She slid off the bed and went to him.
“Hey.”
“Hey.” Illya wrapped his arms around her, kissing her head. “How’s she doing, Dmitri?”
“Better than I expected. She’s got a concussion so she shouldn’t be alone for a while.”
Illya grunted.
“I can handle that.”
Dmitri moved past them and went down the hall. Blossom didn’t raise her head to see him off. But she did raise her head to smile at Illya.
“Is this when you tell me that I should stay with you a bit longer?”
Illya grinned.
“You know me so well.”
He kissed her. Blossom wanted to pull him closer, tug his clothes off and throw Illya onto the bed but she was too sore to do anything beyond that. Her arms and ankles were bruised from the zip ties and her head hurt. There was no way she was up for anything besides sleep.
Illya pulled away, pressing a kiss to her head. Then he led her to the bed and sat down, pushing himself up to the rest against the headboard. Blossom went with him and didn’t complain when Illya adjusted her across his lap.
“Where’s Nicoletta now?”
Nicoletta. The name made her stomach churn. Illya sighed, rubbing his hand gently along her leg.
“Anton’s taking her away. They’re getting on a plane tonight.”
“He’s not going to kill her?”
“No. I don’t think he has it in him to kill his own sister.” Illya rubbed at his eyes. Dark circles were appearing. “He’s got a few relatives who live in Nova Scotia. They run a retreat out there for anyone with addictions. They’ll know how to look after her.”
Blossom didn’t know if it would help. But people who dealt with addiction would be able to handle her better than they could. Personally, Blossom would be happy if she never saw the girl again.
“Did you know that she’s done this before? And that Anton knew about those previous times?”
“Seriously?”
Blossom could see from Illya’s expression that he'd had no idea.
“Your boss has covered it up every single time. I don’t care what he wants, I don’t want him anywhere near me for a while. Otherwise, I might be the one who ends up killing someone.”
Illya didn’t argue. He looked too tired to argue. He nodded and drew her down to rest her head on his shoulder.
“Understood.”
*****
Neither of them were in the mood to do anything. Illya was still trying to process the day in his head and Blossom was too ill. The only thing he could do was get into bed and hold Blossom as she tried to fall asleep. He knew he had to wake her every so often to make sure she was okay and there was no damage to her brain. There didn’t seem to be a chance of him getting to sleep anytime soon, not with the adrenaline making his mind go a mile a minute.
But, somehow, Illya managed to fall asleep. His body just shut down, as did his mind.
When he woke up, it was dark. They hadn’t drawn the curtains and the moonlight fell across the bed. A bed that only he slept in.
Blossom had gone.
Illya sat up, wincing as his shoulder screamed at him. Where had she gone? There was no sign of her being in the bathroom. But there was a light on in the hall.
Slipping out and tugging on his jeans, Illya padded into the hallway and down the stairs. The lights were on but nobody seemed to be about. Where was Blossom?
For a moment, he began to panic. Had she been kidnapped again? Had Nicoletta managed to escape? His mind began to race.
Then he entered the dining room and saw her. Blossom was sitting on one of the lawn chairs out on the deck, a blanket around her as she stared out into the garden. Illya hurried outside.
“Blossom?”
Blossom looked up. She looked exhausted but managed to give him a smile.
“Sorry, Illya. I didn’t mean to wake you.”
“You didn’t.” Illya sat on the other chair. “But the bed was getting cold.”
He was glad that Anton’s men had come by earlier and removed Sergei’s body. That wasn’t something he wanted Blossom to see. Illya hadn’t spoken to Danilo but from the look in his eyes, he was out for blood. How he hadn’t taken a swing at Nicoletta, Illya had no idea.
“Hey.” Blossom prodded him in the leg with her bare foot. “I thought you were supposed to wake me every half hour.”
“Sorry. I didn’t realize how tired I was.” Illya turned and sat forward, taking Blossom’s hand and kissing it. “What’s wrong? Or is that a stupid question?”
“Not really.” Blossom swallowed and huddled further into the blanket. “I’m just…I don’t know. I feel so guilty about everything.”
“You don’t need to feel guilty about anything.” Illya squeezed her hand. “You did nothing wrong.”
“I know. But I still feel guilty.”
Illya could understand that. He felt guilty for not noticing that Nicoletta was crazy before. If he'd seen the signs, he might have been able to protect Blossom better. Illya felt as though he'd failed the woman he loved.
“All this with Nicoletta, Adrian and Louisa…” Blossom gulped, her hand tightening in Illya’s. “I feel like everything in my life is going upside-down and inside-out right now.”
“I get that. I feel like that myself.” Illya kissed her hand again. “None of that was your fault. Nicoletta can’t hurt you anymore. She’s in Canada with no way of getting back to Baltimore. Adrian and his mother are now in jail awaiting trial.”
“I thought you and Ivan were interrogating Adrian.”
“We were. But I managed to persuade Ivan to drop Adrian at the police station instead of in the river.”
