“Well in exchange for my patience, your husband gifted me a personal driver so I can get to you. And a very generous expense account for whatever I may need for our meetings.”
Now I’m more confused than ever.
“What are you talking about?” I ask.
“I’ll let your husband discuss the details with you,” Max replies. “Look, I gotta go. I have to finish this paperwork and then I havea meeting with another artist. But I’ll see you tomorrow at two. Ciao, darling.”
I’m just about to ask him to wait when the line goes dead. I pull the phone away from my ear, looked at it as if it were some alien creature. What was Max talking about?
“I do hope you’ve put some sunscreen on.”
Kirill’s voice makes me jump, and when I see him walking toward me, I ignore my body’s sudden yearning and frown deeply. He looked handsome as ever in his fitted black suit and cocky smile, and my body instantly begins to ache and throb with need as his powerful strides bring him closer.
Damn him!I silently curse. Even angry, I want him inside me.
“I’m sitting under an umbrella,” I reply with agitation as I point to the vast white expanse of canvas above me.
“Even still, I would prefer you put some on before you come outside,” Kirill replies, taking a seat on the edge of my lounger.
“Prefer?” I question. “Or demand?”
Kirill’s smirk widens into a smile.
“I take it you don’t approve of your new living situation?” he asks.
His laidback attitude only serves to annoy me further.
“What gave it away?” I ask, her tone oozing with sarcasm. “I wake up and find out I can’t leave, I only have clothes you picked out, I’m forced to eat, my appointments are cancelled, and no one seems to be taking my side!”
Kirill’s soft, charismatic chuckle in response to my outburst has me baring my teeth and ready to claw his pretty eyes out.
“Your confinement is only temporary. We’ve received a few threats and-”
“Threats?” I cut him off, feeling tension fill my shoulders. “What threats?”
Kirill shakes his head.
“Nothing you need to worry about,” he replies, “But it’s best to keep you safe, and the safest place for you is here. As for the clothes, if you don’t like them your old things will be here within an hour. I’m tracking the truck. Food is essential to keep you and our baby healthy, and as for your appointments, I’m making it so they came to you. I don’t see why anyone needs to take any side.”
Kirill makes it all sound so practical. Logical. Which only serves to further my annoyance. Not because he’s wrong, but because he’s right. Yes, the choices might have been taken from me but what I’ve been given back is certainly more convenient.
“It’s not just my appointments, though,” I sigh, and hate that I sound like a spoiled child.
“Well, tell me what the issue is and I will solve it,” Kirill replies with a simple shrug of his massive shoulders.
“My studio is in the city,” I answer, “I have unfinished pieces there that need to be ready before my next show. My work is important to me, Kirill. I know you probably don’t think it’s that serious but it is to me. It’s my passion. It’s the one thing I’ve earned.”
I expect another smirk from him, but instead, Kirill only holds my gaze with deep intensity.
“Very well, then,” Kirill states a moment later, then stands up.
“Where you going?” I demand, sitting up as he turned to walk away.
“I only have a few minutes,” Kirill states, adjusting his suit. “I only came back to check in.”
“Why?”
“Because Yana informed me you weren’t settling in well,” he replies calmly.
