the tub isn't running over."
"I'm not moving any faster than this," I say. "I'm not taking a chance on slipping with my wife and baby in my arms."
Fortunately, the tub has not overflown and I slowly peel each layer from Ava, her long blue maternity dress, her camisole and underwear. She smiles shyly, crossing her arms over her gorgeous, full breasts. They've grown at least a cup size larger during pregnancy and I can't keep my hands off them.
"I'm not wearing any sexy underwear," she says.
"As if you need it," I scoff, stripping quickly. I step into the tub and then help her in, easing down and settling back with her against my chest.
"This is nice," she sighs. "I remember the very first bath I'd had after living here in New York for twoyearswas in your penthouse. I think we need to have a bathtub in every house we ever live in for the rest of our lives."
"That seems fair." I'm playing with her left hand, making her diamond shine in the light. "Are you sure you're up for tonight?" I ask.
At six months along, Ava is still working at the clinic, reluctantly reducing her hours. Finding maternity scrubs for her was an exercise in futility until I quietly had a seamstress make some for her.
"No, I feel great," she says. "It'll be nice to see everyone again."
'Everyone' didn't include her family, sadly. Ava asked her mother if she could fly her in for the party, but she refused to come without her husband. Knowing what I did of how he'd treated Ava growing up, it would have been awkward, stabbing my father-in-law at our wedding party.
"I'm sorry your family won't be here." I kiss the top of her head.
"Oh, but they are," she says, her fingers tracing the swirls of my tattoo, following the lines of each Morozov man lost. "I have you, I have Priya, and Ella. Plus, Roman, Alexsey, and I really like your Aunt Tania and Dasha. That girl is ruthless." She pauses, "I'm not sure about your father."
"I think you know that he's very fond of you."
"So you can see, I have a home bursting with family," she says with a happy smile.
