I stare.
“You are the love of my life. You’re smart, and I adore you. The world is better for you being in it. My life is infinitely better with you in it, and I will never let you go. Marry me.”
Through the disbelief at my good luck, I realise this amazing man is proposing marriage, and my head clears just enough to have my body respond. My heart expands, lifting me until I could float away.
“You already bargained to have half my fortune and bear my child. You own every part of my bleak, dark soul. Marriage is only making it official.” Kirill has sobered, expression sincere and a little apprehensive as he takes my hand.
“I didn’t have to kidnap you, lapochka. But Ineededto. I saw you, and something clicked. I don’t usually feel anything. I want to care for you, and have you close to me. I long to see you flourish and achieve everything you’ve ever dreamed of. I can’t get enough of that mind of yours. Or your body.” He drags his eyes over my naked breasts and all the way to my feet, then back to my face. “You’re so utterly delicious.”
Bringing my palm to his lips, he presses a kiss into the centre.
I gaze down at him. Only by a little, because he’s ridiculously tall. It’s such a different view of him. He seems younger, and has a touch of vulnerability.
“I chased you that first night because letting you out of my sight and risking never seeing you again was impossible on a physical level. I didn’t make a conscious decision. My heart had already chosen you.”
“I think I’d chosen you too,” I admit.
He’s silent for a moment, and there’s just the sound of the shower beating on the tiles.
“I chased you because I want you, Tess. Because life without you looks as grey as my morality. Because you called me on my shit. Because you saw me. Giving you things you enjoy is the best form of happiness I’ve ever experienced. I’m indifferent to the world, but you? You’re everything. I don’t think I could give you up if I tried.”
I open my mouth to respond, and he puts his finger over my lips. Warm. Solid. His grey eyes are serious.
“My heart was in your hands, raw, bloody, beating only for you,” he says roughly, “before I realised it wasn’t in my chest. Please be my wife.”
My heart might burst. I love this man so much. There’s no answer but to fall down into his arms, nodding, needing to get close to him to be sure this is real.
He pushes his hands into my hair, holding my head as he kisses me again, the water running over us.
“Say yes, Tess. You’re mine either way. I’ll never let you go,” he murmurs against my lips, even as he nips at me, like he might devour me whole. “Say you’ll marry me. One more favour. My final wish.”
“Yes,” I whisper back. “Always yes. Anything you want, the answer is yes.”
26
KIRILL
Seven months later
“Are you really sure you want me to do this?” I check, looking over at my beautiful, impatient, hugely pregnant wife.
Tess tilts up her chin. “Yes. For the zillionth time, yes.”
She’s standing over me, and I’m in my office chair, which is to say I can look straight into her face. It’s a Saturday morning, and I am doing my most unethical hacking job yet. And it’s at the request of my wife.
Of course it is. I wouldn’t do it for anyone else.
“It’s a pregnancy craving, I need it!” She pouts and rubs her stomach. She’s so gorgeous I weaken again. “And I’m up to date with all my studies for my degree.”
I’m glad she’s taking a year out from her university course while having the baby. But as I consider the computer screen where I’m one click away from what she wants, I wonder if she should go back early to understand ethics better.
“Mmm.” It’s still a sceptical noise.
“Please, husband?”
I look back at Tess, and she makes puppy dog eyes at me. I love her blue eyes.
“You know that I can’t deny you when you call me husband,” I mutter, and pull her down onto my lap. Her slight body is curvier now, and I stroke my hand over her swollen belly.
