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Irritation buzzed through my skull. I’d give him all afternoon to think about it. If he didn’t join me at the hotel, then there was no more point in doing this cat-and-mouse game with him.

If he wanted me, he would have to make the next step.

14

STAS

“Iwin again!” Yelena crowed with delight as she dropped her last two cards on the table. She did a little jig that looked awkward with her pregnant belly hampered by the edge of the table. Next to her, Zasha rolled his eyes, but he was smiling, his gaze on my daughter, full of love.

“You’re cheating, aren’t you, babe?” Zasha asked. “I just can’t prove it.”

Babe.

It seemed like the Orlov men had a thing for that endearment. The difference being that Zasha actually had feelings for my daughter. All Yuriy and I had was a cruel twist of fate wanting to make a mockery of our feud.

“How can someone cheat at Go Fish?” Yelena asked.

I tuned out their affectionate bickering, dropped my remaining two cards to the table, and took a drink from my glass of spiked eggnog. This was the perfect night. For so long, I’d dreamed of doing something so ordinary with my Yelena again. I should be at ease, but the empty chair made me restless.

Was Yuriy waiting at the hotel?

I snuck a glance at the clock on the wall and clenched the glass. He’d said he would be there at eight. He wanted to get there early to make full use of the night. Two hours had passed already. Why hadn’t he returned when I didn’t show up?

“I knew it!” Zasha pulled me out of my stupor. Both he and Yelena were staring at me.

“What?” My heart skipped a beat. They couldn’t possibly see from my face that I was making every effort not to leave the game and join Yuriy. For sex.

“You’re helping Yel to cheat.” Zasha pointed at my cards on the table. Two fives stared back at me.

Shit. I’d fucked up, but not because of the reason he thought. I hadn’t been playing my hand for Yelena to win. I’d just been too distracted, still weighing whether sleeping with Yuriy would be worth it.

I was curious as hell, especially after sucking on his tongue while he jacked us both off. He’d seen my dick. He’d held it in his hand and hadn’t laughed. He still wanted me.

“Oops, got caught red-handed,” I said sheepishly.

“Pa-paaaa!” Yelena groaned. “I don’t need you to cheat to help me win! I’m not a child anymore.”

“Sorry, honey. Guess old habits die hard.”

“If y’all are gonna cheat, I’m out.” Zasha huffed with his arms crossed. “Yuriy isn’t here to back me up.” It was his turn to stare at the clock. “When’s he coming home? What’s so urgent anyway that he didn’t even wait for us to finish the tree?”

“He said not to wait up before he took off.” Yelena yawned.

“You’re tired,” I said, my heart thumping. “Printsessa, you should go to bed.”

“But we’re not finished playing.”

I reached across the table and patted her hand. “I know you’re trying to keep me company, but it’s not necessary.”

“What will you do?”

“I may join Yuriy for a few drinks. He asked earlier, but I wasn’t in the mood then.”

But I can’t stop thinking of how good his mouth felt on mine. Or his hand stroking my dick.

I wanted more.

“That’s a great idea, Papa.” She struggled to her feet, and I jumped up to help her, but Zasha got there first.