Not to mention I’m completely obsessed with him, just as he is with me.
“Get over here,” I say motioning with my head to him.
He walks over towards our little three-way hug and I quickly wrap my arm around him to include him.
“You’re one of us now,” I say.
“And you are all mine, because nothing is more important than family. Family comes first, middle, and last, and I promise you if anyone tries to harm you or give you problems they will not last…on this earth.” he says.
A few seconds pass and at the same time my parents and I bust out laughing.
“What’s so funny?” Sergey asks.
“Yeah, he’s definitely Russian,” my mom says.
“I know, right?” I say.
We release from the hug and I turn to him.
“Come here, my possessive protector bear,” I say wrapping my arms around him.
“Of course I’m your protector, that’s what a man does.”
“I know, and you are the realest of all the men.”
“And you are the only woman on this earth in my eyes,” he says.
“Uh hum,” my mom says.
“You are his,” Sergey says looking at my mom and then to my dad. “You never look at another man’s woman, especially when you already have the only one you ever wanted,” he says as he taps me playfully on the nose with the tip of one of those giant fingers of his.
“My thoughts exactly,” I say.
My mom gives my dad a hug and Sergey continues to keep me close in his arms, hugging me and making me feel safe and warm.
It’s safe to say I’m this Russian’s obsession, and he’s mine…mine all mine.
EPILOGUE
Sergey
One year later
“It’s hard to believe it’s been a year already,” I say as I hit my timer, signaling it’s Anya’s turn to make her move on the chessboard.
“Time sure flies when you’re having fun.”
“And I’m having the time of my life, thanks to you and Maksim,” I say, looking at our three month old who sits in his stroller next to us.
If we were back in Moscow we would be freezing, but instead we decided to move to Marina del Rey, California to be closer to Anya’s family, who I’ve grown close to despite our initial meeting.
“Wow, you’re really good at this,” Anya says as she surveys the board.
“This is like a renewal of the rivalry between Bobby Fischer and Boris Spassky, but updated for the twenty-first century,” I say.
“So I’m Bobby Fischer?” she says.
“Never. You’re the one and only Anya Smirnov, which is why you’re literally the best of both worlds, and I’m the luckiest man alive. No matter whether I win or lose, I always win, because I’ve got you.”
“Awww,” she says, standing up from her seat and coming around to give me a hug, before returning back to her side of the park bench.
We’ve decided to spend the day in Plummer Park in West Hollywood. It’s been a famous meet-up spot for Russians for years. It’s our first time here, and it’s nice to see some people enjoying the day who make me feel like I’m home.
But since I met Anya I’ve learned that home isn’t where you are, it’s a place in your mind and in your heart. No matter where we are, I will always be home with her by my side. Her and of course Maksim and all the brothers and sisters we’re going to give him.
Most Russians these days are living in the San Fernando Valley, opting to leave this part of West Hollywood for more affordable housing.
I never considered it.
I want my family to have the best life possible, so we bought right on the beach.
Since Maksim was born here he’s an American citizen, giving him all the opportunities that come with a first world, Western passport.
“Check,” she says, moving her rook into position to take my king.
I move my rook. “Check…mate,” I say.
“Aw! I fell for it,” she says jumping off the park bench.
“But I fell harder,” I say.
“Huh?”
“For you, one year ago. There’s nothing that will ever top that.”
She comes around and gives me a hug again.
“Speaking of top, maybe it’s time to put some caviar on top of some rye bread,” she says, knowing just what I like to eat.
Out of the blue, Maksim cries.
“Sounds like he’s hungry too,” she says. “It’s pretty empty here right now, I can probably feed him.”
“You know you can’t do that here,” I say, the possessive side of me flaring up instantly.
“Come on. I just gave birth three months ago. Nobody’s going to want to see what I’ve got right now.”
“That body is mine, woman. Mine and mine alone, and for the record you look better now than you ever did, and you were always the best.”
“That’s impossible,” she says.
“I love your perfect body just as much as I love you, and knowing that you carried my first child inside your stomach, giving it nourishment and life as Maksim was forming into the handsome little bugger we have today…how can I not love you even more?”
“How can I not love you even more? Thank you for taking care of everything while I finish my degree. It means a lot to me to know I have a man who supports me and wants me to pursue what I want to pursue, with the same vigor that I have for my goals.”