That would have been too good for him. But Illya surmised that after what they had done—and a firm complaint about putting members of the public at risk—neither mother nor son would be granted bail.
Blossom stood and began to pace. She looked like she had a lot of nervous energy still inside her.
“So, it was Nicoletta who trashed my home.”
“She found out about you by overhearing me talking to Anton.” Illya rubbed at his face with both hands. “Nicoletta guessed that you might become a distraction so she wanted to scare me off you by causing problems.”
“Well, that didn’t work,” Blossom grunted. “And she broke into my house again and attacked Jenny. What about Sergei?”
“That was her as well. She needed him out of the way.”
Blossom stopped at the end of the deck, her back to him.
“I feel like everything that could have gone wrong did go wrong in the past week.” Her shoulders slumped. “I don’t know what can go right at this moment.”
Illya stood and approached her, wrapping his arms around her. Blossom leaned against him with a sigh.
“I know something that can go right.” He kissed her temple. “Us. If you’ll let it.”
“Us?”
“Yes.” Illya kissed her cheek and rested his chin on her shoulder. “I know what's happened between us has been very fast but I’m not one to walk away from a good thing. Us Russian males…let’s just say we do things pretty intensely.”
“You certainly do that, all right,” Blossom grunted.
“We tend to give our hearts away fully to the right person.”
That had Blossom looking up at him, her eyes searching his face.
“What are you saying, Illya?”
Illya smiled. He brushed his fingers across her jaw before kissing her forehead.
“I’m saying that you started to take my heart the moment I laid eyes on you, that day when Ivan blocked your driveway. It was completely yours by the time we first kissed. And I knew I wasn’t going to walk away.”
Illya wasn’t one for romantic talks. He preferred actions to speak louder than his words. But there were some occasions when words needed to be voiced. Blossom turned in his arms. She was still staring at him.
“Is that why you did all those things for
me?” she asked. “Completely doing over my house and letting me stay here?”
“Exactly. I wouldn’t have done all of that if we were just neighbours.” Illya moved his hands to lean on the railing, effectively trapping Blossom. “Not to that extent.”
He kissed her jaw and he heard Blossom sigh. When he drew back, her eyes were closed and she was smiling, the first proper smile since they got home.
Home. Together. That didn’t sound as scary as Illya had initially thought.
Blossom opened her eyes and her arms slipped around his waist.
“So, does that mean we’re official? Because I don’t think you’ve actually taken me out on a date.”
Illya chuckled.
“I think that means we’re more than official, Blossom.”
“I don’t know about that. We’ve gone through everything backwards.”
“Chemistry does tend to do that to people.” Illya brushed a strand of hair away from her forehead. “Marry me.”
“What?”
Blossom stared, her mouth dropping open.
“I know it’s fast but I know when I’ve got a good one.” Illya brushed a kiss across her mouth. “You’re not walking away from me that easily, Blossom.”
Blossom looked like a fish out of water. She stepped back from him, bumping into the rail, and arched an eyebrow at him.
“You’ve said all of that and yet you didn’t ask me if I loved you enough to marry you.”
“You mean you don’t?”
Blossom stared at him. Then she burst out laughing. She tugged him down and kissed him, still smiling.
“I do.” she whispered against his mouth. “I do love you. But you might want to make it a bit more romantic than telling me what to do.”
Illya thought about the idea. And then discarded it.
“Sorry. Not my style.”
“I figured as much.” Blossom kissed his chest, glancing up at him with a sly look. “And please don’t change it.”
Illya had no intention of changing. His cock stirred, pressing against Blossom’s belly as she kissed across his chest. He gritted his teeth.
“How’s your head?”
“Better.” Blossom licked over one nipple. “I may be up for some exercise soon.”
“How soon?”
Blossom lifted her head and pressed her mouth to his.
“Now.”
The end.
Him Or Him
Both are great, but which will she choose?
A threesome romance, brought to you by top selling author Tyra Small.
Jamie Redding, the eldest daughter of billionaire James Wright, has led a charmed life.
Strong and not content with being just her father’s daughter, she works hard to make money of her own.
With a great job and a boyfriend who should be proposing any day now, life seems perfect.
That is, until she catches her man in bed with another woman!
Moving to L.A to get away from things, she soon meets Ben.
Charming, gorgeous, exciting, he seems like the perfect distraction…that is until she meets Philip.
A man who's handsome, sweet, smart and cultured.
Encouraged by her best friend Callie that now's the time to just have fun, Jamie decides to date them both.
That seems like a good idea, until she starts falling for both!
Soon decisions about her love life will need to be made, but does she have to choose just one?
Find out in this emotional yet sexy romance by best selling author Tyra Small.
Suitable for over 18s only due to sex scenes so hot, you'll need a fireman on stand by.
