“We can get Vinny’s, even at the house, solnishko,” he said laughing. “That shouldn’t be a deciding factor. I would argue that it’s a point for the house because you won’t be able to physically go to Vinny’s. I’ve decided I’m jealous of him,” he tried to look. at me seriously, but failed miserably. I immediately laughed, as I set up and climbed into his lap, straddling him.
“Oh, Adrik,” I said as melodramatically as I could, “you have no reason to be jealous.” I was still smiling, but added, “you have my heart. Vinny might have my stomach, but we both know she’s easily bought. My heart, on the other hand, beats only for you.”
I felt his hands slide under his shirt to my lower back, pulling me closer to him. He looked surprised at my answer to his statement, said completely in jest. He looked me in the eyes, this time searching my eyes for what he was worried he was going to find. I smiled at him, knowing what he was doing, and held his gaze, allowing him to read any part of my soul he wished to. I placed my hands on his shoulders, my hands lightly running up his neck to his hair. He inhaled, smiling at me. “Every time I think I couldn’t possibly love you any more, you always prove me wrong.” He reached up, his hands in my hair, pulling me down to kiss me gently. “And I hope you never, ever stop proving me wrong,” he said smiling against my lips.
The next morning, in the gym, Adrik asked Misha what his thoughts were about going to the house until Viktor and Ivan got back. He felt like it was a good decision, but poor Andrei looked terrified. That would mean he would have to face Tori. He still hadn’t called her because he was afraid of her reaction.
“You’re going to have to face her at some point, Bubba,” I said, trying hard not to laugh at his petrified expression.
“I think the fact that you don’t want to call her should tell you everything you need to know,” Stephen said. That guy was always so quiet, but he could come out with serious wisdom randomly.
Misha nodded his head, agreeing with Stephen. Adrik walked over, still breathing hard from lifting something heavy repeatedly. Da mmit, he’s sexy. “Everyone needs to learn what they will and what they won’t put up with in a relationship. This is Andrei’s learning experience. He’s either going to learn what he wants or what he doesn’t want from Tori.” Da mmit, he’s even sexier when he says such intelligent things. He caught me ogling him and smirked at me,
Andrei, still looking mostly terrified, said, “I might need backup to Jace her the first time.”
I walked over to the bench he was sitting on, leaning over his back with my arms around his neck. “I will protect you from the scary girl, Bubba. I planted a kiss on his cheek, then Immediately regretted it. “Ugh, sweaty. Why did I think that would be a good Idea? I wiped my mo uth on his shirt, laughing at his objection.
A few hours later, we were on our way to the house. A very nervous Andrei in the driver’s seat of the SUV Adrik and I were in. I looked to Adrik, a devilish grin on my face, talking loud enough that I was sure that Andrel could hear me, “do you think we should let Andrei go in first? Have a few moments alone with Tori before we come in and ruin his alone time?”
I noticed Andrei’s grip on the steering wheel tighten, as well as his jaw clench. Adrik whispered into my car, “you’re a little evil, solnishko,” then said louder, “I think that would be the polite thing to do. I know I would want a few moments alone with you if I hadn’t seen you for a few weeks.”
Andrei exhaled, his hand running through his short sandy blonde hair. Poor guy was going to have a heart attack before we ever made it to the house…
After we parked in front of the house, we all stepped out of the vehicles. Misha and Stephen walked back toward us, as they were in the vehicle ahead of us. “Misha, don’t you think we should let Andrei go in first to have a minute alone with Tori before we’re all there, up in his business?” I asked, as innocently as I could, but winking at him.
Misha immediately understood the assignment. “I was actually going to suggest that, gazelle. I think it’s only fair.”
Andrei looked from Misha to me to Adrik to Stephen. “I ha te all of you.”
Misha and I looked at each other, then said in unison, “we know.”
Andrei walked up the steps to the front door, his head hung low like he was being punished. He was so nervous; I was starting to feel bad for him. Before he opened the front door, I yelled, “if we hear yelling, we’ll come save you.”
He didn’t even look back, he just flipped me the bird as he walked in the house. We all stood in the driveway, taking serious enjoyment from his predicament. It was quiet for a few minutes and then he walked back through the front door, looking completely relieved.
“She’s not here right now. She went to the store to restock since she found out we were coming today.” He exhaled, visibly looking like he’d barely escaped doom.
We all walked up the steps, still enjoying his situation a little too much. I slid my arm through one of his, pretending like I was talking into a microphone. “You’ve escaped death for now, Andrei. What are you going to do now?”
“I’m going to Disney World!” he said, playing along like he was talking into my pretend microphone.
“Who wants to go for a really long walk in like ten minutes?” I asked, grinning at him.
“Oh, me. Please take me,” he said, laughing.
Sephie
I ran upstairs and threw on a heavier long-sleeve shirt. The weather was in that weird time of year where you had to add and subtract layers of clothing periodically throughout the day. There was more of a breeze at the house, so it felt cooler. I didn’t want to make Andrei have to give me his shirt while we were avoiding the house…
Misha decided to come too. Adrik slid his arm around my waist, leaning down to my ear, “I’d rather have you all to myself later. I’ll be in my office when you get back.” He spun me around to face him, planting a kiss on my lips. It was just enough to get my mind thinking about what his definition of “having me all to himself later” meant.
The three of us set out for an adventure, far, far away from the house and the evil stepmother evil chef? Seems accurate the evil chef that lived there. I always enjoyed their company, but I w just happy to be able to go for a walk. Ivan was a genius. My hip felt better than it had since the night of the ball. My limp was barely noticeable now and the dull ache that had started was now gone too. When Adrik took the bandage off last night, he was surprised at how good it looked. It was no longer red around the edges and was already showing signs of healing.
They both noticed I was walking better, as we walked toward the rdens, and I skipped to get a closer sniff of one of the roses.
“Your hip must be feeling better, spider monkey.” Andrei had a broad smile on his face. I knew they were all still struggling with what happened, so seeing me feel better also made them feel better. “Ivan is a genius. Maybe an evil genius, I don’t know. But a genius, nonetheless. It does feel better than it’s felt since, you know, I tried to ki Il myself by jumping out of a moving vehicle. 0/10, by the way. Do not recommend.”
New Book: Back Home to Marry Off Myself
Loredana’s father left the family for his mistress, leaving them to fend for themselves abroad. When life was at its toughest, her father showed up with “good news” after 8 years of absence: To marry off Loredana to a paralyzed son of the wealthy Mendelsohn family.