“Our goals,” I say. “Because if you want it, then I want it.”
“Good, because I want to be the best,” she says.
“You already are and always will be,” I say. “And you’ll always be mine. Mine and only mine.”
Maksim cries again and I gather up our things so we can go home. Home to where we live, but most importantly where we spend our time…together, as a family.
No multimillion dollar penthouse with Moscow’s best view can ever compare to the view of her sleeping peacefully in our bed next to me and our child next to us in his crib.
Yeah I’m obsessed. Obsessed with my family and that all begins and ends with her.
Mine.
EXTENDED EPILOGUE
Anya
Ten years later
“What are you doing, mom?”
“Your dad and I are going to lock this padlock to the Tree of Love, sweetie,” I say to our four-year-old Maria.
We’re back in Moscow on the Luzhkov Bridge were there are a few trees which people use as a place to sign their names to a lock and then lock them in place…forever.
“Can I help?” Alexandra, our six-year-old says.
“You sure can,” I say, but before I can tell her how Sergey is already kneeling down letting her kiss the lock we’re about to put in place.
“Sealed with a kiss,” he says.
Alexandra wraps her hands around her dad’s neck and he comes up out of the squat, holding her with one hand like she weighs nothing, and the lock in the other hand, which means everything.
Maybe the lock doesn’t exactly mean everything, but what it represents sure does.
The love that has had us glued at the hip for over a decade now, has resulted in our ten-year-old Maksim, his eight-year-old brother Kirill, and Alexandra and Maria.
We had our kids at the same time each year. Talk about being fertile during a specific period.
Science, technology, engineering, and math, or STEM students as they're known, are often thought of as a bit nerdy, but a lot of them have a very wild and adventurous side which gets all kinds of ideas into their crazy heads.
Just like me.
What in the world got into me thinking I could marry a Russian alpha and have the best life imaginable? But it happened fast and that’s exactly how things have been since.
I even got the kids names tattooed on my body, and once I started I couldn’t stop.
Sergey says he loves it, but he says that about everything when it comes to me.
Looking back now, my first few attempt
s to prepare the famous Russian borsch were a disaster, absolutely terrible, but Sergey kept refilling his bowl until we were out and he told me how great it was each and every time.
Like true chemists we love mixing things, whether in the lab, the kitchen or mixing up our international travels so our kids can learn about their heritage or explore other ones.
And it’s not just the kids. I learned that my own name has Russian roots, and I’m proud we’ll be living in Moscow for a year while the kids go to school here.
“Ready?” Sergey asks.
“Ready,” the entire family says at once.
I watch Sergey’s big, callused hand, the result of building tree houses in the backyards with our boys and making sandboxes and other toys for the girls, place the lock in position.
“On three we all say…family, together, forever.”
He doesn’t have to ask us if we’ve got it or we need him to repeat it. It’s our motto. Always has been and always will be.
“One…two…three,” he says.
“Family, together, forever,” we say in unison as Sergey, with my hand on top of his, clicks the lock in place.
Without removing his hand he leans in and kisses me on the bridge for all the world to see.
All these years and four kids later and he still can’t get enough of me.
I thought his obsession would die down at some point, but no…somehow it’s only gotten stronger if that’s even possible considering how off the charts the fireworks were when we first got together.
“Okay kids. Who wants to go home and whip up some brownies?”
“Me,” Alexandra and Maria say, waving their hands in the air.
“And who wants to go home and kick the ball in the backyard?”
“Me,” Maksim and Kirill say.
“Okay, we’re off,” Sergey says and the kids take off skipping across the bridge, Maksim in front of and Kirill behind the girls as their dad taught them.
“And who wants to do some adult wrestling later,” Sergey says, putting his arm around me.
“Me!” I say raising my hand.
He uses the opportunity to tickle my armpit and scoop me up in his arms.
“Is this my chariot?” I ask.
“I’ll always be your knight in shining armor,” he says.
“Speaking of that the boys have the precision of a special ops unit up there, watching out for their sisters.”
“As they should,” Sergey says. “Just like I taught them.”
“They’re going to make fine husbands one day,” I say.
“The kids aren’t leaving, remember? Together forever.”
“They have to fly the coop at some point.”
