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“She’s gorgeous.” Stas’s nostrils flared like an angry bull’s, and I held up a hand. “Eh, I mean, she’s the most hideous creature I’ve seen in a long time. Truly repulsive with all that blond hair and perfect tits. It’ll be painful sitting across from her at the dinner table, but she’s your daughter’s guest, so I still have to be polite.”

“But not too polite.”

“Who would have thought? Stanislav jealous over me.”

“I’m not jealous. I’m possessive. Never was one to share, so don’t go forgetting that.”

“I won’t.” I shuffled closer to him. “Because I understand. The thought of you letting another man inside your body like I was makes me incensed enough to commit murder. And you know I’d find the most horrific way to do it.”

Searching in my pocket, I grabbed the bit of mistletoe I’d hidden when I helped Yelena hang them earlier. I held it over Stas’s head and ducked beneath it. “Well, what do we have here?”

Stas chuckled. “You’re such an idiot.”

“Nah, I’m a romantic at heart.” I leaned but paused when our lips touched. “Whether it’s hating you or wanting you, I do both with passion.”

At the last minute, I changed the destination and pressed a soft, harmless kiss to the hollow under his jaw, letting my lips trail the way I wanted to touch him. He turned his head, catching my mouth with his, kissing me back with slow, hungry pressure.

Heat shot straight down my spine. I might be more experienced, but he was light-years ahead of me with kissing.

He reclined back on the pillows, pulling me half on top of him, lips parted as he deepened the kiss, inviting more. My pulse went wild. He curled his fingers into my shirt, tugging me close.

I chuckled against his mouth and pulled back an inch. “Soon,” I whispered, brushing another teasing kiss to the corner of his lips. “Not when you still wince taking the stairs.”

He made a low, annoyed sound I definitely felt in my teeth and pulled me back into another kiss, deeper this time, almost greedy. I let him have it, sinking into the warmth of him, sliding my hand under the blanket to his hip⁠—

A sharp knock cracked the moment in half. We jerked apart like teenagers caught under the bleachers.

“Damn,” I muttered under my breath, jumping off the bed. Stas wiped his mouth, as if that would help anything.

The door swung open before either of us answered. Zasha stepped inside, holding a tray. He froze when he saw us, Stas flushed, breath uneven, and me standing too close, shirt rumpled, guilt probably written across my entire face.

“Uh… Yelena sent up a plate,” Zasha said slowly, eyes darting between us. “Said you should eat something, Mr. Zhukovsky.”

“Thanks,” Stas grumbled, trying to sit up and immediately regretting it, face twisting before he masked it.

Zasha’s stare sharpened. Suspicious. Calculating. Much too smart for his own good.

I smiled, too bright. “I heard a thump and thought Stas fell out of bed. You know our family always prioritizes looking out for the elderly.”

I kept a straight face and did not dare look back at Stas to acknowledge the scowl I was certain was there. Zasha nodded, still not looking convinced, as he placed the tray of soup and crackers on the bedside table.

“Dinner’s being served, Yuriy, and Claudia is asking for you. I think you made quite the impression. What do you think of her?”

Before Stas, I would have agreed aloud that she was a sexy morsel I would sink my cock into before the night was over. But now… the usual appeal of sleeping with someone new was gone. All I could think of was how long it would take before it was safe to get Stas on his back again.

“She’s all right.”

“All right?” Zasha came over to me and touched my forehead. “Are you coming down with the same thing as Mr. Zhukovsky? You’ve never called a woman just all right before. I’ve seen you make a solid five feel like a ten just to bed her.”

I batted his hand away. “A lot has changed in the past five years.”

Zash snorted. “I would have believed that if Yelena hadn’t told me about those hickeys on your neck the other day. You’ll never change, Yuriy. You fuck anything on two feet.”

“If that’s what you believe, why would you hook me up with a friend then?”

“Because Yel won’t listen to me. She thinks you just haven’t found the right woman yet.”

“Or man.”