Page 121 of Inked in Devotion

“You look beautiful,” he murmured, stepping back and surveying the black lacy cocktail dress I was wearing to the dinner tonight at Ivan and Irina’s. I’d come home earlier, but rather than stew while I waited for Kolya to answer my texts or come home, I used my time to get ready.

“And Sebastian looks handsome in his little tux,” he added, eyes crinkling.

I momentarily packed down my anxiety to appreciate this moment between us. Because it was in these precious, fleeting moments I saw Kolya’s humanity. The side of him he’d kept hidden behind his killer blue eyes. Pun intended. He was bred to kill, but he was also a person. He hid his emotions under layers of toughness, but that toughness melted at the sight of our son.

“Lucy bought it for him. It has these little suspenders that make it so cute.” I inspected Kolya’s outfit. Kolya wasn’t in his dark jeans and tee, but he was still in a black dress shirt and trousers. “Is that what you’re wearing?”

“No, Lucy told me to wear a suit.”

I raised a brow.

“Irina’s instructions.”

I laughed. “Here I thought Lucy was giving you orders.”

He smirked and started to walk away.

“I still want to talk about Marena,” I called.

He didn’t answer.

Grr. Did that mean he wouldn’t?

When he exited our bedroom fifteen minutes later, my mouth turned dry at the sight of him. He was wearing a sharply tailored black suit, but the stark white of his dress shirt contrasted sexily with his tanned skin and enhanced the blue of his irises. He had a patterned blue tie hanging loosely around his neck.

“Need help with that?” I asked.

He grinned. “Please?”

I sipped the wine I’d forgotten on the counter and settled Sebastian in a high chair where he immediately reached for his activity device.

Amidst the beeps and squeaks of Sebastian’s toy, I reached out to knot Kolya’s tie. “Is this your way of distracting me?”

“I don’t know. Are you distracted?” he asked casually.

“I don’t know why you’re taking this lightly; someone sent a picture of me and Sebastian in Central Park. It was taken the other day.”

“I’m aware, and I’m dealing with it,” he replied. “You think an incident like this would get past me? I knew the second those flowers were delivered to you. The envelope was partially opened to scan for biohazards, but we opted to give you a little privacy.”

“I thought it was from you.” I finished knotting the tie.

“My blackened heart knows better than to send you black roses, princess.”

“Really? What would you send me?”

“Something blue or white.”

“Blue roses?”

“They are these little star flowers.”

I laughed. Men. “Okay, maybe one day you’ll send me those little star flowers.”

“Mama.”

We both froze. Well, Kolya froze, my mouth fell open, and I spun around.

“Sebastian…” I swept to his side, my heart beating fast and my lungs exploded with excitement. “Say…mama.”