“Don’t worry, mysh.” He pulled me closer to him. “We have time.”
Damn it. Why is he so confident? Why can’t I just stop being scared and trust him?
“We do.” I looked up and let out a long sigh. “Kaz?”
“Yes.”
“Let’s go to the doctor tomorrow.”
He loosened his hold, took one hand and lifted my chin. Excitement filled his voice. “Are you sure? Are you ready for the results?”
I swallowed. “If you’re by my side, then...yes. I’m ready.”
“I’ll be by your side. I’m more than ready.” He stared at me with intensity. “I imagine so many things for us.”
“Like what?”
“A little girl who looks like you but with my smile or maybe even my eyes. A boy with my face but with beautiful brown skin like yours. Twins even or triplets.”
“Okay. Wait a minute.”
“These are just my dreams.”
“But could you not dream about triplets?”
“Then twins.”
“Oh my God.” The image of Kazimir holding our twins flashed into my head—two curly-haired little babies, sleeping in his huge arms. My heart warmed. I went breathless for a few seconds.
Kaz held me tighter. “We’ll go to the doctor in the morning.”
A shiver ran through me.
Stop being a punk and deal with it.
I thought that if I could avoid the test maybe the problem would go away, but I’d thrown up again this morning and my breasts were tender. Apparently, biology didn’t follow the avoidance rule.
It’s going to be okay.
“I love you, Emily.”
I arched on the balls of my feet and kissed him. There was so much I wanted to confess but couldn’t, so I hoped my kiss relayed the words my heart was too scared to say. I was grateful for him. He understood me, even if I couldn’t understand myself. He accepted me, flaws and all. Serial killer past and fear of all forms of commitment. Stubborn headedness and my oddity for dark, underground places.
My eyes watered, but I would not cry. “I love you too.”
And then we focused on the eclipse.
And then a few tears left, but I wiped them away, fast.
It’s going to be okay. All of it.
Maybe this lunar eclipse had transformed us both because I was no longer scared. I was more than ready to seize our future, whatever it could be.
Tomorrow, I’ll end the debate. Pregnant or not, I’m ready to cons
Chapter 17
Kazimir
The moon turned blood red and my heart stopped cold. Doing my best to calm down, I held Emily closer to me than I ever had before. All my life, I hadn’t known much about fear. When it came along, I cut down whatever was causing it.
But now, as I held my mouse in my arms, I feared harder than I’d ever done in my life. I was slowly learning that with love, fear came, strong and hard with no relief in sight. Just terror for the one I adored. Stress to protect them.
She’ll be safe. There’s nothing to worry about. This blood moon means nothing.
I didn’t know how long we sipped champagne and looked at the sky.
As the hours passed, Emily fell asleep in my arms and I still didn’t want to leave the Eiffel Tower. We were above the city. Like in the plane, there was a peace to it knowing that no one could touch us, no matter how high they jumped or how much they raised their guns in the air.
When it was time to go, I relieved the staff and carried her down the Eiffel Tower’s elevator, wondering if I’d exhausted her with my life or was it the baby possibly growing inside her.
Pavel rode in the back of the limo with us as we traveled back to the Satin Butterfly. Emily continued to sleep in my arms.
I gazed out of the window. “How’s your leg? I never asked.”
“You ask every day because you love me.”
I rolled my eyes. “How’s the damn leg?”
“It’s fine.”
“When I talk to Misha, we’ll deal with him in regard to shooting you.”
Pavel widened his eyes.
“Or do you want to deal with him yourself?”
“My only focus is being at your side.”
“You’re not worried about Misha shooting you again?”
“No. His father died. He’s running from death and thinking he can find life with this ballerina. There was a desperation to him, when I saw him last. I don’t know what was going on, but I could tell he thought he was going to lose her.”
“But it appears he has her now.”
Pavel shook his head. “I’m not so sure. There was tension at the performance. He looked scared. Maxwell was helping him with something. Lots of whispering.”
“Hmmm.”
Paris sped by the windows.
“Abram called. He arrived in Prague this evening and said the castle has been in an uproar. Many rooms have been raided.”
Fuck. So many things have fallen to the side.
I turned to him. “And the vault?”
“His men are going through everything.”
“Have anything that’s valuable moved to Moscow, especially my babies.”
The nukes could never get in the wrong hands.
Damn you, Misha. This was all your responsibility. What could be more important than this?
Had he simply gone there and buried his father, perhaps chaos would not have ensued.
“There’s another problem in Prague.”
My temples ached. “Go ahead,”
“Igor’s body is missing. No one knows who took it. Abram has someone looking into it.”
With no one keeping watch, the castle had probably turned into a wild kingdom. Decisions needed to be made. Enough was enough.
What could they be doing with my uncle’s body? Probably some spell.
I studied Pavel. “You’re with me now. You’re officially on my side. I told you this earlier.”
“We both know it was all a test. You don’t offer anything that easy.”
“Good point.”
Pavel’s face brightened. “It’s a hard job, but I believe my place is here.”
“It’s hard?”
“Being by your side would be akin to standing next to God.”
