I must have misheard.
This is too unlikely. She’s amazing, I’m a difficult, grumpy man with a fucked-up hobby. She might fancy my money, but she doesn’t want me. Surely? Can she really love me back?
That’s more than I ever dreamed.
“Aren’t you going to ask me what my three wishes are?” she whispers.
I clench my teeth so hard that pain spikes up my jaw. No.
“You promised?” she reminds me gently, reaching up and cupping my cheek.
What a fucking idiot past me is. This is a disaster.
“You said anything I wanted that was within your power to give.”
I’m not sure it’s possible for me to let her go.
I give a jerky nod that isn’t exactly agreement, and tighten my grip on her.
“First, I want to return to London and finish my studies,” she says patiently.
“Fine.” I nod. “We can do that.” She won’t be returning to that cramped place she lived in. She’ll live with me. But that’s a detail. I can work with the big picture.
“Second, I want a half share of everything you own.”
“Yes.” I’m so relieved we’re two thirds of the way through her list and she hasn’t said she wants to be free, I don’t care about the money. “Half is very reasonable.”
“It is, isn’t it.” There’s laughter in her voice, and I don’t know what it means except that I’m in trouble. I grab her tousled hair and tug her face to try to see more clearly, and the pink of my mask lights her.
I rip the mask off and toss it aside, careless of where it lands, but it’s hardly any easier to see her.
“And third, I want you to give me a baby.” Her teeth reveal her broad smile.
I blink. What?
“I’m not a stork, Tess. I can’t just steal one for you.”
She giggles. “See, you say you’re bad, but you won’t kidnap an actual child for me.”
“Obviously not.” I’m feeling totally unsettled. “Tess, this whole idea was a mistake. I shouldn’t have offered you anything you wanted. I can’t?—”
“Give meyourbaby,” she says clearly.
Wait, she…
“Get me pregnant.” She’s nodding, and trying to pull my head down to hers, and relief crashes over me as the full meaning ofwhat she’s saying finally hits. I wrap her tight in my arms and lift her.
“Yes. Yes, I can do that for you, lapochka. I love you, I’d do anything for you.”
“Kirill,” she murmurs. “Will you do it now? Take me.”
I groan. And then I kiss her.
23
TESS
Kirill holds me off the ground with one hand and grabs my nape before crashing his mouth against mine in a kiss that’s unhinged. Desperate.
