Page 75 of Savage Pakhan

“I don’t give a fuck. He’ll be fine. My love wants food. I get her food. As simple as that. Da?”

My snicker turns into a groan when he starts massaging my scalp. “Da. Da,” I slur, my eyes basically crossing with how good it feels.

“You promise everything is okay?”

My breath hitches and for the first time since knowing Alek, I lie. “I promise.”

He has too much to worry about. He doesn’t need to have the possibility of pregnancy on the table too. He’s forty-five. He probably doesn’t even want kids when Ivan is grown.

He leans down and kisses me. “Lean back.”

As the water washes away the soap, guilt and regret sour my mood even further. The voice in the back of my head says, “Talk to him. He’ll understand.”

But this is different, and I have no clue on how to approach it.

It’s the only promise I’ll ever break. I just hope he doesn’t hate me for it.

18

ALEK

“Meet me out on the porch,” Nikolai says, lightning his morning cigarette to have with his coffee. He lifts a folder in the air. “Contract.”

My stomach dips with the impending doom of having to read over that contract. I don’t remember a word of it. If there is no way out for Mia, I will make sure her identity is erased. I’ll send her across the world where she’s safe, and she’ll never have to worry about my son again.

I’ll go with her. We’ll start over and build the life we always wanted. We’ll go anywhere, everywhere. If Mia wants to point at a map and pick a random spot, that’s where she will go.

Does she want an island?

Now, there’s an idea. An island just for us. Every day, I can see her in a bikini, soaking up the sun.

I need to pitch that idea. Da. Da. That needs to happen.

“I’ll be out there in a minute,” I reply in Russian.

He gives me a curt nod. “Okay.”

I hustle into the kitchen and pour Mia a cup of coffee, making it how she likes with way too much cream. Giving it a quick stir, I head up the stairs and peek my head into the bedroom, seeing if she’s awake first, but my sweet Mia is still asleep.

The room is dark, the curtains keeping out the morning sun.

“Mia,” I whisper, gently crawling on the bed. I hold out the coffee mug, placing it right under her nose. “Mia.” I wave my hand over the steam, wafting the aroma into her face in hopes she will wake up. “Lyubimaya. It’s time to wake up.” I ghost my knuckles down her cheek, a feather-light touch that has her eyes fluttering open.

Those big brown sleepy eyes land on me and I feel my chest crack open, readying itself for her to reach down to snag my heart.

She’s so beautiful like this. Sleepy. A bit disoriented as if she doesn’t know where she’s at.

“Mia. Time to wake up. Nikolai is waiting for us on the porch to go over the agreement.”

She stretches, placing her arms above her head, reaching towards the headboard while her feet point down. Mia squeals from how good it feels. It might feel good but there is no way it’s as good as my view.

The blanket drops below her breasts, showcasing the love bites I placed there. All marked and claim. I lick my lips, wanting to have my way with her this morning.

“I’m sore,” she smiles, a tinge of pink pinching her cheeks.

I tuck her hair behind her ear and hold out the coffee. “Are you?” I try not to sound smug about it.

She giggles, a sound I can’t hear enough of. I might record it one day so I can play it back anytime I need my spirits lifted. It’s the sound of angels to me. A delicacy not all men get to enjoy or have. Only me.