No. She didn’t owe me shit after that. She near killing me was now forgotten.
I nodded and moved to Daniil, ignoring his children’s gazes. Daniil had sat in the aisle seat, and I squeezed between him and the seat in front of him. His guards were sitting in the seat across from us, and Zane and Brent were in front of us. He was in no mood for secrecy right now his hands landing on my hips and helping me get past him.
I sat and stared out the window while the tour guide gave a small spiel.
Daniil’s left hand slid around the back my neck under my hair. He just left it there, gripping my neck possessively. I turned my attention to him as the bus began moving and met his brown eyes. He stared at me, not saying anything.
He bent and cupped my cheeks, kissing me softly.
His mouth felt like heaven and fireworks exploded. It was what I needed right now. No condemnation. No lecture. No questions. Nothing but kindness and contact. It was a small act a lover gave another when they were having a bad day. I moaned against his mouth, taking his offering.
At the sound, he pressed harder.
From the seat in front of Zane and Brent, Eva muttered, “They had better not be doing anything back there.”
“I don’t even want to think about it, so shut up,” Artur grumbled.
Daniil paused, and we both opened our eyes, staring at one another.
Zane chuckled, hearing my moan only a moment before.
Daniil gently kissed me once more, rubbing his thumbs over my temples, then whispered quietly in my ear, “It’s probably best to wait on this until they’re not around. They need time to adjust.”
No shit.
“That’s fine,” I whispered just as softly. “And thank you for not commenting…on that.”
He grinned against my ear, kissing softly right behind it, his lips soft and warm.
I shivered, making him grin again against my skin before he pulled back. But he did put his arm behind me and wrapped it around my waist, tugging me against him. Letting my head fall against his shoulder, I stared out the window and played with his fingers, watching the scenery pass by.
“My parents, aunt, and cousin will be staying for a few days,” I stated. “I won’t be able to leave tonight with you.”
He placed his chin on top of my head, watching out the window with me. “I figured as much.” He raised his voice louder. “We’ll wait it out with you and take my plane home when you’re ready.”
Answering groans erupted from the Lion Security group.
“Thank you.” That helped. I played with his pinkie, twisting the small onyx ring he wore there in steady circles. “They embarrass me.”
“Because they love you.”
“To death.”
“That’s what parents do.”
I sighed. I would just have to take his word on that since I had no personal viewpoint. “It’s still humiliating.”
“I would imagine so.”
“Did your parents ever do anything like this to you?”
He chuckled softly. “It’s safe to say Papa kept me in line growing up. And not always privately.”
“What about when you were my age? Did he still do it then?”
“Even then. He’s never stopped. He’s a force to be reckoned with.”
“Parents are a pain in the ass,” I muttered darkly.