Contents
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 1
When Jamie Redding hailed a cab on Tuesday evening she was happy and her life made sense. She arrived at JFK airport in high spirits. She had just closed a deal on a highly sought out stretch of land in Vegas, prime real estate. She needed to call her father and fill him in on the meeting. As usual the call went to voicemail. Jamie began to leave her father a quick message, but was interrupted by the call waiting notification. She clicked over automatically assuming it was him, but it was her best friend Callista Hughes.
“Hello gorgeous. I’m here,” Callie said.
“Here where?” Jamie questioned.
“Where else? Las Vegas bitch,” Callie laughed.
“I’m not in Vegas anymore. I actually just came back,” Jamie said shaking her head.
“What? I thought you were here until Friday.”
“I closed early,” Jamie said somewhat smug.
“Of course you did. Superwoman as usual. Come back,” Callie whined.
“I’m not coming back. I’m heading home. You should have called me before you flew out there.”
“It was a last minute thing.”
“I’m sorry my love, but there is no way I’m coming back. I thought you were happy to be home finally,” Jamie asked.
Jamie heard Callie sigh deeply.
“Will,” she stated as way of an explanation.
“I’m sorry Cal. Look when you get back we’ll go have some drinks. Just you and I. Promise,” Jamie said.
“Good Jam because I really do need to see you. I miss my best friend.”
Jamie’s phone beeped, call waiting again. This time she checked the number.
“Hey, my dad is calling me,” she stated.
“You’re no fun. Who leaves Vegas early? Fine. I’m getting drunk. I heard some prince might be here. See you when I get back. Kisses,” Callie said hanging up.
Jamie smiled. Callie would never change.
“Hello father,” Jamie said into the phone.
“Did something go wrong?” he asked automatically.
Jamie sighed.
“No. Everything went perfect. They signed this afternoon,” Jamie said.
“Well that’s great. Did you send the paperwork over to…?” he began to say before Jamie cut him off.
“Yes father. Dad, do you have to go over everything I do with a fine toothed comb?” Jamie asked annoyed now.
“Jamie these are million dollar deals. This is not some hobby until you decide you’re bored. Are you committed or not?” James Wright said adamantly.
“Have I ever shown you that I wasn’t committed?” Jamie asked through clenched teeth.
“Two weeks ago you flew to Paris without telling anyone. If you want to be a partner you won’t have such considerations,” James replied.
“Steven planned a weekend getaway dad. And I was back on Tuesday ready to close deals,” Jamie countered.
“Still Jamie, you don’t see me jet setting every month. I need to know you’re capable.”
“James took an entire month off this summer to lounge around St. Bart’s with a couple of models,” she complained.
“Don’t bring your brother into this. Besides, that was before the question of partner came up,” he replied.
Jamie could feel herself getting angry and so instead, took a deep breath and told her father about her trip. They discussed a few specifics and ended the conversation. Her father still didn’t believe that she, a woman, could do her job. Which was why proving to him that she could was so important to her. His approval meant everything.
The problem was that her father had little faith in her. James Wright was the President and CEO of Wright, Redding, Hughes & Smith, one of the top real estate firms in the country. He was also technically her boss. Jamie was the youngest senior broker at her company.
Three days after graduating college she showed up at her father’s office and asked where her desk would be at. He laughed and told her not to be silly and that instead she should focus on finding a good husband. Defiantly she had started her own firm and was somewhat successful. She h
ad dropped the Wright from her name and instead went by her mother’s maiden name, trying to carve out a name for herself that wasn’t associated with her father. Within three years she had made her first two million. Not trust fund money, but from her own hard work.
Then everything fell apart, she didn’t have the clients or the experience to maintain her company. Although she would have loved to remain independent, she had no choice. Working for her father made sense, another firm was out of the question and would seem like a betrayal. So she went back to the Midtown building, claimed a desk and sat there for three days. Showing up at nine and leaving at five, until her father insisted that she stop embarrassing him. Jamie put her foot down and demanded a job. When her father refused, she pointed out that her half-brother who had not even graduated college was working for him. Finally, she wondered aloud what the gossip columns would make of his daughter working for the competition, finally he agreed under duress. She had kissed him on the cheek in happiness. Besides, she pointed out, her maternal grandfather had left a portion of the company to her mother, a sizable share that would one day pass on to her.
Although he gave in, her father was still tentative in permitting Jamie to go solo on any deal, instead always sending someone along to supervise as he called it, not really trusting her. He should understand too. After all James Wright was not a stranger to adversity. His great grandfather, Louis Gigue had started the company. The illegitimate son of a shipping magnate who had fathered three children with his creole lover, Marie. At the time a Black man, even one with billionaire White blood, owning his own company was unheard of. And so the business was fronted by his business partner, Douglas Smith. But Louis’s hard work and smart business sense had earned him the trust of his peers. When Louis’s father died he not only left him and his siblings his entire fortune, not having any other heirs, but he gave them something he couldn’t in life. Legitimacy. And so Louis Gigue became Louis Wright. The business passed on to Jamie’s grandfather who had shifted their primary holdings from import to real estate. He retired several years ago and passed it on to her own father.
In Too Deep_BWWM Romance Page 14