“Get in the car, Teddy.”
His voice is low, calm, and leaves no room for argument. My heart does a ridiculous little flip. I should probably ask questions. I should at least pretend to hesitate. Instead, I find myself hurrying around to the passenger side and sliding into the buttery leather seat before I can overthink it.
The door clicks shut and we are moving almost instantly, pulling away from the curb with a smooth burst of power. The city blurspast as Kirill accelerates, weaving through traffic with effortless confidence. The engine’s deep growl vibrates through the seat and into my bones.
Wind whips my hair around my face even with the windows up.
It feels exhilarating — dangerous and thrilling all at once, like being swept up in something much bigger than my normal life.
I glance over at him, cheeks already warm. “Where are we going?”
Kirill’s eyes stay on the road, but the corner of his mouth lifts in the faintest hint of a smile. “It is a surprise, boy.”
That is all he gives me.
No explanation.
No teasing.
Just that calm, authoritative tone that makes my stomach flutter and my thighs press together. I settle back into the seat, heart racing, a giddy little smile tugging at my lips despite the nerves.
Being with Kirill always feels like stepping onto a rollercoaster I never bought a ticket for—scary, addictive, and impossible to get off once it starts moving.
We speed across the city, the tall buildings giving way to wider streets and then industrial areas. I watch the scenery change, stealing glances at Kirill’s strong profile every few seconds. He drives with quiet control, one hand on the wheel, the other resting on the gear shift close enough that I could reach over and touch it if I dared.
Eventually we descend into an underground parking lot beneath what looks like a sleek, anonymous building. The lights are lowand ambient. Kirill parks the sports car in a reserved spot and kills the engine. The sudden silence feels loud.
I turn to him, still buzzing from the ride.
“Okay, seriously, Kirill,” I say. “Where are we? What’s the plan?”
Kirill unbuckles his seatbelt and looks at me, eyes dark and intense. Before he can answer, I hold up a hand.
“Wait. I need to have a serious talk with you first,” I say, trying to sound braver than I feel. “I don’t know anything about you, Kirill. Not really. You show up, you take control, you… do things to me that make my head spin, and I keep saying yes because it feels incredible. But I need to know more about you. About your life. About what you actually do. I can’t keep jumping into cars and letting you surprise me if I don’t even knowwhoyou are.”
He watches me for a long moment, expression unreadable. Then he nods once.
“We will talk,” he says. “But first… some fun.”
Kirill reaches over and takes my hand, his grip warm and firm. The simple contact sends sparks racing up my arm. I let him lead me out of the car and across the parking garage to a private elevator. He swipes a black keycard and the doors open silently.
Inside, there are no floor buttons — just a single unmarked panel. The elevator rises smoothly and opens directly into what looks like a luxurious, hidden world.
Soft lighting, deep carpets, and the faint sound of playful laughter drift toward us. A well-dressed host greets us with a respectful nod.
“Mr. Antonov,” he says. “We’ve been expecting you, sir.”
Kirill inclines his head. “This is Teddy.”
The host smiles warmly at me. “Welcome, little one. We have a changing room prepared for you.”
Before I can ask what is happening, I am gently ushered into a beautiful dressing room. Laid out on a velvet chaise is the cutest romper set I have ever seen—soft pastel purple with little white stars and clouds, thick padded bottom, and matching knee socks. There is even a small pacifier clipped to the strap and a pair of fluffy bunny slippers.
My cheeks burn bright red, but the Little inside me is already squealing with delight. I change quickly, the soft fabric hugging my body in the most comforting way.
When I step back out, Kirill is waiting. His eyes darken with obvious approval as they sweep over me.
“You look perfect, malysh,” Alexsei murmurs.
