Misha laughed, shaking his head. “You’re so much like us, it’s scary
I squinted my eyes at him, putting my hands on my hips. “I’m going to need some clarification on that one, my adorable Russian guardian.”
His cheeks blushed slightly, his handsome smile stretching across his face. “You have a dark sense of humor about cheating death like we do.”
“Well, what’s the fun of cheating death if you can’t laugh about it? I asked.
They laughed, but both were thoughtful. Andrei looked to me as w walked closer to the forest trail. “Ivan was right, you know. You’re really making it difficult for any other girl to have a chance with us.” “We’re going to compare everyone to you from now on.” Misha added.
“I mean, no pressure there,” I said, scoffing.
“We don’t mean it as a bad thing, gazelle. You’ve just showed us how good it can be,” Misha said, slinging his arm over my shoulders as we walked. I wrapped an arm around his waist, nearin; the forest trail. I sighed. “It’s not going to be easy for you. The more you accept yourselves and truly own who you are, you’re going to attract all kinds of people who want a taste of what you have to offer. But most people jus want to take from you, without ever giving in return. You have to wait for that one special person, or in my case, six of you, that give back just as much as they take. They’re out there, but you’re going to have to eliminate…okay, bad choice of word right there. I did not mean eliminate literally,” I said, laughing. “You’re going to have to weed out the boil ones to find your special one.” I thought for a minute, then added, “it might not be as difficult for you guys. Your murderous as when you’re working will keep a lot of them away.”
They both laughed. “We don’t really look that mean, do we?” Andrul asked.
“Well, you two look nicer. Viktor and Ivan are slightly more intimidating. They smile less than you two. Viktor is easier to win over while Ivan is the toughest n ut to crack I’ve ever met. Stephen is the wild card. He’s so quiet that you’re not sure if he’s Just a really nice guy or if he is plotting your murder at any given mag tnt.”
We came into the clearing by the lake. The wildflowers were all fading with the beginning of Fall, but they were still eerily beautiful. The lake was calm and clear, giving us a clear mirror image of the fluffy wh ite clo uds in the sky. I took in the scene, not realizing just how much I had missed this place. It was one of Adrik’s favorite places on the property, but it was also one of mine. They both knew my favorite spot to sit by the lake and healed straight for it. We all sat down, silently enjoying the scenery, the quiet, the moment.
We sat for a long time in silence, both guys looking like they were lost in thought. Andrei picked up a rock and chucked it in the water. “Did you know right away that Boss was the one for you? Like was it love at first sight?
I smiled, thinking back to that first night. “I don’t know if I would phrase it exactly like that. You and Viktor walked in and I’m sure my eyes went wide. You’re both giant, very attractive men, bil I felt nervous looking at you both. Then Adrik stepped inside the door so I could see him and there was like a weird calm that came over me. There’s always this pull toward him when I see him. I felt that right away, for sure, but I wouldn’t say that recognized it as love right away.”
I
“He feels that pull when he’s around you. He can’t stay away from you. It’s so different from how he’s always been with his past girlfriends,” Misha said. “They were always clinging to him and he would just look like he was miserable and wanted to get away from them,” he said, laughing at the memory. I found the me ntal image of him being desperate to get away from his past girlfriends amusing.
“We all feel it, though, just to a lesser extent. We all want to be artund you,” Andrei said. “You’re like a desert oasis for us.”
“Don’t you dare compare me in any way to a camel.”
Sephie
We sat by the lake for a while longer. I was starting to get sore from sitting on the ground, so I suggested we head back to the house. “I know you don’t want to, Bubba. I promise, for real this time, I won’t leave you alone if you don’t want me to.”
He stood up and offered me his hand, pulling me up. Probably shouldn’t have sat like that for so long. I put my hand on my hip. pressing just above the wound. It wasn’t excruciating this time, but I could feel it. Misha said, “we sat for too long. Your hip doesn’t like it when we sit for too long.”
“Ugh, I think you’re right. I’ll be okay. I just need to walk,” I said limping toward the direction of the house.
“I can give you a ride back to the house, spider monkey,” Andrei sald, his eyebrow raised.
I laughed. “Are you trying to make Tori want to kill me while I’m sleeping?”
“I can do it. She can’t say anything about me giving you a ride,” Misha offered.
“I think I should walk for a minute first. If it doesn’t go away, I’ll take you up on it,” I said, smiling at him. Sometimes I felt guilty at how they all liked to spoil me in their own ways. “But give me your arm in the meantime. That helps.” Misha was immediately next to me, offering me his arm to lean on as we walked slowly back to the house.
I made it to the edge of the forest and then relented. “Okay, Misha, I’m taking you up on the offer. It’s not getting any better.”
He grinned down at me, stepping in front of me. He squatted down to make it easier for me to get on his back. I looked over my shoulder at Andrei. “Would you mind, Bubba?” He picked me up and I wrapped my legs around Misha’s waist, my arms around his neck. He bounced me higher to the right spot and set off toward the house.
We were laughing at du mb jokes as we walked into the kitchen. Toji had her back to us, getting something out of the refrigerator. We all stopped and waited for her to turn around. When she did, she gasped. Apparently, she hadn’t heard us come inside. She stood, stunned, for a moment. Andrei spoke first. I’m so proud of him.
“Hi,” he said. He was unsure whether he should go to her or not. I couldn’t blame him. I couldn’t tell if she wanted him to come to her or not. Misha still had a hold of my legs and squeezed them both, holding onto me in sympathy for the awkwardness of the situation. I was trying so hard not to laugh. I knew it was going to pi ss her off if I did. I bit the inside of my cheek to keep from laughing.
She smiled tightly at all of us. “I see you’re all still alive,” she said, slamming the vegetables in her hand down on the counter. 1 flinched. Misha squeezed my legs again, whispering, “I’ll protect you, gazelle.” I hugged his neck a little tighter.
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.