Okay. Okay. Let’s not take my cock out and start sucking it.
I turned back out the window. “We’ll need to get you property and territory closer to Moscow. Give what you own to your men. What I’m giving you will be ten times that, and you’ll want to maintain strong relations with those you’ve left behind.”
He nodded, full of excitement. “Anything you need me to do?”
I leaned my head back and shut my eyes. “Yes. Make a doctor’s appointment for my mouse.”
“Do you want a...pussy doctor?”
I opened my eyes and stared at him. He wasn’t joking. Seriousness covered his face.
“Yes, Pavel. A gynecologist.”
“That’s what’s it’s called?”
“Yes. Remember that.”
Dear God.
Having new people would be annoying. We both would have to learn each other.
Pussy doctor? Thank God Valentina wasn’t here to hear that.
When we got back to the hotel, Pavel’s phone rang. He answered and walked off. I opened the door, got out, and lifted Emily.
Pavel ended the phone call and hurried back to me. “Kazimir.”
“Yes?” I walked off to the hotel, carrying Emily in my arms.
“There are several vans and cars with French surrounding the hotel.”
What do you want now, Jean-Pierre?
“How many?”
“At least thirty men, but there could be more.” Pavel opened the door to the hotel. “I think we should go somewhere new.”
“It’s two in the morning.” I headed to the elevator. “I’m not waking up my mouse and racing out in the middle of the night due to those pansies.”
“I’m not sure this is wise.�
��
I thought of the blood moon. “Just in case...put more people outside the suite’s door.”
“I’ll add some to the living room and balcony.”
“Just one more to the balcony. We already have two out there. I don’t like everyone listening to us make love.”
“I believe the French could be a real threat. A move would be a better—”
“Are you scared?”
He opened his mouth in shock. “No.”
We entered the hotel and made it to the elevator.
“Are you sure, Pavel? If so, you have time to resign.”
He cleared his throat. “No, Kazimir. I just...think we should at least have more men.”
“More are coming.”
“The mouse’s men? I’ve heard. That’s good, but I would love to have more of mine here.”
“Good. Call them.” I carried Emily onto the elevator. “Emily’s men should arrive at the airport early this morning.”
“I’ll leave immediately to meet them.”
“Get some rest. You have time.”
“I can sleep at the airport.”
I almost argued against it. Pavel was so excited to get the position, he was overdoing it. But with the way I’d treated Emily’s men, perhaps it would’ve been nice for them to have an official escort.
“Okay. Meet them at the airport. Make sure they have everything they want. They’ll need food and lodging close to us.”
“I’ll handle it.”
“Good. I want them taken care of. They’ll have a job here.”
Pavel arched his brows.
“I’m going to put them on Jean-Pierre.” I shrugged. “It’ll be a fun little hunt for them.”
Pavel quirked his brows. “Do you want me to give them the orders?”
“No. I’ll confirm with my mouse.”
But all of this will happen after the doctor’s appointment. If she’s pregnant, we’ll need rules to her involvement.
“And for the position.” Pavel followed. “Thank you...sir.”
“No formalities, Pavel. We’ve known each other for too long.”
“Sorry, sir...Kazimir.”
I glared at him.
“Sorry.”
“Don’t apologize either. Unless I have a gun pointed at you and I’m mad.”
“Then, it’s just as old times.”
“Indeed.” I left the elevator. Pavel remained on the elevator to head to the airport. I grinned at his motivation, happy I’d at least officially filled one of my three positions.
I got my mouse to bed and passed out.
But I didn’t rest for long.
Emily woke up shaking and crying out. Yawning, I opened my eyes and pulled her closer to me. “Bad dream?”
She blinked and looked around. “When did we get back?”
I rubbed my eyes and glanced at the window. A gloomy blackness had painted the sky, but the sun looked to be rising soon. “We’ve been back at the hotel for a few hours.”
She yawned, leaned against my chest, and whispered, “Yes.”
“Yes?”
“Yes, it was a bad dream.”
I landed a kiss on her forehead. “What happened in the dream?”
“I was at my old townhouse in Harlem.”
I ran my fingers through her hair. “And what happened there?”
“I was sitting on the couch, trying to turn on the television, but it wouldn’t shut on. For some reason, I thought batteries would be in the basement.” Her body tensed.
The basement was where Maxwell’s father had molested her. Long ago, she’d had to take Luka and I through it and had appeared to be close to passing out.
I approached the topic carefully. “So, you went down into the basement?”
“I did.”
“That was very balls to the wall.”
She gave me a weak chuckle.
Good. She’s feeling better.
“What happened next, mysh?”
“A baby started crying, right as I made it to the steps.”
I continued to run my fingers through her hair.
“And...I just stood at the top of the stairs. I didn’t go down. And the baby just cried.” She trembled against me. “I tried to move, but I couldn’t. I just let the baby cry.”
I looked at her.
Tears streamed down her face.
She wiped them fast. “I don’t know why I’m crying. The baby wasn’t real. It was just a dream.”
“But it was a bad dream.”
“Not that scary. No blood or monsters.”
“But terrifying nonetheless.”
