Page 106 of Sexting the Single Pakhan

I turn in his arms, blinking up at him. “Morning.”

He’s already dressed, crisp white shirt, charcoal trousers, tie knotted perfectly. The sight makes my heart do a lazy flip even as disappointment settles in my chest.

“You’re dressed,” I mumble, frowning.

He brushes a strand of hair from my face. “I have to get to the office early. A lot to wrap up before the holidays.”

I groan and burrow deeper into his chest, inhaling him. “Okay.”

It’s a few days to Christmas and I’m excited about spending Christmas with Leonid and Alexei.

His fingers trace lazy circles on my lower back. “You’re still going shopping later?”

“Yeah,” I say, voice muffled against his shirt. “Last-minute Christmas stuff. Alexei keeps changing his mind about what he wants, and I still need gifts for the house staff.”

He hums thoughtfully. “And you can’t wait for me to take you myself?”

I tilt my head up to meet his eyes. “You’ll be back late. The stores will be a zoo with all the last-minute shoppers. Dmitri can just take me.”

He lets out a frustrated groan, but doesn’t argue. “Fine. But we’re going to dinner tonight.”

“Okay.” I smile softly. “I’ll call the sitter and have her watch Alexei. His nanny will be off for the next couple of days.”

He leans down, kissing me slow and deep. I wrap my arms around his neck, pulling him closer, fingers threading through his hair. The kiss turns hungry for a moment, his tongue stroking mine, hand sliding up my side, but he pulls away too soon.

I groan in protest.

“As much as I want to stay in this bed with you all day,” he says, voice rough, “I have to go.”

My heart squeezes. I watch him stand, shrug on his suit jacket, adjust his cuffs. I want to reach out, tug him back down, keep him in bed with me.

He glances back at me from the doorway. “Have a nice day, solnyshko,” he says.

I smile. “You too.”

He winks, then disappears down the hall.

I flop back against the pillows, and linger in bed for a few more minutes, breathing in the lingering scent of him on the sheets, already counting the hours until he’s home again. Eventually I force myself up, the cool floor shocking my bare feet as I pad to the bathroom to take a shower.

I dress in soft leggings and one of his oversized sweaters, another item I’ve quietly claimed, the fabric hanging loose over my growing bump. My hand rests there instinctively as I head downstairs.

Alexei is already at the kitchen table, legs swinging beneath the chair, spoon halfway to his mouth when he spots me. His whole face lights up with joy that never fails to melt something inside me.

“Good morning, Laurel!”

I smile wide, crossing the room to ruffle his dark hair. “Morning, sweetheart. How’d you sleep?”

“Great! I dreamed I was flying a rocket to Mars.” He grins, milk mustache already forming. “Dad said he can’t have breakfast with us today.”

I slide into the chair beside him, picking up my fork. “Yeah, he had an early meeting. But we’ve got pancakes and fruit, so I think we’re winning.”

He nods enthusiastically, diving back into his plate. I take a bite of the pancake drizzled with maple syrup, and I almost moan at the taste. Lately I’ve been craving these more than anything; the baby seems to agree.

Alexei chatters nonstop, about his excitement for the day, the new book his teacher in his new school started reading in class, how he’s going to show me his latest Lego spaceship after school. I listen, nodding, and asking questions.

Ever since I came here from the hospital, I haven’t gone back to my apartment. My things are slowly migrating, clothes, books, my favorite mug. I practically live here now. And Alexei… he’s been beaming ever since. The quiet, withdrawn boy I first met is gone; in his place is this bright, chatty little person who hugs me good morning and good night, who asks if the baby can hear him when he talks to my stomach.

Now, we all have breakfasts when Leonid isn’t rushed off to work, dinners together most nights, weekends curled up on the couch with Alexei sandwiched between us watching PG movies. I love it here. Love the routine, the laughter, the way Alexei’s eyes light up when Leonid walks through the door.