Grigori chuckled next to me. “Papa made all of us study an instrument growing up, but only Roman took after him and is able to play damn near any instrument.”
I shook my head as I watched Daniil and Roman get comfortable. “Is there anything he doesn’t know?”
Grigori was silent and then stated, “Wine. He doesn’t understand the complexities of it.”
I choked and nodded. Great. I had thought Daniil was halfway joking. Apparently not.
And then Daniil started playing the piano, and I realized it wasMy Immortalby Evanescence. Seriously one of the most beautiful songs ever written. I didn’t even realize I had stood when Mary started to sing. I was now moving across the dance floor as Roman started playing the cello, letting my feet take me where I wanted to go—up the stairs to the stage.
I stood behind Daniil with my arms wrapped around his shoulders with my cheek pressed to his, watching his fingers fly over the keyboard to this heart-wrenching song. His cheek moved against mine as he smiled, and he turned and kissed my forehead even as he continued to play. I held him, but lightly, moving with his body wherever he needed to move on the board, slightly swaying with him. And my God, was he talented.
I had seen the music room in their house, full of all kinds of instruments, but never saw anyone using it, with the workout room and gym getting much more attention. But now I knew why he had it. He may be good at many things…but playing music…he seriously had a God-given talent. Roman did too. To go right along with Mary’s soul-tearing voice.
As the song ended, and as his fingers played the last chord, I reached down, pulling them back slowly and kissed them gently. “That was beautiful.”
He turned on the bench, peering up at me with honest, content eyes. “Thank you.”
I licked my lips. “Can I see you play something else?”
He nodded slowly, a special twinkle in his eye. “I think I know the perfect song.” Daniil took my hand quickly, pulling me over to Mary. Daniil asked her something quietly.
She laughed, nodding. “Last one. Otherwise, my guys will get jealous.”
Daniil nodded and politely thanked her, snapping his finger at Roman and pointing to the piano. Roman even wore that look in his eye. The happy contented look. He nodded without argument moving from the cello to the piano, saying something to Mary as he passed her. She nodded, her grin huge, laughing.
Musicians just seem to have this bond.
Odd to me, but no less fact.
Daniil politely borrowed the guitar from the slightly disgruntled gentleman while Mary pushed her chair back, standing, and stating, “This is dedicated to…” She paused, walking over and putting the mic at Daniil’s mouth as he sat down, tugging me on his lap. Daniil cleared his throat, his cheeks—sweet Jesus, how seriously adorable—pinking, but he stated clearly, “To Beth.”
I bit my lip, not glancing out at the crowd, who cheered politely, this crowd not really knowing who we were. Daniil kissed my cheek quickly, situating me so he could play the guitar around me. It really wasn’t a problem since his arms were so long and I was so small. I pushed his hair behind one ear so I could see his face without it hanging in the way, and then placed my arm over his shoulder and the other on my lap so they wouldn’t get in the way.
Mary chuckled into the mic and she grinned out at the audience. “This isn’t my normal slow stuff, so get ready to dance!”
She glanced at Daniil and Roman, and threw her hands in the air and started clapping them, saying loudly, “One, Two, Three, Four!”
Daniil started playing, and I stilled, realizing he had picked a completely cute and corny, but appropriate song. I smiled, and God, it actually hurt my cheeks I knew it was so big. They began playingI’m A Believerby Smash Mouth. Mary sang and Roman actually made up his own damn part, sounding perfect with the song, since I wasn’t sure if there was an actual piano in the piece, and Daniil’s eyes darted to mine, his cheeks turning pink again.
I kissed his burning cheek. “It’s perfect.”
He kept playing, but turned his head and flat out kissed me right there in front of everyone. I managed to not bump him as the dancing crowd cheered with good-natured jeers, and I laughed against his mouth. God, he was something else. He leaned back, his eyes on mine as he sang right along with Mary, who I was thrilled to say was better than he was…but, sadly, not by much since he was actually pretty damn good at that, too.
I couldn’t decide between watching his hands or his eyes and mouth while he played and sang. I improvised, glancing back and forth between the two. Mary stuck the mic in front of his mouth, and he grinned at me, singing into it as his cheeks went even pinker.
Mary smirked at me, and pulled the mic back and started bopping to the music again as she sang…yeah…and I couldn’t look away from Daniil after that. He was seriously laying it all out there. No holds barred, push back all of my defenses, take no prisoners, full frontal assault. And my God, it was working like a charm. Because, at that moment, as the great head of the Russian Mafia sang to me in front of everyone…well, fuck…I didn’t know anyone who wouldn’t have fallen in love with him…
I fell over the edge I had been so carefully holding myself back from—and it must have shown because Daniil’s eyes crinkled as he grinned so damn happily. I placed my palms on his cheeks as he stopped playing, the song ending. I leaned down, whispering, “Yeah. I’m in love with you. Now stop grinning and kiss me.”
He chuckled, but placed the guitar on the ground and engulfed me in his arms, and stroked my lips with adoration. Deeply. Happily. With tongue right in front of everyone. The fireworks went off right along with the cheering crowd.
Mary was the one to interrupt us, nudging my shoulder, stating calmly at my ear, “Your parents are in the crowd, you know.”
I leaned back, placing a finger on Daniil’s lips when he followed almost drunkenly…which I got completely, except for Mary had said the magic words—my parents. That brings anyone down. “Thanks, Mary.”
“No prob.” She patted Daniil arm. “Welcome to the family, by the way. You and Roman are welcome to play anytime while I’m singing…just not now since my guys are seriously getting pissed.”
Daniil blinked, his eyes slowly moving away from my mouth to Mary’s face. “Huh?”