She nuzzled against me. “Damn you, Kaz.”
“What?” I kissed her again.
“Do I deserve you?”
I grinned. “Do I deserve you?”
“Of course.” She raised her head and took my mouth. My body awakened. No longer was I exhausted or tired.
“Are you stressed, mysh?” I sucked on her bottom lip, loving the taste of her, and letting any unease go. “Do you need me to ease the tension?”
She giggled as she lifted her leg over mine and whispered in Russian, “You would do that for me?”
My cock came to attention from her Russian. When I kissed her, it was hard and selfish. I tried to take everything as if I’d been waiting forever.
“Fuck me.” She spread her legs.
I wasted no time and got between them. Those legs cradled my body. My cock stiffened even more. In seconds, the few clothes she had on were off and my cock was out of my boxer briefs.
She moaned, “Please, Kaz.”
I thrust into her softness like a mad man, groaning at the lovely friction of that pussy. She’d whipped me, made my body addicted and trapped my mind. Her nipples tightened under my touch and when I leaned down to taste them, Emily moaned and arched toward me.
“I’ll love you forever,” I murmured against her soft breast. “There’ll be no end to us.”
I thrust into her as if it was the first time I’d ever made love. Like a glutton, I buried my face between those full, soft breasts, licking a path up the middle.
“Of fuck.” Her breathing sped up. She moved those hips to the rhythm of my cock’s melody. We always made beautiful music together. Her hips are moved faster. Her pussy was so wet. It soaked my cock, shoving me on the edge.
“Goddamn it, mysh,” I groaned. Emily squeezed that softness around my length and gripped me tight. “There will be no escape.”
The bed squeaked, which was impressive. This was a new mattress. The hotel would have provided the best of everything, but still, we’d broken it. I increased my pace. Her moans mingled with the squeaking and the sounds of my cock slamming into that her wet pussy.
I swore I was close to busting. I yearned to explode.
“Fuck.” I pulled out and flipped her over, needing to get deeper and grip that fat ass.
So dangerous, she spread her legs further apart, taking it all.
Jesus.
I rammed deeper into her. My balls dangled back and forth as I shoved and pulled, slammed and yanked my cock back. “Mysh!”
No other woman had made me this crazy, not in or out of the bed. It had only been her from the very beginning.
“Oh, mysh!”
The bed squeaked, confirming we had, in fact, broken the bed. It hadn’t made the noise days before, but how could I behave with this pussy available to me?
In Russian, Emily moaned, “I love you.”
“I love you too.” I pumped into her. My legs burned from all the energy. My heart boomed. Sweat beaded around my forehead. I didn’t care. I wouldn’t stop. How could I with this amazing woman?
And then we moaned together.
Gripping her hips hard and slamming into her, I closed my eyes, needing to fully lose myself in her. That pussy squeezed the base of my cock.
Holy fuck.
My tip throbbed. Cum pooled at the end, ready to rush up and fill her.
The squeaks in
creased.
I tried to speak, but I had no idea what I was saying anymore. My words shifted to grumbles of pleasure.
“Oh!” My mouse cried out and it only made me crazier.
Waves of erotic pleasure washed over me. It was heaven. Jets of hot cum shot from my cock. I swore that warm tunnel swelled, taking it all in.
If you’re not pregnant, you will be. There’s no escape, mysh.
I couldn’t stop stroking her insides as we orgasmed together. Cum dripped down my balls. The passionate sensations were almost too much to deal with. I gritted my teeth and trembled as I continued to thrust.
Soon, you’ll be my wife.
I held her close and buried my face in the back of her neck.
For the first time in my life, I felt like we were finally safe. It was all going to work out.
Still inside her, I wrapped my arms around her and whispered, “I don’t want to leave you.”
The cold metal of a gun pressed against the back of my head and a deep voice spoke within the darkness. “Now’s a good time to leave, Kazimir.”
Silence came.
Terror froze me.
Who the fuck could that be? Who would dare?
Emily had heard the man too. She didn’t move away from me. Instead, she stiffened. I had no idea what to do. I was inside her, naked, and at the most vulnerable moment in my life.
Whoever this is...they will die.
Chapter 18
Kazimir
The man kept his gun against my neck. I wasn't used to this level of fear—the erratic drumming of my heart, the quickening of my breath, the blood coursing through my veins in terror.
Please, don’t hurt her. Please, don’t touch her. Take me. Kill me.
Dread ached beneath my ribs.
There was a dull ache beneath her ribs.
Anger flashed through me hot and hard, making me grit my teeth. The thought of another man touching or injuring Emily had me wanting to reach for my gun. Still, I hadn’t moved. I was inside Emily. She would be at risk. Somehow, I had to protect us.
I couldn’t move.
Never had I been caught this much off guard. When was the last time someone had put a gun to my head? When was the last time someone had snuck up on me so unexpected?
Rage rode my tensing muscles. It didn’t matter who it was or what they wanted; I would kill them. They would never live, never breathe, never celebrate their victory over me.
Dirty Hearts: The Lion and The Mouse (Book Three) Page 21