“We’ve got a lab in the house and all the experience in the world. We can teach them.”
“I think Alexandra has an itch to be a pianist though, and Maria a writer.”
“What kind of writer,” Sergey growls.
“I don’t know,” I giggle. “Something that involves words.”
“She better not be writing those steamy romance novels I’ve heard about. You know she’s not dating until she’s thirty, minimum.”
“I know, honey…I know.”
I pucker up and he quickly bends into my kiss, his legs still moving.
“How do you do that? Aren’t I heavy?”
“Light and beautiful, that’s what you are. And mine.”
I love a good romance novel as much as the next gal, but what I really love is my very own real life book boyfriend…for life.
He’s my Russian obsession.
“I love you, beautiful,” he says.
“I love you.”
A MAN WHO KNOWS WHAT HE WANTS
Book 1: Baby Lust
Book 2: Veteran
Book 3: Built
Book 4: Bambino
Book 5: Rescued
Book 6: Leader
Book 7: Professor
Book 8: Burned
Book 9: Worldly
Book 10: Pistol
Book 11: Policed
Book 12: Driven
Book 13: Lucky 13
Book 14: Lumberjacked
Book 15: Protector
Book 16: Carpenter
Book 17: Italian Stallion
Book 18: Gardener
Book 19: Budapest Billionaire’s Virgin
Book 20: Billionaire’s Babysitter
Book 21: Cocky CFO
Book 22: Fireman’s Filthy 4th
Book 23: Mechanic
Book 24: SEAL’s Secret
Book 25: Police, Pooch, and Smooch
Book 26: Fireman’s Fake Fiancée
Book 27: Billionaire’s Virgin Ballerina
Book 28: Bitcoin Billionaire’s Babysitter
Book 29: Veterans Day Daddy
Book 30: Cowboy’s Christmas Carol
Book 31: Police Officer’s Princess
Book 32: Statham
Book 33: Bodyguard
Book 34: Greek God
Book 35: Billionaire Single Dad's Babysitter
Book 36: Mountain Man
Book 37: SEAL’s Justice
Book 38: Royal Romance
Book 39: Doctor Mountain Man’s Special Delivery
Book 40: Crocodile Dan D
Book 41: Mountain Man’s Secret Baby
Book 42: Doctor Bad Boy’s Secret Baby
Book 43: Cop’s Babysitter
Book 44: Nanny for the Cop Next Door
Book 45: Small Town SEAL’s Saving Grace
Book 46: Cop’s Fake Fiancée
Book 47: Billionaire’s Nanny
Book 48: Cowboy’s Babysitter
Book 49: Steamy
Book 50: Brother’s Best Friend
Book 51: Possessive Professor
Book 52: Firefighter’s Babysitter
Book 53: Soldier’s Secret Baby
Book 54: Ward’s Independence Day
Book 55: Doctor Next Door
Book 56: Possessive Policeman
Book 57: Coached by the MMA Fighter
Book 58: Boss’s Babysitter
Book 59: Virgin in New York
Book 60: Rock Star’s Baby
Book 61: Possessive Protector
Book 62: Possessive Australian
Book 63: Best Friend’s Brother
Book 64: Possessive Cowboy
Book 65: Summer Romanced
Book 66: Possessive Prince
Book 67: Lovers’s Enemy
Book 68: Cop’s Best Friend
Book 69: Possessive Firefighter
Book 70: Football Next Door
Book 71: Doctor December
Book 72: Possessive Canadian
Book 73: Blue Collar Billionaire
Book 74: Possessive K-9 Cop
Book 75: Possessive Brazilian
Book 76: Hockey Obsession
Book 77: Possessive Boston Irish American MMA Fighter
Book 78: Halloween Next Door
Book 79: Possessive Russian
Book 80: Baseball Mine
Book 81: Cop’s Caribbean Captive
Book 82: Instalove Island
Book 83: Dad’s Best Friend
Book 84: Thanksgiving with Dad’s Boss
Book 85: Possessive Italian Neighbor
Book 86: Possessive Portuguese
Book 87: Possessive Christmas Cop
Book 88: Russian’s Obsession
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Russian's Obsession: An Older Man Younger Woman Romance (A Man Who Knows What He Wants Book 88) Page 8