I watched him ease himself back into his trousers and listened to the zip. As he lifted himself off my chest I turned the words over.
What did he have planned for tonight?
He gathered his cufflinks and left.
The soft click followed and I relaxed.
It was best to take a nap while I could.
??????
He sipped his tea while I settled Runa into her highchair. He had kept me up half the night—the reason we had ended up in the west wing being that he had wanted to spank me and hear me scream. He had left Bogdan to listen out for Runa in case she woke.
My flesh was still tender and he knew it.
He set his cup down and his lips tugged upward as I carefully lowered myself into the chair. I felt everything through the padding. Fortunately Runa drew his attention and he turned to speak to her, which was the only mercy on offer this morning.
It was hard to ignore the man who had done that to me when he was speaking so sweetly to my baby. She took hold of his hand with both of hers and pulled it toward her drooling mouth. I opened mine to warn him.
Changed my mind.
Olya brought breakfast over just as Vadim cursed and yanked his finger back. He leaned in and pulled Runa’s lip down to reveal two small teeth budding through the gum.
Olya gasped and clutched her chest before bursting into delighted laughter—practically skipping to the other side of the kitchen and diving into the fridge with the delight of a woman who had been waiting for this development.
Vadim was grinning as though Runa had done something extraordinary. He began to pat her head and she mirrored his grin back at him with the precise satisfaction of someone who knew exactly what she’d accomplished.
What made my heart flutter was that he held his finger back out for her to bite on.
His eyes found mine.
“It’s the least I can contribute since she’s chomping on your nipples,” he murmured.
“How valiant of you,” I said, passing him her breast milk porridge.
He frowned at the small bowl but didn’t refuse. He picked up the spoon.
“Is that all she’s eating?”
“She’ll probably play with it more than eat it. These are tasters—rounded exposure to various foods at this stage.”
I had lists. Low allergy grains, fruit and vegetables in season, introduction schedules. Olya knew the plan.
She returned with a second bowl.
“A cold pineapple core for her to bite down on,” Olya announced with satisfaction.“Tastier than herpapochka’sfinger,da?”
“Thank you, Olya,” I said, glancing at the core. Hard enough that Runa couldn’t bite through it. Perfect.
I poured my tea and ate my breakfast. He didn’t seem like the Pakhan this morning. Just a father. And I didn’t feel trapped—not with Runa between us, not in this kitchen with Olya skipping around the fridge.
It was a strange new phase in whatever Vadim was doing.
I wasn’t sure yet what to make of it.
All I could do was observe the phenomenon before me.
Chapter 70
