Total pages in book: 80
Estimated words: 80207 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 401(@200wpm)___ 321(@250wpm)___ 267(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 80207 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 401(@200wpm)___ 321(@250wpm)___ 267(@300wpm)
Alek chuckles, and when he pulls me closer so I can lean against him, I don’t fight him.
He holds me tenderly and sighs with satisfaction. “You’re an amazing mother, moya malen'kaya lyubov'. Thank you for taking such good care of our son.”
I never got to ask Alek what the words meant and take the chance while I have it. “What does the Russian words mean?”
“My little love.”
Be still my heart.
“And the other one. Blat…or something like that?”
“It means fuck,” he chuckles, the rumble deep from his chest vibrating against my cheek.
“You’ll need to teach me the language as well.”
“Okay.”
Silence falls between us, and Alek begins to trail his fingers up and down my back. The comforting sensation makes my eyes drift closed.
“I’m sleepy,” I murmur. He presses a kiss to my head. “Sleep, moya malen'kaya lyubov'. You’re safe with me.”
My mind wants to argue that this is inappropriate, but it loses the battle against my exhaustion.
Chapter 35
Alek
I don’t dare move a muscle while Everleigh sleeps. I hold the love of my life, feeling the happiest I’ve ever been.
This is all I wanted.
With Everleigh in my arms, I process the shock of finding her and Vincent, and I form a plan to win Everleigh’s heart again.
My woman wants dates. She wants to be swept off her feet.
She better fucking brace herself because I’m bringing out the big guns.
I manage to dose off occasionally, and when the sun starts to rise, I carefully climb to my feet with Everleigh in my arms. Carrying her to the bedroom, I glance around her personal space before I place her down on the bed.
After I cover her with a blanket, I pick up the framed photo of her and Vincent.
They’re on the beach, and both have happy smiles. Everleigh is wearing a pair of shorts and a t-shirt, and Vincent has a little Speedo on. My boy is covered in sand.
I almost let out a chuckle.
Taking the photo, I glance at Everleigh’s sleeping face before I walk out of the bedroom. I check in on Vincent and adjust the covers he’s kicked off during the night.
With my woman and son fast asleep, I walk through the house. I check for weak spots and mentally make a list of the supplies I’ll need to upgrade the security inside and outside the property.
I’d rather move them into the cottage with me but knowing that’s not a possibility, for the time being, I’m going to make sure this place is Fort Knox.
Finding an extra set of house keys, I let myself out and lock the door behind me. Heading to the G-
Wagon that’s parked in front of the house, I climb behind the steering wheel and drive back to the estate.
I have enough time to shower and change into a clean suit before I start to walk around the boundary wall. Not even ten minutes later, Alexei comes toward me.
“Morning,” he mutters.
“Morning.”
“How did things go after I left?”
“Good,” I answer. “We talked a lot.”
“And you did nothing I should worry about?” he asks.
“I was well-behaved,” I mumble.
“Good. I really don’t feel like beating your ass first thing in the morning.”
I let out a burst of laughter. “That makes two of us.”
“What are you going to do?” he asks.
Our pace is slow, and I’m not even checking the wall for weak spots.
“Everleigh’s agreed to give me a chance. She wants time to get to know me, so I’m going to date her.”
Alexei lets out a chuckle. “What is your definition of dating?”
“If it were up to me, I’d have them moved into the cottage already,” I mutter. “Everleigh wants actual dates, so I’m going to take her out for dinner.”
“Everleigh and Vincent are a packaged deal. Don’t forget that.”
“I know. I want to spend time with both of them.”
His sharp gaze flicks to me. “How do you feel about being a father? Are you ready for that kind of commitment?”
Locking eyes with Alexei, I admit, “Weirdly, it feels like I’ve always been a father. It was instant.” I shrug as I try to think of a way to put my thoughts into words. “It also feels surreal. Like I said, it’s weird, but I’m excited to be a father.”
“Good.” He clears his throat. “Because your father is a bastard, I feel I have to have this conversation with you.”
Christ. Please don’t give me a talking-to about sex.
My eyebrow rises, and apprehensively I ask, “What conversation?”
“A woman isn’t a punching bag.”
Jesus Christ, that’s the last thing I expected him to say.
“You protect your family. If you have a rough day, fuck your wife, but you never take it out on her.”
I understand why Alexei is telling me this. My father never missed an opportunity to beat my mother. He used it to teach us how to switch off emotionally.
“I’ll never raise a hand to Everleigh.”